Baylor prof’s study finds hypnosis may offer relief to menopausal women

Fresh on the heels of the Baylor Religion Study comes another Baylor research effort that is again bringing positive press to the University, and more importantly, may promise relief to the millions of women worldwide who suffer from hot flashes as they go through menopause.

The study, headed up by Baylor professor Dr. Gary Elkins, found that hypnotic relaxation therapy can decrease both the frequency and severity of hot flashes in menopausal women. Based on the initial findings, Elkins has received a $2.6 million grant from the National Insititutes of Health — the largest ever awarded by the NIH for this type of research — that will allow for a much broader study.

Because of its relevance, news of Elkins’ work has made its way into mainstream media outlets such as U.S.News & World Report, the Washington Post and Yahoo News. The American Society of Clinical Oncology ran this story from Reuters, while a Spanish version of the story is also making the rounds.

Sic ’em, Dr. Elkins and Baylor researchers!