Hypnosis in the Operating Room: Israeli Hospital Pioneers Brain Surgery Without Anesthesia

In a groundbreaking medical achievement, doctors at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, Israel, have successfully performed deep brain surgery on a conscious patient using hypnosis instead of traditional anesthesia. This pioneering procedure represents a significant advancement in surgical techniques and pain management.

A Journey to Thailand—From the Operating Table

When 71-year-old Ali Abu-Ria from Sakhnin lay on the operating table for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery to treat his Parkinson’s disease, his body was in the sterile operating theater, but his mind was transported to an exotic beach in Thailand. Under the expert guidance of psychologist Dr. Udi Bonshtein, Abu-Ria remained fully conscious throughout the five-hour procedure, experiencing the surgery through a hypnotic state that kept him calm and pain-free.

As a former tour guide, Abu-Ria had always dreamed of visiting Thailand. Dr. Bonshtein used this personal aspiration to create a powerful mental escape, guiding the patient to imagine himself resting under coconut palms with the sound of waves in the background. When the neurosurgeon prepared to drill into his skull, the hypnosis helped Abu-Ria avoid hearing the disturbing sounds of the procedure.

Why Hypnosis for Brain Surgery?

Deep brain stimulation surgery requires patients to remain awake so medical teams can test electrode placement in real-time and immediately identify any side effects. For Parkinson’s patients like Abu-Ria, who experience constant tremors and muscle stiffness, this presents a significant challenge. Traditional pain medications cannot be administered close to surgery time, making psychological support crucial.

Dr. Bonshtein, who heads the hospital’s psychology service, explained his approach: “I created a state where his attention was focused solely on my voice and touch. During the operation, while the surgeon was drilling into his skull and inserting electrodes into his brain, I spoke with him about positive, uplifting things. He never once complained about pain and remained completely relaxed for five straight hours.”

The results were remarkable. Neurosurgeon Dr. Yuval Grober, who performed the procedure, declared that he had never encountered a patient so calm and at ease during awake brain surgery. Abu-Ria later recalled: “I remember every minute of the operation. It was actually a good experience. I was completely calm. I feel like a new person now, and the tremors I suffered from have stopped.”

The Science Behind Hypnosis

According to Israel’s Uses of Hypnosis Law, hypnosis is defined as an activity or process designed to change another person’s awareness and consciousness, affecting changes in their body, feelings, emotions, thinking, memory, or behavior through suggestions. It involves a state of focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness, with enhanced capacity for responding to suggestions.

Dr. Bonshtein, who studied hypnotism at Tel Aviv University nearly three decades ago, explains that hypnosis enables deep concentration that can affect different brain modules. “It can enable practitioners to manipulate various areas of function, and it can be used to uncouple sensory experience from overall experience, as well as serve analgesic purposes,” he wrote in a 2018 article in the Journal of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine.

Breaking Down Misconceptions

Unlike the dramatic portrayals in movies—where hypnotists swing watches on chains and control unwilling subjects—real medical hypnosis relies on trust and cooperation. Dr. Bonshtein uses his voice to focus patients’ attention, and subjects must be willing participants in the process.

“I don’t force them. They have to trust me and surrender themselves to the procedure. Nearly anybody can be hypnotized, except for people who fear that things will emerge without them being in control,” he explained.

The psychologist has successfully used hypnosis in various medical situations, including helping a patient with a shoulder displacement, assisting his wife during childbirth, and even helping his children before difficult tests. In one memorable case, he helped a patient quit smoking by creating an association between tobacco smoke and nausea.

Expanding Applications

Following the successful brain surgery, Galilee Medical Center performed another DBS procedure using hypnosis on a woman who was afraid of flying. Instead of imagining a plane journey, she was mentally “sent” on a cruise during her surgery.

The hospital has now established a dedicated hypnosis clinic, staffed by 20 doctors and psychologists trained by Dr. Bonshtein. The medical teams are exploring additional ways to integrate hypnosis into clinical procedures.

Dr. Bonshtein particularly emphasizes the potential benefits for patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including soldiers and civilians affected by conflict. He has been working to establish such services through the Defense Ministry, though bureaucratic hurdles remain.

The Future of Hypnosis in Medicine

Despite approximately 1,000 psychologists, physicians, and dentists holding licenses to practice hypnosis in Israel, most don’t use it regularly. Dr. Bonshtein estimates that only a few dozen practitioners use hypnosis daily, and very few apply it for surgical pain management.

“In general, surgeons don’t put much faith in such psychological techniques. They’re used to anesthesia. But we have awareness of hypnosis as a tool in my hospital. In other Israeli medical centers, it’s used sporadically, mostly for research. This is unfortunate,” he told The Jerusalem Post.

Professor Samih Badarny, director of Galilee’s Neurology Department and a Parkinson’s disease expert, supports the integration of hypnosis in surgical settings, noting its effectiveness in keeping patients calm during procedures that require them to be awake.

Dr. Bonshtein advocates for wider adoption of this technique: “Integrating hypnosis helps shorten medical treatment, makes it more efficient, and has a direct effect on both body and mind. Through hypnosis, we can address psychological aspects like anxiety or hope, physical and functional aspects like digestion or immune system function, and sensory-perceptual elements such as pain relief.”

He stresses that hypnosis can serve as a supplementary tool in virtually any therapeutic approach, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, enhancing both depth and effectiveness. “The general public and even many medical professionals are unaware of the therapeutic potential of hypnosis. It’s important for doctors to know when hypnosis is appropriate and when to refer patients to a hypnosis clinic.”

As medical professionals continue exploring innovative approaches to pain management and patient care, the success at Galilee Medical Center demonstrates that ancient healing techniques, when combined with modern medical expertise, can create remarkable outcomes for patients facing complex surgical procedures.