Baylor University News
11-11-2025
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Self-Guided Hypnosis Significantly Reduces Menopausal Hot Flashes

This report highlights the results of a multicenter randomized clinical trial led by Baylor University’s Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory, published in JAMA Network Open in late 2025. The study addressed a critical need for non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms, specifically for women who cannot take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) due to health history (such as breast cancer survivors).

The trial compared a “self-guided hypnosis” program against a sham control group (listening to white noise). Participants in the hypnosis group utilized a 6-week audio program designed to induce relaxation and coolness.

The findings were statistically significant:

“After six weeks of daily self-hypnosis audio recordings, participants reported a 53.4% reduction in both frequency and intensity of hot flashes.”

Furthermore, the benefits appeared to increase over time. At the 3-month follow-up mark, the reduction in symptoms for the hypnosis group improved to 60.9%, compared to only a ~40% placebo response in the control group. Lead researcher Dr. Gary R. Elkins noted that this study is a “major breakthrough” because it demonstrates that women can effectively learn and apply these techniques on their own without needing daily therapist visits, making the treatment highly accessible and scalable.