The history of hypnosis brings you back thousands of years ago that will give you the general and unconcealed idea of what is hypnosis. The stories of the pioneering persons in this field will help you unravel everything about this controversial but well practiced method for mesmerism and healing. You might consider this tiring but once you start reading you might change your mind.
The Father of Hypnosis or Mesmerism
The history of hypnosis leads us to where it all began. An Austrian physician, Franz Anton Mesmer is one of the most influential people in this arena and was recognized as the father of hypnotism. It was from his name that the word mesmerism was derived.
He claimed that along with the very air we inhale, there is a quasi-magnetic fluid which will be also be taken in by our body’s nerves. He believed that a blockage of the circulation in the circulatory and nervous system causes diseases. Thus, he assumed that the best way to eliminate illnesses entails correcting liquid circulation.
Using Animal Magnetism
And to unblock the magnetic flow, the history of hypnosis tells us that a magnet which was directed towards and passed over a patients’ body was utilized. It was said that the hand and the eyes were contributing factors that could also unblock the fluid by mounting its quantity and course as the hand traveled over the body. Mesmerism then was born which was earlier referred to as animal magnetism.
A student of Mesmer, Marquis de Puysegur performed animal magnetism on a young boy who surprisingly responded to him even when sleeping. When this boy woke up, he had no idea what had happened. It was then that Puysegur theorized that psychological factors were essential in the entire procedure.
History of Hypnosis – Establishing the Official Term
As the history of hypnosis states, James Braid, a Scottish Surgeon in Manchester started using the terms hypnosis and hypnotism around 1843. He trusted the notion that neurophysiologic process was needed and that hypnosis was useful in ailments that doesn’t have an organic origin. And a stimulus which can be a word or group of words can hypnotize his subjects.
In the modern age, it was Dr. Milton H. Erickson who possessed more authority in this arena. During his teens, he was paralyzed and it was then that he started observing people. He figured out that everybody is entirely different thus making him interested in human behavior. In helping people, he used metaphor, confusion, humor and hypnosis.
Today, hypnosis is commonly practiced in dentistry, medication and psychology. It has been confirmed that this is indeed more effective with contemporary treatments and rehabilitation. It should be noted that hypnosis and the medical field are different. But yes, they are related, the history of hypnosis can attest to that.
