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A Baylor University professor is hoping his research on hypnotic relaxation will provide the scientific proof needed to launch the therapy into mainstream acceptance.

Just like people in almost any city can schedule a massage or buy herbal remedies at the drugstore, Gary Elkins envisions patients someday being able to get a boxed hypnosis toolkit.

Ideally, patients would learn to use the kit under the supervision of a doctor or therapist, Elkins said. But the idea is for it to include written and multimedia materials that would let people take advantage of the deep relaxation technique. Right now, the therapy is available on a limited scale because of a lack of professionals trained in it, he said.

“The goal is to empower the individual,” said Elkins, who is a clinical psychologist.

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Elkins is the head of the Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory. A part of Baylor University, it is located in a converted house in a cozy campus neighborhood.

The purpose of the lab, started in 2006, is to study “mind-body medicine.” That refers to techniques designed to improve the mind’s capability to affect physical symptoms and functions. Such techniques include everything from patient support groups to art therapy.

Elkins said he hopes someday to expand his research to look at whether mind-body techniques like prayer can improve people’s immune systems. But for now, he is focused on hypnotic relaxation.

Elkins is conducting a study that is trying to determine whether hypnosis can decrease the frequency and severity of hot flashes in post-menopausal women. The sudden heat sensations can be a serious matter for sufferers. Common associated problems include extreme sweating, red face, interrupted sleep and anxiety.

Elkins became interested in the research area several years ago after a national study found that hormone replacement therapy used to alleviate the condition poses a number of risks.

Plus, Elkins knew there was a need for alternative treatments for breast cancer survivors. Medications they take can cause severe hot flashes, but they are advised not to use hormone therapy because it increases the chance of cancer recurrence, he said.

Elkins started his research while employed by Scott & White Healthcare in Temple. He came to Baylor in 2006 and established the lab shortly thereafter.

That was made possible by a $2.6 million grant from the National Center for

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