How to Handle Itching With Hypnosis

Filed under: Hypnosis Training

Tried everything for that itch? Hypnosis could be the answer.

Few sensations are as persistent—and irritating—as itching. When there’s no clear medical cause, such as scabies, psoriasis, or allergies, it can feel like a frustrating mystery. The good news is that hypnosis offers a range of effective and creative techniques to take control of the itch, even when nothing else seems to work.

Let’s explore how hypnosis can help you gain relief from unexplained itching and even shift your relationship with this sensation entirely.

Why Itching Happens

Before diving into hypnosis techniques, it’s helpful to understand the nature of itching. The brain perceives an itch as a signal demanding attention, often leading to scratching. But this response can create a vicious cycle: scratching irritates the skin, which increases the sensation of itching, triggering more scratching.

When no medical explanation exists, itching is often connected to unconscious processes, stress, or habitual patterns. Hypnosis, which works directly with the unconscious mind, can interrupt these patterns.

The Control Room of the Mind

One of the most effective tools in hypnosis is the “Control Room of the Mind.” This imaginative technique taps into the unconscious mind’s innate ability to regulate physical sensations.

  1. Begin by inducing a trance. This can be a light trance, but a deeper one often yields more profound results.

  2. Guide the individual to imagine a control room filled with switches, dials, and levers that govern every aspect of their body and mind.
  3. Ask them to locate the control for “itching.” Once they’ve found it, suggest turning it down to a manageable level—or even off entirely.
  4. Cement the change by having them breathe in a sense of calm and relief, locking in their new perception.

This technique presupposes that itch control exists, a powerful suggestion that engages the unconscious mind. The brain loves solving problems, and this visualization gives it a clear, actionable way to do so.

You can guide another person through this process, but you can do it on yourself just as well if you’re the one suffering from that itch.

Click here to learn how to use self-hypnosis easily and effectively.

Redirecting Attention

Itching demands attention, but hypnosis can redirect that focus in ways that diminish the discomfort.

Exploration through curiosity:
  • Explore the itch in detail:
    • Where exactly do you feel it?
    • How intense is it on a scale of 1 to 10?
    • What are its boundaries? Is it small and specific or spread over a larger area?

This encourages mindful observation instead of frustration, often reducing the sensation simply by reframing how it’s perceived.

Changing perceptions of relief:
  • Ask, “How many scratches would it take to satisfy this itch?” For example, if it’s five, suggest that a lower number, like two or three, may be enough.
  • Over time, this can reduce both the intensity of the itch and the habitual response to scratch excessively.

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Advanced Hypnosis Techniques for Chronic Itching

For persistent or chronic itching, hypnosis offers even more options to create lasting change:

  1. Glove Anesthesia:
    • Use hypnosis to numb the hand, then transfer that numbness to the itchy area by placing the hand over it. This technique not only soothes the immediate sensation but also reduces the brain’s focus on the itch. To learn how to use glove anesthesia effectively, click here.
  2. Dissociation with a Barrier:
    • Imagine seeing yourself from a distance, observing the itch as though it belongs to someone else.
    • Introduce a barrier—like a wall, a cooling mist, or even an iceberg—between you and the itch. This amplifies the sense of separation, often diminishing the discomfort significantly.
  3. Time Distortion:
    • Suggest that you or another person suffering from that sensation can condense a full day’s worth of itching into just a few moments of scratching. By satisfying the itch all at once, they can move forward without constantly battling the sensation.

Creative Problem-Solving Through Hypnosis

The mind’s capacity for creativity is limitless, and hypnosis allows us to tap into that potential in ways that can transform how we experience physical sensations. Whether it’s imagining antihistamine effects, redirecting sensations, or simply reframing the itch, hypnosis offers tools that are both powerful and flexible.

Scratching temporarily relieves the itch, but it also irritates the skin further, perpetuating the discomfort. By using hypnotic techniques to reduce the frequency and intensity of scratching, the body has a chance to heal, and the cycle is interrupted.

These are just a few hypnosis techniques that can provide remarkable results:

  • Relocating the Itch:
    This technique involves moving the sensation to a less problematic location. In one case, Mike Mandel helped an oncological nurse suffering from severe itching due to a medical condition. He used hypnosis to transfer a persistent itch from her shins, which were severely injured, to their bed. She could then scratch the bed in her sleep without damaging her skin. Over time, this allowed the area to heal and reduced the overall intensity of the itching. Later, the itch was moved to another room entirely, helping her sleep better while the physical irritation subsided. This example highlights the creativity and effectiveness of hypnosis, even in challenging situations.

  • Imaginary Scratching:
    Visualize scratching the itch with perfect precision—just the right amount of pressure and the ideal nails. The unconscious mind will interpret this imagery as real, leading the itch to fade.

Supporting Medical Treatments

If a medical treatment has been prescribed, such as a cortisone cream, hypnosis can enhance its effectiveness.

  • Use positive Direct Suggestions in Hypnosis (DSiH) like, “This cream will work perfectly to bring you just the right amount of relief.”
  • Avoid exaggerated claims and instead align the suggestion with the natural effects of the treatment.

This alignment between mind and medicine often results in better outcomes and a stronger sense of trust in the process. But remember: as a professional hypnotist, you should always work with your client’s medical doctor’s explicit permission.

Click here to learn exactly what you can and cannot treat with hypnosis.

Hypnosis offers a wealth of techniques to manage itching when no medical cause is present. From the control room of the mind to dissociative techniques and creative visualizations, these methods empower individuals to take back control over their sensations.

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