Hygiogenesis Of Warts Disappearing Without Topical Medication

Abstract

This paper presents a case history of a woman whose flat warts were cured by suggestion. Since a preliminary interview revealed no psychoneurotic features, the psychiatrist expressed the belief that while the treatment could produce no ill-effects, its chance of success was small. At the end of the first interview, the patient was told to imagine for a few minutes before bedtime each night that her face was covered by cold compresses and was beginning to itch and tingle. At her second visit, she gave the encouraging report that she had had the sensation of itching. An attempt at hypnosis was followed only by a state of deep relaxation without sleep, during which it was suggested that her face would feel cold, her skin would itch and the warts would begin to fall off. The patient began the third and last consultation by stating that the warts had commenced to become scaly. Once more hypnosis was attempted, and a state of light sleep was produced. It was then suggested that her face would feel cold and turn pale and that the lesions would itch and fall off within two weeks. The patient was awakened and told that no further interviews were contemplated because her warts would shortly disappear. Two weeks later her skin was clear of all lesions.