Hypnosis

a brief overview of its origin

Sonoran Desert

Since hypnosis has more than likely been around before recorded history, I wanted to start my first blog with a brief history of its origins of when it first came into the scientific community.

Franz Mesmer is credited with the  discovery of hypnosis in France in the mid 1700’s.  His ideas lead to the concept of mezmerization and that pertaining to an altered state.  Although spiritualists from time immemorial have used altered states of consciousness to reach enlightenment,  Mesmer brought the concept of mesmerization into the scientific community.  Mesmer was not looked upon favorably by Scientists at the Royal Academy of France until after his death for his discovery.

James Braid evolved Mesmer’s concepts and began the phrase “hypnosis” in 1842.  Braid used hypnosis to treat psychological and physical conditions in his private practice.  Hypnosis as anesthesia was used in India for surgeries during the mid to late 1800’s.  Field doctors also used hypnosis as a form of anesthesia on the wounded from 1861-65 during the American Civil War.  The hypodermic needle eventually replaced hypnosis as a form of pain management.  Hypnosis has evolved over the centuries and is used more today as a natural therapy.