I learned a lot about the power of words after I specialized in pediatric hypnosis and counseling. For instance, I found out that much of that power relates to the imagery that can be evoked by descriptive words. Further, words can be used to provide a memorable explanation, encouragement, or even for treatment.

Earlier in my career, I worked in the field of pediatric pulmonology, which involves taking caring of patients with many different lung problems. Many of my patients at that time had asthma. Caring for these patients was very rewarding, because usually such patients responded readily to their therapy.

The secret to helping them to do well was to convince them to take their medications as prescribed.

Through trial and error, I learned how to cajole my patients into inhaling a foul-smelling asthma medication. In the following example, I introduced 12-year-old Naomi to such therapy.

“This medication comes in two flavors,” I explained. “Yucky and mint yucky.”

Naomi made a face.

“What flavor would you like?” I asked.

“Mint, I think.”

“Good! Do you know why the yucky flavor is there?” I asked.

She shook her head.

“It’s there to remind you to rinse your mouth out after you inhale this medication,” I explained. “Do you know why you would want to rinse your mouth out?”

“No.”

“So you won’t get athlete’s foot of the mouth,” I concluded with triumph. I explained to Naomi’s mother that patients who use this medication can develop a fungus infection in the mouth, and that athlete’s foot is a kind of fungus infection.

“Yuck!”

It took me several years to figure out why my “patter” was effective in helping children take this medication.

First, I gave them a choice. By choosing one form of the “yucky” medication the children were cooperating with its prescription.

Next, I gave them an important reason for the poor taste of the medicine. The taste was there to help prevent something bad from happening. (This can be termed........

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