History of Hypnosis.

Ancient civilisations, with their social structure based on the beliefs and worship of their Gods may seem so far removed from our sense of the world but some of their beliefs/practices do resonate with our understanding of the mind that it is interesting to reflect upon them. Egypt, Greece and the Middle East had “sleep “ temples, hospitals of sorts, where people could be treated for their ailments, chanting, fasting, baths and meditation were involved to produce a “sleep“ state or “trance” like state, we recognise as the “hypnotic” state.Sleep was closely associated with death by the Egyptians, so a waking sleep, was a step into the Afterlife. In this “sleep” that one could commune or dream of the gods. The priests would talk to the Gods, through suggestions with the person in “sleep”and ask for healing.(ref1)

The Egyptians believed the “soul” which past to the Afterlife as a “spirit “ was made of 9 parts, centred in the heart.  All of the 9 parts had to be united to enter the Afterlife. Interestingly, 2 “parts” of the soul, were Ba and Ka , descriptions of these 2 parts are remarkably similar to our present understanding of the conscious and unconscious mind.

South Asia ancient cultures were also using a “hypnotic “state. Using meditation in their individual spiritual practices. A calm mind to contemplate….. We still draw heavily from this type of practice, whether we call it meditation, yoga, mindfulness……

In1027, The Book of Healing is published by Avicenna a Persian psychologist and physician who makes the distinction between sleep and hypnosis. He also makes the distinction that hypnosis can be created by another and that the person hypnotised would believe what they are told…..

Ref2

The discovery of Hypnotism, is often given to to Franz Mesmer. In 1778, he moves to Paris with his “Mesmerism” theories , an invisible animal force , a 6th sense, a fluid, magnets….all a bit hard to understand how anyone ever believed it, but a great example of a fad. but,it was actually the inquiry set up with disproving his theories, yes, they were so popular with the establishment,  “concluded that mesmeric effects were due to an as yet largely unknown power: not a nervous fluid, but the power of imagination”.

The commissioners cautioned that “the imagination could be manipulated to intoxicate crowds, provoke riots, spur fanaticism. The imagination was, they warned, an "active and terrible power."

Unfortunately some of the claims made by Mesmer and his followers periodically resurface.

Ref3

James Braid, a Scottish doctor,1843 was a pioneer of hypnotism and hypnotherapy and it is his work that first popularised the terms. His move away from the negative connotations of mesmerism and his methodical recording of his methods and insight into the nature and use of trance is the bases of how we understand Hypnotherapy now. He demonstrated that a hypnotic state could be achieved quickly, senses were heightened and pain could be alleviated .

Ref4

Science finally agrees with Avicenna, when in 1933, Clark Hull, a university scientist, released, Hypnosis and Suggestibility, where rigours  clinical research confirms this to be so.

Ref5

Meanwhile, Dave Elman adapted the rapid stage hypnosis techniques ,he taught practitioners how to achieve trance quickly and freeing up time for more therapeutic work. His permissive style, aligning with the self help movement helps hypnosis to become more widespread and diversified away from the physical application.

Ref5

When Émile Coué a pharmacist, observed patients responding better to their  medication when he told them how effective it was, he developed the concept of autosuggestion. An idea that the unconscious can be modified through suggestion.

He is best remembered for the phrase “every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better”.His ideas influenced the rise in popularity of self-hypnosis and positive affirmations

Ref5

The 1960’s boom in self help, and in particular, talking therapies, including Hypnotherapy continues to the present day.

Hypnosis may have changed a lot over the centuries, but many of the concepts reoccur throughout history, changing and adapting to age. I have only picked out a few examples, so much more I could have included, especially on Milton H. Erickson, so he will be getting his own blog….

1.Imhotep (who lived from approximately 2650–2600 BC) was a doctor and also Chancellor to the King of Egypt. Documentation of his work was found in an Egyptian tomb from 1500 BC, a Papyrus is on show at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, New York City.

2. 1027, The Book of Healing is published by Avicenna a Persian

3. https://exhibits.stanford.edu/super-e/feature/franz-anton-mesmer-1734-1815

4.  Neurypnology James Braid 1843

5. http://www.historyofhypnosis.org/20th-century-and-beyond.html