Does hypnosis really work, or is it a scam?

No scam: hypnosis may work for certain issues like recalling memories that may be too traumatic for the conscious mind to want to recollect. The fact is that one has to be able to release themselves to the person who is guiding them through the hypnosis. If one cannot do that, then it is difficult to be hypnotized. There is a great deal of evidence that supports hypnosis also.

Alternative therapy: By definition, "alternative" is different than modern western medicine. Generally any drug, herb, treatment, or procedure that stands up to rigorous scientific scrutiny is included in modern medicine. The problem is that many alternative practices, herbs etc do not stand up to scientific scrutiny and cannot be shown to work. They therefore remain "alternative". Be careful and watch your wallet.

Legit: I was taught hypnosis by the director of the developmental and behavioral pediatrics program at Minneapolis Children's Hospital and Minnesota School of Medicine. I have other hypnosis instructors who are professors of medicine at Stanford School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve, UC San Diego School of Medicine, and I am a professor of medicine at Touro University California.