Hypnotic or suggestive therapy is the oldest of all healing techniques.
From the Sleep Temples of Egypt through the histories of ancient Greece and Rome some form of hypnosis has always been an
intimate part of all cultures.
In the Middle Ages, healing through touch and prayer became the
major way of treating disease. In the 18th century - when it was believed that illness was caused by the magnetic influence
of astral bodies - Franz Anton Mesmer would induce people into a trance-like state by what he believed to be Animal Magnetism.
Although Mesmerism was soon discredited, it continued to be used even after the death of Mesmer as it often produced
'miracle' cures. When James Braid re-examined Mesmerism in the 19th century he discovered that simple suggestion was
just as effective as Mesmerism or any other method to induce trance-like states.
In the early part of the twentieth century hypnosis was used
almost exclusively by stage hypnotists, thereby projecting a hopelessly distorted view of this very powerful therapeutic tool.
However, in 1955 the British Medical Association endorsed the practice of hypnosis in Medical School education, since when
it has become a valuable addition to conventional medical treatment.
