What is the History of Hypnosis?
As far back as 2000 B.C. the ancient Egyptians are the first in recorded history to describe the use of powers of hypnosis. In fact, the word Hypnosis comes from the Greek God Hypnos – the God of sleep. It is used not only in religious ceremonies but also a means of treating illness, achieving an enlightened state of being, and a means of escape from reality. It is said that Egyptian slaves used hypnosis to temporarily escape the chains of oppression. The leaders of this movement also known as “Guides” were the first hypnotists. Followers gathered in large groups in dwellings known as “sleeping temples” as the Guides, using the power of suggestion, induced trance to free them from their earthly boundaries. The knowledge and power these guides possessed was passed on to generation after generation of their ancestors. Around 250 B.C. the Guides began to spread out into the other parts of the world, so did the ancient knowledge. Following the lead of the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans w
No one knows for certain when the practice of hypnosis originated. The first known documentation of hypnosis was found in ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics where they referred to their “Sleep Temples”. The word hypnosis comes from the Greek work “hypnos” meaning to sleep. The modern father of hypnosis was an Austrian physician by the name of Franz Mesmer, from whose name the word “mesmerism or mesmerized” is derived. Sigmund Freud also used hypnosis in his practice. The Mayo Brothers of the Mayo Clinic found hypnosis to be highly beneficial. They used hypnotic anesthesia instead of a chemical anesthesia, their patient mortality was far less using hypnoanesthsia over chemical anesthesia. Over the years hypnosis has gained respectability, and its use has become mainstream and as acceptable, as a visit to the dentist.
