The story of hypnosis is a fascinating journey that stretches back millennia, often misunderstood and shrouded in mystery, yet consistently woven into the fabric of human healing and belief. It’s not a modern invention, but rather an ancient practice repackaged through different lenses over time.
Our first glimpses of what we might call hypnotic states appear in ancient civilisations. Think of the sleep temples of Egypt and Greece, where individuals would go to seek healing and divine guidance, often entering trance-like states. Shamans and healers across various cultures have long used rhythmic drumming, chanting, and repetitive movements to induce altered states of consciousness for ritual, healing, and spiritual insight. These weren’t called “hypnosis,” but the underlying principles of focused attention and suggestibility were undoubtedly at play.
Fast forward to the 18th century, and we meet Franz Mesmer, an Austrian physician who brought “animal magnetism” to the forefront in Paris. Mesmer believed in an invisible natural force (“animal magnetism”) transferred between all living things, and he would “mesmerise” his patients by passing his hands over them, sometimes with dramatic results. While his theories were eventually debunked by scientific commissions, Mesmer inadvertently laid the groundwork for future exploration by demonstrating the profound influence of suggestion and expectation on the human body and mind. This is where the term “mesmerised” originates.
The 19th century saw a critical shift. A Scottish surgeon named James Braid coined the term “hypnosis” in the 1840s, derived from the Greek word “hypnos” meaning “sleep.” He recognised that the phenomena Mesmer observed weren’t due to a magnetic fluid, but rather a psychological state induced by focused attention and suggestion. Braid used hypnosis for pain relief during surgeries, marking a crucial step towards its acceptance as a medical tool.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, figures like Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault and Hippolyte Bernheim in Nancy, France, developed the “Nancy School” of hypnotism, emphasising the role of suggestibility. Around the same time, Jean-Martin Charcot at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris explored hypnosis with hysterical patients, though his theories were later largely discredited. However, the work of both schools highlighted the mind’s power over the body and paved the way for psychological therapies.
Perhaps one of the most influential figures to emerge from this period, initially working with hypnosis before developing his own theories, was Sigmund Freud. Freud’s early work with Josef Breuer involved hypnosis to uncover repressed memories, but he eventually moved away from it in favour of “free association,” giving birth to psychoanalysis. Despite this, his initial explorations with hypnosis underscored its potential for accessing the unconscious mind.
The 20th century brought both skepticism and scientific validation. Hypnosis gained recognition, particularly in the mid-20th century, for its applications in medicine, dentistry, and psychotherapy. Pioneering figures like Milton H. Erickson, an American psychiatrist, revolutionised the practice with his indirect and permissive approach, often using metaphors and storytelling to induce trance states and facilitate therapeutic change. His work emphasised the unconscious mind’s vast resources and innate ability to heal.
Today, the 21st century sees hypnosis firmly rooted in neuroscience. Modern brain imaging techniques like fMRI and EEG are providing concrete evidence of the brain changes that occur during hypnotic states, moving it from the realm of mysticism to a legitimate, evidence-based therapeutic tool. We now understand more about how hypnosis can influence pain perception, enhance neuroplasticity, and regulate stress responses, further solidifying its place in complementary and integrative medicine.
From ancient rituals to modern brain scans, the history of hypnosis is a testament to humanity’s enduring quest to understand and harness the incredible power of the mind. It’s a journey from “animal magnetism” to scientifically validated brain states, continually revealing new possibilities for healing and personal growth.