Vasomotor symptoms are no laughing matter, as Jeannie was to explain to her husband one particular evening when she’d had quite enough. And then she read an article that changed everything.

   The sudden rushes of heat and sweating are often accompanied by increased heart rate, chills, shivering, clamminess, anxiety, feelings of nausea, a “head-ache”-like sensation, visible reddening and blotching of the face and neck, an increase in core body temperature, increased metabolism, and interrupted sleep. Women are in the prime of their lives, often juggling families and work, and sleep is precious. So just what was that article about?

   It was about a study carried out by researchers, on women just like her, at the University of Texas and Baylor University, in the U.S, and was published in the journal, Menopause, in 2013*

   The women attended hypnosis sessions once a week for 5 weeks whilst another group (the control group), saw a doctor and discussed menopause during the same time.

   Whilst after 12 weeks the Hypnosis group had reduced episodes by 75%, the control group reported only 13%. And again, compared to the 80% drop in frequency and severity of symptoms for the hypnosis group, the control group improved only 15%, accounting for placebo.