Menopausal hot flashes have been compared to a “human furnace” and disruptive to daily life. Around 85%of women experience hot flashes during menopause, and symptoms may flare up even years later. While pharmaceutical treatments exist, they are not suitable for everyone, particularly women with a history of breast cancer or those at risk for cardiovascular issues. This makes nonhormonal interventions a critical area of research. A recent study has shown that 53% of participants saw a reduction in hot flash symptoms as a result of hypnosis, offering a promising alternative. A more unorthodox approach to hot flash treatment was introduced. A recent study has shown that 53%of participants saw a reduction in hot flash symptoms as a result of hypnosis.
A new multicenter randomized clinical trial led by Baylor University psychologist and neuroscientist Gary Elkins provides strong evidence that daily, self-administered hypnosis can significantly reduce both the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
The study enrolled 250 postmenopausal women, including a notable subset with a history of breast cancer, a group often excluded from hormone-based treatments. Participants listened daily for six weeks either to guided hypnosis audio recordings or to a white-noise recording serving as a sham control. Throughout the study, all participants tracked hot flashes in a diary. After six weeks, women in the hypnosis group reported a 53% reduction in hot flash scores, which combine frequency and intensity. The white-noise group also improved, showing a 41% reduction, which researchers note is typical given placebo effects in hot flash trials. Even so, the additional improvement associated with hypnosis was substantial. And the effect grew stronger over time. At the three-month follow-up, women in the hypnosis group reported a 61% reduction, compared to 44% in the control group. These results are rather striking.
These outcomes actually align with previous research showing hypnosis can help reduce hot flashes when delivered in person. However, most prior studies required trained clinicians and regular office visits, limiting accessibility. This new study is the first to demonstrate that self-guided hypnosis, delivered solely through audio recordings, can produce clinically meaningful improvements without the need for professional supervision. Elkins emphasizes that once participants learn the technique, they often continue using it, which helps explain why symptoms continued to decline even after the study ended
The methods and approach are very simple. Participants are guided into a state of deep relaxation, then prompted to imagine cooling sensations such as a breeze or cool water that counteract the physiological cascade of a hot flash. The intervention avoids the stereotypical depictions of hypnosis found in popular culture. Instead, it centers on focused attention, calm breathing, and intentional sensory imagery. Participants in the study also experienced improved sleep, a reduction in stress, and an overall better quality of life. The trial’s design being randomized adds confidence that the benefits were due to the hypnosis itself, not expectation alone. Its remote delivery also makes it a practical and accessible solution for women unable to attend regular clinic visits, highlighting the potential of self-administered hypnosis as a widely available, nonpharmaceutical option for hot flash relief.
