Are you thinking about stopping smoking? You may have considered using hypnotherapy, but what method is most effective, hypnosis or nicotine replacement patches?
As a retired nurse who has worked in the NHS stop smoking clinics, a counsellor, coach and hypnotherapist, I would like to compare hypnosis with nicotine patches because it’s a question that I have been asked many times before.
I believe it is essential for anyone who wants to quit smoking to know the facts, so lots of what I am about to discuss will be based on the evidence found in the literature.
Let’s start with some basic information.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a therapy that uses the tool of hypnosis to help people with emotional, behavioural and some physical problems.
Hypnotherapy has been a method used by many people to stop smoking.
Hypnosis has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t always referred to as hypnosis. James Braid is considered the person who coined the term “hypnosis.” However, the word “hypnosis” is related to the Greek word “hypnos,” meaning sleep. Yet hypnosis isn’t sleep.
During hypnotherapy, the hypnotist will guide you to a state of hypnosis where you often feel relaxed (although you don’t need to be relaxed to be hypnotised).
Your attention will become focused on the words that are being said, and positive suggestions are provided to help you change the things that you want to change. So with stopping smoking, you can change your habits, your reactions to the nicotine and your emotions related to smoking.
Hypnosis helps you reframe negative experiences and replace them with positive outcomes, such as increased confidence and self-esteem.
It can influence your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
What happens in a hypnotherapy session to stop smoking?
Firstly, you will be assessed for your suitability and provided with information about how the therapist works. Some hypnotherapists offer a complimentary initial consultation, allowing you to gather information.
Stop smoking is usually delivered in one extended session or two one-hour sessions. However, depending on the client, some hypnotherapists may recommend additional sessions.
You may be asked to start changing some behaviours before your session.
Sessions can be conducted online or in person at the therapist’s office.
Once hypnotised, you do not fall asleep.
You do not lose control; in fact, many times you gain the control that you have lost with a habit such as stopping smoking.
You can move, cough and open your eyes if you wish to do so.
Although there are some possible adverse effects, such as feeling dizzy, headache, anxiety, and experiencing false memories, when practised by a qualified and competent hypnotherapist, it is considered a safe practice, and these side effects are rare or short-lived.
The effectiveness will depend on many things, including the skill of the hypnotist, the motivation of the person who wants to stop smoking and their background issues.
Many people report that it is a pleasant experience, with a good outcome.
What are Nicotine Replacement Patches?
Nicotine replacement patches are a form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). They are plasters that contain small amounts of nicotine.
Their purpose is to release nicotine through the skin and into the bloodstream slowly, replacing the nicotine that you would typically get from cigarettes.
It is a self-help way of quitting smoking.
The patches are stuck to the skin, often on the upper arm, leg, chest, or back. It needs to be a clean, dry, and hairless surface to ensure that it will stick.
The patch needs to be replaced daily and positioned on a different area of skin, as it may irritate if used in the same area continually.
Nicotine replacement patches come in two strengths. There is a 16-hour patch. This is for light to moderate smokers who can sleep all night without needing a cigarette. These people don’t need a cigarette as soon as they wake. There are also 24-hour patches, and these are for smokers who need more nicotine because they get up in the night to have a cigarette, and/ or they have their first cigarette as soon as they wake.
Sometimes other NRT is used in addition to the patches, where the person feels that they need more nicotine.
The additional nicotine can be in the form of lozenges, inhalers, chewing gum, or sprays that are placed into the mouth.
Nicotine replacement patches are usually part of a stepped-down approach where you reduce the effects of smoking. There are quit lines, pharmacies and in some places, additional support through your health service.
NRT can be purchased from pharmacies or, in some cases, your doctor will prescribe it, particularly if you need to stop smoking before a surgical operation.
NRT can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women who are struggling to quit.
Children (under 12 years) and people with some acute cardiac conditions should not use NRT.
Possible side effects include skin rashes and irritation, patches falling off, sleep disturbances, and dreaming related to caffeine intake, as well as rare cases of neuralgia.
If you use additional NRT, these can also have some side effects such as irritation to the mouth, nose and stomach. The cause of this can be that people use the additional NRT too often or inappropriately. Some people also have hypersensitivity to any of the products, including the plaster.
So, which method is more effective?
There are pros and cons to both ways of quitting smoking; however, stopping smoking is often much more than the nicotine addiction and the habit.
