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The History of Hypnosis
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It may surprise you to know that hypnosis, in one form or another, dates back at least 5000 years.
The earliest recorded use of hypnosis, or use of words similar to hypnosis, can be found in Egyptian tombs, whose hieroglyphics have been dated to 3000 BC.
Ancient China was also using ‘healing words,’ Wang Tai, the founder of Chinese medicine was using a form of hypnosis in about 2000 BC.
Back to Egypt again for the earliest written records, and these date from around 1552 BC.
Various forms of ‘hypnosis’ and ‘trance techniques’ have been employed by cultures as diverse as North American Indians, Aboriginal Australians, South American peoples, Shamans and Witch Doctors of Africa, as well as Far Eastern and Pacific Island races. The village “Medicine Man’ was very often the second most powerful character in tribal villages, after the chief or tribal leader.
Ghengis Khan was noted for his ferocity, but this was inspired in his followers by the use of group suggestion, this occurring in the 1300’s.
Whilst Genghis Khan was using group suggestion for motivation of his followers, it was also being used by Europeans. Unfortunately, in most European countries it was to be classified as ‘Witchcraft.’ This promptly ensured that any active participants were quickly tried and put to death.
The turning point in hypnosis was to occur in the 1700’s, when an Austrian Doctor by the name of Franz Anton Mesmer recognized the ancient healing phenomenon. Although his observations and beliefs were found to be incorrect, he had much success with his theory of ‘animal magnetism.’ The term “Mesmerism” that is sometimes used, even today, to describe hypnosis originates from this pioneer of hypnosis.
Up to the 1800’s, during the mid part of the century, hypnosis was used to relieve pain. A leading London physician, John Elliotson, reported 1,834 operations performed painlessly. During the same period a Scottish surgeon by the name of James Esdaile, whom was in India, reported performing amputations using hypnosis to numb the parts of the body to be operated on.
It was also during this time period that another English physician, James Braid, gave hypnosis, or ‘mesmerism’ as it was called then, a more scientific explanation. He believed it to be a ‘nervous sleep,’ and created the term ‘hypnosis’ from the Greek word ‘Hypnos,’ meaning sleep.
In France during the late 1800’s two men, Auguste Leibeault and Hippolyte Bernheim, were among the first to regard hypnosis as normal. They correctly assumed that expectation is a most important factor in hypnosis and that succeeds when the hypnotist works on the patient with mental influences.
In 1892, The British Medical Association recognised hypnosis as a ‘therapeutic agent.’
Hypnosis, and its therapeutic uses were at last recognised, and during both world wars, hypnosis was used to treat post traumatic stress, and as an analgesic and anaesthetic when battlefield drugs were exhausted.
In 1955, the British Medical Association recognised hypnotherapy as a valid medical treatment. The American Medical Association followed their lead and recognised hypnotherapy in 1958.
Since recognition by the BMA and AMA, there have been many uses discovered, or re-discovered. During the 1960’s and 1970’s there was talk of using hypnosis for espionage. But also during this time came developments such as past life regression, out of body experiences, spiritual journeys and many ‘new age’ ideas.
Today, although hypnotherapy still suffers a sometimes negative image, this being in part due to stage hypnosis, it is becoming more accepted as a more ‘holistic’ form of treatment.
From weight loss to smoking cessation, from stress management to self confidence, modern hypnotherapists still use a basic system that has evolved over 5000 years, and will continue to evolve as mankind’s knowledge of the mind and body connection unfolds.
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