Essentials: Using Hypnosis to Enhance Mental & Physical Health & Performance | Dr. David Spiegel cover art
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Essentials: Using Hypnosis to Enhance Mental & Physical Health & Performance | Dr. David Spiegel

Nov 27, 2025 · 40 min

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. David Spiegel, MD, the Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss the science and clinical applications of hypnosis, including how hypnosis works in the brain. We examine the evidence-based uses of clinical and self-hypnosis for pain, trauma, phobias, sleep and stress, and explain how to gauge your own level of "hypnotizability." We also outline practical ways to access these tools, from working with a trained clinician to using structured self-hypnosis protocols. Thank you to our sponsors AGZ by AG1: https://drinkagz.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Rorra: https://rorra.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) David Spiegel (00:00:20) What is Hypnosis?; Clinical vs Stage Hypnosis (00:02:33) Brain & Hypnosis, Cognitive Flexibility (00:06:14) Sponsor: Function (00:07:54) ADHD, Self-Hypnosis & Focus (00:08:57) Stress Reduction, Mind-Brain Connection; Improve Sleep, Phobias (00:12:16) Narrative & Hypnosis, Mental State Change; Reframing Trauma (00:18:26) Sponsor: AGZ by AG1 (00:19:56) Naming Importance; Clinical Hypnotist, Durability of Hypnosis, Reveri App (00:22:29) Obsessive Thoughts, OCD, Hypnosis (00:23:47) Hypnotizability, Spiegel Eye Roll Test, Eye-Brain Connection (00:27:02) Sponsor: Rorra (00:28:31) Trauma Recovery, Deliberate Self-Exposure to Pain or Trauma, Control (00:30:37) Mind-Body Connection, Control; Reframing Pain, Tool: Opportunity for Action (00:33:22) Children & Hypnosis; Group Hypnosis (00:35:09) Breathing in Hypnosis, Cyclic Sighing, Relaxation (00:36:46) Peak Performance & Hypnotic States (00:37:55) Reveri Hypnosis App, Finding Clinical Hypnotist; Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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