Definition of Hypnosis
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Hypnosis: A
part of healing from ancient times. The
induction of trance states and the use of
therapeutic suggestion were a central
feature of the early Greek healing temples,
and variations of these techniques were
practiced throughout the ancient world.
Modern hypnosis began in
the eighteenth century with Franz Anton
Mesmer, who used what he called "magnetic
healing" to treat a variety of psychological
and psychophysiological disorders, such as
hysterical blindness, paralysis, headaches,
and joint pains. Since then, the fortunes of
hypnosis have ebbed and flowed. Freud, at
first, found it extremely effective in
treating hysteria and then, troubled by the
sudden emergence of powerful emotions in his
patients and his own difficulty with its
use, abandoned it.
In the past 50 years,
however, hypnosis has experienced a
resurgence, first with physicians and
dentists and more recently with
psychologists and other mental health
professionals. Today, it is widely used for
addictions, such as
smoking and drug use, for pain controls,
and for phobias, such as the fear of flying.
Hypnosis is frequently
used either independently or in concert with
other treatment, including the management of
pain, reduction of bleeding in hemophiliacs,
stabilization of blood sugar in diabetics,
reduction in severity of attacks of
hay fever and
asthma, increased
breast size, the cure of
warts, the production of skin blisters
and bruises, and control of reaction to
allergies such as
poison ivy and certain foods.
The term hypnosis comes
from the name of
Hypnos, the ancient god of
dreams.