Smoking also has an emotional attachment. For example, you may feel part of a group when you smoke with others. You may also turn to cigarettes, believing that they will reduce stress, when they can contribute to more stress.
Over the years, as a nurse, I gave out many boxes of patches, nicotine replacement gum, lozenges and inhalers, and many people did quit smoking. However, some did not, and many came back as they started smoking again.
At that time, offering hypnotherapy to stop smoking was not part of the NHS’s agenda, as nicotine replacement patches can be measured more easily against quitting rates and costs. Furthermore, hypnotherapy takes more time, and time is money.
Let’s compare the two methods using research and some of the criteria used to measure their effectiveness.
Comparing Hypnosis and Nicotine Patches for Smoking Cessation| Criteria | Hypnosis | Nicotine Replacement Patches |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Effectiveness (Quit Rates) | Varied results; some studies show 20–45% success rates (Elkins & Rajab, 2004; Green & Lynn, 2000) | Approximately 10–20% quit rates after 6–12 months (Stead et al., 2012) |
| Short-Term Success (up to 6 months) | Promising in short-term when the client is motivated (Barnes et al., 2010) | Clinically proven to help in the first 3–6 months (Stead et al., 2012) |
| Long-Term Success (12+ months) | Limited long-term evidence, but some sustained results (Viswesvaran & Schmidt, 1992) | Lower success after one year unless combined with behavioural support |
| Psychological Support | Strong; addresses habits, beliefs, and emotional triggers | Limited; focuses on physical addiction only |
| Physical Craving Reduction | Does not directly reduce nicotine cravings | Directly reduces withdrawal symptoms |
| Relapse Prevention | Helps prevent relapse by shifting mindset and behaviours | Moderate support; works best when combined with counselling |
| Side Effects | Minimal; generally safe (Barnes et al., 2010) | May cause skin irritation or sleep disturbances (Mills et al., 2010) |
| Cost Effectiveness | Can be cost-effective over 1–3 sessions | Ongoing cost over weeks or months |
| Personalisation of Treatment | Highly tailored to individual needs and habits | Standardised dosage; less personalised |
| Motivation and Behavioural Change | Strong emphasis on mindset and habit change | Little behavioural focus unless paired with therapy |
Conclusions
Hypnotherapy for stopping smoking shows mixed results in research depending on the research design, the size of the group and other factors such as how hypnotisable someone is.
As more research is being conducted, these results may change.
The highest rate of quitters in research studies is found in hospitalised patients.
Some studies suggest that hypnotherapy is better than no treatment.
As Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been shown to help smokers to quit, a combination of CBT and hypnotherapy can also be used for better results.
Overall, hypnotherapy is better than NRT. Hypnotherapy to help stop smoking addresses psychological triggers, brain mechanisms and enhances the motivation to succeed. Furthermore, it has additional benefits of being more personalised and focusing on specific barriers to success, such as worries about weight gain.
References
- Andrean, J., & Makful, M. R. (2022). Hypnotherapy as a method of smoking cessation: A systematic review. BKM Public Health and Community Medicine, 8(2), 359–364.
- Barnes, J., Dong, C. Y., & McRobbie, H. (2010). Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2010(10), CD001008. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001008.pub2
- Elkins, G. R., & Rajab, M. H. (2004). Clinical hypnosis for smoking cessation: Preliminary results of a three-session intervention. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 52(1), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1076/iceh.52.1.73.23919
- Green, J. P., & Lynn, S. J. (2000). Hypnosis and suggestion-based approaches to smoking cessation: An examination of the evidence. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 48(2), 195–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207140008410047
- Mills, E. J., Wu, P., Lockhart, I., Wilson, K., Ebbert, J. O., & Krumholz, H. M. (2010). Comparisons of high-dose and combination nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline, and bupropion for smoking cessation: A systematic review and multiple treatment meta-analysis. Annals of Medicine, 42(10), 826–837. https://doi.org/10.3109/07853890.2010.503622
- Stead, L. F., Perera, R., Bullen, C., Mant, D., Hartmann-Boyce, J., Cahill, K., & Lancaster, T. (2012). Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012(11), CD000146. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000146.pub4
- Viswesvaran, C., & Schmidt, F. L. (1992). A meta-analytic comparison of the effectiveness of smoking cessation methods. Journal of Applied Psychology, 77(4), 554–561. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.77.4.554
