‘What about hypnosis Doctor, do you think that might help?’ Picture the clinical encounter within which this question has arisen, and I predict the following. First, you have reached a point where you, as a health professional, feel that you have nothing else to offer the patient in front of you. And second, the word ‘hypnosis’ could have been replaced by any of the following: osteopathy, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, reflexology, cannabis oil, without changing your answer: ‘Well, some people find it helpful, but there’s not really any evidence one way or the other…’. This sort of encounter often triggers an uncomfortable feeling too. A feeling of stepping outside the (apparent) safety of defensible mainstream medical practice into the Wild West of alternative, or if we are being polite, complementary, healthcare. Some of this discomfort arises from seeing unscrupulous practitioners taking advantage of patients by selling nonsensical or even dangerous treatments or tests. But some also arises from the recognition that the people who ask this …

中文翻译：

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催眠呢，博士？

“催眠术怎么样？医生，你觉得这样有用吗？” 想象一下出现这个问题的临床遭遇，我预测如下。首先，你已经到了一个地步，作为一名健康专业人士，你觉得你没有什么可以为你面前的病人提供任何东西了。其次，“催眠”这个词可以被以下任何一种代替：整骨疗法、针灸、颅骶疗法、反射疗法、大麻油，而不会改变你的答案：“嗯，有些人觉得它有帮助，但实际上并没有任何证据一种或另一种方式……'。这种遭遇也常常引发一种不舒服的感觉。一种走出可辩护的主流医疗实践的（明显的）安全性进入另类的狂野西部的感觉，或者如果我们是礼貌的，互补的，医疗保健。这种不适的部分原因是看到不道德的从业者通过出售荒谬甚至危险的治疗或测试来利用患者。但也有一些人认识到提出这个问题的人……