Clinical hypnosis is a heightened state of susceptibility to suggestions while in a relaxed, trance-like state.  This is quite different than the view of hypnosis portrayed by stage hypnosis used for entertainment.  Strictly speaking, hypnosis is the ability to access the unconscious areas of the mind and to implant suggestions there that usually have short term effects unless the suggestion is incorporated into a lifestyle.  Hypnosis is performed mainly by some psychiatrists, psychologists, other physicians, and non-medical individuals.  There is no license necessary to practice hypnosis.  In medicine, the technique involves progressive relaxation while the hypnotist softly speaks calming, relaxing words, creating a visualization of increasing visions of relaxation.  The subject undergoing hypnosis is always in control of what they will do and cannot be made to engage in activity that would harm themselves or others. 

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Medical hypnosis is possible only in a small fraction of the population, usually around 10% are hypnotizable. 

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COCHRANE AND OTHER SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS OF HYPNOSIS:

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Schmerz. 2017 Jun;31(3):266-273  Weak recommendation for hypnosis in treatment of fibromyalgia
Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2017 Jul-Sep;65(3):296-307  No studies on hypnosis for symptom control in cancer patients at the end of life
Physiother Theory Pract. 2017 Mar;33(3):173-183 Support for hypnosis for phantom limb pain for short term relief
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jan 10;1:CD010971  Hypnosis has low level support for short term relief of recurrent abdominal pain in childhood and one study showing long term pain relief in 68% after one year
Front Psychol. 2016 Feb 19;7:115  Hypnosis was found to be effective in pain neurorehabilitation
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:610615  Hypnosis was found to be an effective treatment for fibromyalgia in this review
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 28;(11)   Hypnosis was ineffective in the treatment of pain from spinal cord injury
Neuromodulation. 2014 Oct;17 Suppl 2:24-30.  Hypnosis is ineffective as a treatment for chronic pain
Am J Gastroenterol. 2014 Sep;109(9):1350-65  Hypnotherapy was proven in a systematic review to be effective in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014 Apr 30;20(2):152-   Hypnotherapy is beneficial in pain relief for up to 3 months for irritable bowel syndrome with 3 out of 4 trials demonstrating benefit
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Oct 10;(10):  There is strong evidence that hypnosis for procedural related pain and distress in children and adolescents is effective
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Nov 14;11:CD009356  There is low level evidence hypnosis reduces child birth pain, time in labor, and hospital stay length after birth
Am J Med. 2012 Jun;125(6):576-84  Hypnosis has an odds ratio of 4.55 for smoking cessation