Interested in the history of hypnosis? In this article, we'll look at the different periods of hypnosis, from antiquity to modern history.
Antiquity: History of hypnosis
Since ancient times, many civilizations have noted the existence of a link between physical and mental problems. The Romans expressed this asMens Sana In Corpore Sano"or " A healthy mind in a healthy body ".
The ancient Romans and Greeks used sleep temples where patients were plunged into half-sleep. The aim was to cure illnesses through the use of mental suggestion.
In Africa, this link was also apparent in shamanic rites, later also found in America. Among these rites, the use of drum beats and chanting induced a cataleptic state in their subjects. This cataleptic state helped to connect the physical and mental realms and heal certain ailments.
Today, these ancestral methods can be likened to the autosuggestion method. A patient in a state of semi-consciousness may, by suggesting to himself that he is well, notice a reduction in his symptoms. Not least thanks to a reduction in stress and other effects that have been demonstrated but are not always understood.
Modern hypnosis
The history of modern hypnosis began in the 18th century with Anton Mesmerwho became famous for curing mental disorders with magnetism. He had previously been a Jesuit priest. His magnetism technique, combined with a well-developed discourse, induced patients into a second state. In this second state, they were convinced that they had been cured by magnetism.
The story continues in the 19th century when surgeons James Braid and James Esdaile discovered, in the course of similar experiments, the power to hypnosis. They found that some patients could enter a trance when their eyes were captivated by slow scanning movements of objects. This state of trance induced complete anaesthesia of the whole body, and made it possible to reduce chloroform doses during surgery.
Modern hypnosis and sophrology date back to the 20th century with the psychiatrist Dr Milton Erikson. By inducing his patients into a hypnotic state using various relaxation methods, he achieved excellent results in the treatment of various psychological disorders.
Therapeutic efficacy: History in action
Over the past thirty years, a number of scientific studies have been carried out to confirm or refute the effectiveness of hypnosis, self-hypnosis and sophrology. In 2002, for example, scientist John H. Gruzelier obtained a 40% reduction in the cyclical onset of genital herpes in 65% patients who underwent 6 weeks of hypnosis sessions via audio recordings [source]. Another study comparing hypnosis and cognitive therapy for the treatment of depression found that both techniques had similar benefits, with the efficacy of hypnosis being higher than that of cognitive therapy.hypnosis being slightly higher [source].
Today, hypnosis and sophrology are the subject of numerous studies worldwide. Its applications are multiplying in both the medical and personal development fields.
Conclusion: The history of hypnosis
Hypnosis is as old as humanity itself. Eventually, over the ages, hypnosis was simply given other names.
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