Journey Of Hypnosis From Ancient Egypt And Greek Period To Present Day

Journey Of Hypnosis 

Almost everyone is familiar with the term hypnosis. When we think of hypnosis, the first thing that comes into our mind is a person, who is waving his golden pocket watch in front of a person, and slowly drones him by saying, “You are going into sleep, into deep sleep.” Slowly the subject collapse into his chair.

Journey of hypnosis 

Subject under hypnosis will enter into a zombie-like state, in which he will totally compel to obey the hypnotist. He will now behave just like a puppet in the hand of hypnotist. And when the subject wakes with a snap of a finger, he will remember nothing about his previous actions. And for those, who have watched all this will treat at a great show.

In fact, hypnosis is used for entertainment from long time. Additionally, it is also used for treating everything right from chronic pain to addiction.

Hypnosis In Ancient Times

Actually, the origin of hypnosis can be traced back to the ancient times. During the ancient Egypt and Greek period, it was used in religious centers for treating troubled citizens. With hypnosis, these people were induced into dreams, and then these dreams were used for providing relief.

Franz Mesmer

Franz Mesmer (1734-1815), an Austrian physician is considered as the real Father of Hypnosis. He believed that there exists a universal fluid, which is present everywhere including the air that we breathe and this fluid was absorbed by the nerves. He named this phenomenon as “Animal magnetism.”

He use to believe that diseases are caused to blocking of this fluid, and the fluid can be unblocked by laying hands on the body. So, he used to lay hands on patient for hours continuously, which would make the patient to enter into trance. Some people suggested that this trance is brought on by boredom.

James Braid

James Braid (1795-1860), a Scottish surgeon was the person who coined the term neuro-hypnotism, which was later shortened to hypnotism. He stated that a person could enter into this type of trance by fixing the eyes on a brighter object.

He assumed by staring at something for longer time could exhaust the nervous system, which makes the person to be more open to suggestions. He used this treatment method of diseases for which the origin could not be identified. He named this treatment as hypnosis from the Greek word “hypnos,” which means sleep.

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud, in the late nineteenth century, assumed that neurosis is caused due to repressed traumatic events, and he tried to use hypnosis for bringing these events to conscious.

He was not completely successful and thus convinced himself that hypnosis did not really works. After that until 20th century, hypnosis went into darkness until scientist named Coue, once again started to investigate about it.

Émile Coué

In early 20th century, Emil Cone use to believe in self-healing and described that positive attitude is the most significant thing in healing. He was the person who introduced the famous affirmation “Everyday I am getting better and better” and also said that imagination is stronger than the will.

As an example, when you walk on a plank lying on the ground with closed eyes and then compare it with walking on the same plank, but this time imagine that you are walking on the plank, which is placed 10 feet above the ground. Certainly, you will see the difference.

You will discover that it would be harder for you to walk on the plank, if you imagine of more difficult task. The same phenomenon could be used for making positive changes by imaging about the success you wished for. Thus, hypnosis con used as a method of self healing.

During the war time in 20th century, hypnosis was used for reducing stress in soldiers who are suffering from post traumatic injuries.

Milton Hyland Erickson

Milton Erickson, an American psychiatrist used to put the patient into trance just using words. He used believe that everyday people hypnotize themselves when they get focused highly on a thought or some object.

The British Medical Association and the American Medical Association in mid 20th century identified the therapeutic use of hypnosis as a form of relaxation, which can used for treating addictions, stress, pain relief and weight loss.

As centuries progressed, the concern on the possibility of false memory syndrome increased, it was finally believed because of the high level of acceptance to suggestions when a patient is under hypnosis. The usage of hypnosis has increased a lot. It is used as a neutral as neutral form of anesthesia in dentistry, childbirth and surgery.