Hypnosis: Does It Work?

Definition: Hypnosis is an alternative state of consciousness in which the attention of an individual is focused away from the present reality and towards particular images, thoughts, perceptions, feelings, motivations, sensations, behaviours or any combination of these.
www.nature.com/nri/journal/v4/n11/glossary/nri1486_glossary.html

I have read a lot about Hypnosis and its applications among men. I learned it gives people psychic abilities, the power to levitate, or other paranormal powers to change things considered incurable or extremely difficult to to achieve by physical scientists.

I also watched CBS news this morning and a documentary was shown which featured people who have lost weight through hypnosis.
Someone also claimed to have grown taller through hypnosis.

I want to know if such documentary was stage-crafted or has anyone in the forum got a first hand experience with hypnosis?

What do you think about HYPNOSIS ?

Seun,

If it really works, can you tell me how. I want to grow taller than i am now.

Do you know that if you hold a cat by the neck it automatically goes limp?  This mechanism is used by mother cats to move their children around safely.  It's also used by Male cats to keep female cats calm during mating. 

I think hypnosis works through a similar psychological mechanism.  The brain is stimulated in a way that makes people receptive to all sorts of ridiculous suggestions.  Moved to Religion, because of the implications.

Do you know that a chicken can be made to go to sleep ("hypnotised") when held in a certain way?