History of Hypnosis

Many people connect hypnosis immediately with mesmerising pendulums or stage shows during which the hypnotist makes everybody stick to their seats or sing like Elton John. However, the interest in hypnotherapy has grown rapidly over the last few years. More and more people realise that it is an effective way to solve problems ranging from phobias, traumas or depressions up to pain control or anaesthesia. This controversy about hypnosis is not recent, but can be observed throughout its history. The methods used to hypnotise might have changed, however, the interest in the phenomenon has remained more or less the same.

The word hypnosis originates from the Greek word hypno meaning to sleep. Actually the word does not reflect the full truth because the subconscious mind is fully alert, only the rational mind is bypassed. Hypnosis is rather a form of concentration. James Braid tried to change the name in the late 18th century, but somehow he never succeeded.

Forms of hypnosis were already used about 3000 years ago by ancient Egyptians, there were healing shrines in Greece, the Hindu Vedas mention healing actions in trance and writings confirm its use in Chinese Medicine. Tribes in America and Africa used dancing and drumming for hypnotic effects. Shamans, witch doctors, yogis and even well known philosophers like Aristotle and Plato supported the theory that a treatment of the whole – mind, body and spirit – is necessary to cure and prevent illness.

Alone the fact, that hypnosis is still used around 5000 years after its discovery, proves to me that it must be effective. Otherwise it would have been forgotten a long time ago. Plus, it was not restricted to one religion or one area only, but practised all over the world.

In the 16th century, the Swiss scientist Paracelsus made hypnotic suggestions for healing purposes popular again. As the clergy used magnetic medicine as a means to control the masses, however, the time of healing faded away once again. Paracelsus basic ideas were good, however, he developed them in the wrong direction. Hypnosis is a dangerous tool and must not be used to control other people.

Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) is one of the best known names in the History of hypnotism. He took up on Paracelsus idea of magnetic medicine and developed some good theories about how physical forces influence the human body. Besides, Newton's law of gravity influenced him when he formed the expression animal magnetism. His idea was that it flows in every living thing and blockages lead to illness. These 'forces' can be concentrated, accumulated or derived and therefore illness can be cured by releasing the blockages. His procedures were quite theatrical and I can imagine that this must have felt spooky to many people, especially as he could not explain what exactly happened when the healing took place. After the Royal Commission was appointed under King Louis XVI in Paris to examine the phenomenon of mesmerism, their findings disreputated Dr. Mesmer, because according to the Commission the existence of animal magnetism was unsubstantiated and the healing resulted in belief and expectation of the people. This proves that the force does not have to exist, but the suggestion of it existing is already sufficient to induce healing.

The negative report did not stop the continuing use of Mesmer's techniques over the next few years. L.L. Rostan was totally right when pointing out the dangers of magnetic medicine, because it seems that in history hypnosis was frequently used as a tool to manipulate and control other people. Interestingly he reinforced at the same time, that nobody could be hypnotised against their will.

In 1842, the Scottish surgeon James Braid (1795-1860) explained hypnosis in scientific terms. By taking away the mystical cover, he influenced the creation of a scientific basis. To him was hypnosis was a state, different from natural sleep. He fully described it Neuro-Hypnosis. In the mid 1800's, James Esdaile started using hypnosis as an anaesthetic during many operations in India and got very positive results. I think it is sad that the many of his English colleagues and the British Medical Association did not even seem to make an effort researching Esdaile's observations and even stopped him from practising.

In the 1890's, a school of hypnotism was founded in Nancy, France by Dr. Ambroise August Liebault and Professor Bernheim. I think that the fact that two reputed doctors at the time were convinced of the healing effects of hypnosis contributed a lot to its recognition. Doctors from all over Europe came to study in Nancy.

Josef Breuer's discovery that the simple recall of traumas is enough to cure the symptoms, was another milestone in the history which increased the reputation of hypnosis.

In his early works, Sigmund Freud considered hypnosis a great means to overcome one's helplessness. He was quite enthusiastic about it, but for some reason changed his mind and thought that some of his patients only remembered childhood fantasies and not actual events. Since Sigmund Freud was well-known and had a huge influence, sudden rejection caused a major setback.

The Hypnotism Act passed in 1952 is a great success in the history. Finally the stage shows using hypnosis needed an authorisation to perform in public. It was exactly these stage shows that kept (and keep) dis-reputating hypnosis. This Act helped the serious side of hypnosis to grow. The British Medical Association had always had the image of the stage shows, too, when being confronted with hypnosis and hence rejected it. I assume that the Act had an influence on the recognition of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique by the BMA in 1955.

The most modern form of hypnosis which is used today was founded by Dr. Milton Erickson (1902-1980). With his down-to-earth way, he took away much mystery and made hypnosis again a bit more scientific. He adapted the sessions to each individual client and shaped a new method of hypnotism. He saw the unconscious not as an evil force to manipulate, but as a means to activate the resources within us to empower self-healing. This means that clients were not put under the 'control' of the hypnotist, but were always free to alter the hypnotic experience or awaken at will. As he was a psychiatrist and hypnotherapist with outstanding professional credentials and because of his solid medical background was a very important person in making hypnotherapy more credible within the medical profession.

David Elman used a different approach to him, but also contributed a lot to the removal of mystery. He also found a quicker and more effective way of hypnosis. He believed that hypnosis should not be restricted to a class of its own, but be open to everyone interested in it. He himself did not have a scientific background and yet influenced the development a lot which shows that not only doctors can discover new techniques. He successfully pointed out that hypnosis is an effective and dynamic therapy, and the most important thing is that the hypnotist is a well-trained professional, no matter from which background.

These days the history seems to be more favourable. In the Eastern World it forms a well integrated form of therapy hand in hand with orthodox medicine. In the West it is more and more accepted, too. Today, many medical doctors refer to hypnotherapists. Of course there are still people rejecting it in reference to the stage shows, but the fact that there are more and more hypnotherapists, proves that people start having faith in hypnotherapy and are pleased with the results. Thanks to modern communications, new discoveries can be easily spread and accessed by everybody. My experience is that most people rejecting hypnosis lack in information and still have this thought of "being under control" of it. There will always be a minority rejecting it, but then, there is nothing in this world everybody agrees on...