A Brief History
Did you know that the earliest form and use of Hypnosis can be traced back to Egyptian times 4000 years ago?
Imhotep The Man Who Revolutionized Medicine, Hypnosis and Architecture.
Far removed and famed as the Baddy portrayed in the Blockbuster movie, 'The Mummy', Imhotep was one of the good guys.
Imhotep was an ancient Egyptian polymath who is best known as the designer of the first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Imhotep was also a high priest, a physician, and an architect. He is believed to have used the earliest form of Hypnosis, where people seeking help for their mental, emotional and physical ailments would visit his sleep and dream temples to induce healing.
People would flock to his temples in Memphis and on the island of Philae on the Nile River, known as Sleep or Dream Temples. After arriving at these healing sanctuaries, people who were sick, called seekers experiencing physical or psychological symptoms, would seek remedies for their ailments through their dreams. The person seeking help would undergo hypnotic techniques and rituals involving incantations, chanting, music, and the use of fragrant oils to prepare them for a hypnotic state, given suggestions to induce dreams believed to be sent by the gods. After entering a trance-like sleep, the person's dreams interpreted by the priest or priestesses to determine a cure. Meditation, prayer, and bathing were also part of the process, involving relaxation techniques that allowed the recipient to introspection and restore energy to mind and body.
The sleep temples were so successful that they became a popular form of healing throughout the ancient world. People came from all over to receive treatment, and many believed that Imhotep possessed magical powers.
The Greeks – Healing Dreams
The Romans borrowed the idea of sleep healing from the Greeks and Hypnos, the god and personification of sleep in Greek mythology.
Above: Hypnos, God of Sleep.
Mesmerism
During the 18th century, Dr Franz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian physician, discovered that he could treat people without medical intervention by inducing a hypnotic state through eye fixation. He attributed the success of these "cures" to a magnetic force that regulated the flow of fluids through channels in the body, which became known as Mesmerism.
Mesmer's followers believed in his magnetic therapy, but in 1784, King Louis XVI of France appointed a commission of medical doctors to investigate Mesmer's claims. The commission concluded that animal magnetism and the magnetic field had no value.
James Braid
The term "Hypnosis" was coined by a Scottish doctor named James Braid in the mid-19th century. Known as the "father of modern hypnosis," Braid conducted experiments with hypnotic techniques and concluded that the state induced by them resembled sleep. As a result, he named it after Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep and dreams. Braid also invented the word "neurhypnosis," the term from which the name hypnosis derived.
The term "Hypnosis" was coined by a Scottish doctor named James Braid in the mid-19th century. Known as the "father of modern hypnosis," Braid conducted experiments with hypnotic techniques and concluded that the state induced by them resembled sleep. As a result, he named it after Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep and dreams. Braid also invented the word "neurhypnosis," the term from which the name hypnosis derived.
Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault
Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault (1823-1904) was a little-known French physician who worked with Hippolyte Bernheim, a professor of medicine in Strasbourg, who concluded, that hypnosis does not involve any physical forces or physiological processes. Instead, it is a combination of psychologically mediated responses to suggestions.
Ambroise established a practice at the age of 26 in the village of Pont Saint Vincent, near the town of Nancy, and made many advances in the field of hypnosis and hypnotherapy to go on and co-found the Nancy School of Hypnosis.
Sigmund Freud
During his visit to France, Austrian physician Sigmund Freud was highly impressed by the therapeutic uses of hypnosis for treating neurotic disorders. On return to Vienna, he used hypnosis to help neurotics recall disturbing events that they had forgotten.
The 1900s had notable Hypnotists such as Milton Erickson, George Esterbrook, and Dave Elhman.
Milton Erickson (1901-1980) was a renowned American psychiatrist and psychologist. His speciality was medical hypnosis and family therapy. He saw around 10-20 patients daily for over 60 years. Richard Bandler and John Grinder closely observed Erickson and the founders of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). They studied his techniques and incorporated many of the principles of Ericksonian hypnosis into NLP.
Erickson's unique hypnotic approach became known as "Ericksonian Hypnosis," which involved inducing a trance during a conversation. Milton utilized the patient's environment and bodily responses to facilitate therapy. For instance, he employed the sound of a distant bell chiming clock to induce a trance-like state in his patients. Erickson would instruct them to focus on every chime and let it enhance and deepen their trance. In addition, he would advise them to relax by blinking their eyes while focusing on the natural sensation of closing their eyelids. He was a master of indirect suggestions, often using them in his lectures and books. An Ericksonian hypnotist would be more likely to say, "You can comfortably learn how to go into a trance..." providing an opportunity for the subject to accept the suggestions they are most comfortable with, at their own pace, and with an awareness of the benefits.
According to an American study in Functional Changes in Brain Activity Review by the Psychological Association (APA) Division 30, hypnosis is a state of consciousness where one is focused and less aware of their surroundings. It can enhance a person's response to suggestions and provide a new perspective on reality. Hypnosis was seen as effective in various fields and can affect a person biologically, cognitively, and socially. During hypnosis, a person's consciousness is in the background, while their unconsciousness is more accessible. Neutral hypnosis involves relaxation and reduced perception of peripheral stimuli. Additionally, hypnosis can increase activation in the visual centre. Functional Changes in Brain Activity Using Hypnosis: A Systemic Review, accessed 27 April 2023, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/1/108
Hypnosis has been used for centuries as a therapy and continues to be effective in promoting mental health and physical well-being. It can be learned as a standalone practice or integrated with NLP training. And continues to be used in the effective treatment of:
◦ The easing of pain in childbirth
◦ Removing phobias
◦ Quitting smoking
◦ The treatment of headaches
◦ Better concentration and study techniques
Hypnosis has also been used successfully as an anaesthesia during dental and medical procedures.
Through hypnosis and hypnotherapy, you can unlock your inner potential and improve your ability to concentrate and focus. By achieving a state of deep relaxation and heightened awareness, you can experience a sense of profound tranquillity and calmness. A hypnotherapist guides you through this process using verbal repetition and mental imagery, allowing you to tap into the power of your mind and achieve your goals with greater ease.
