What Is Hypnosis

Let’s start with Franz Anton Mesmer May 23rd, 1734-1815, a German physician who theorized that there was a natural energetic transference between animated and inanimate objects, which he called (animal magnetism), and other spiritual forces called (mesmerism). Mesmer treated both individuals and groups of people to overcome many different problems, both physical and psychological.

With his patients, he used to create a focal point by staring into the patient’s eyes (creating a trance-like state, which is, in modern terms, known as a hypnotic induction). He would then move his hands across the patient’s shoulders and down the arms and press his fingers on the patient’s hypochondrium, holding them in position for many hours.

Group Hypnosis

When working with groups of patients, Mesmer put a “baquet” in the middle of the floor, which had holes punctured at the top, corresponding to how many patients were in attendance. Iron rods from the holes were bent at right angles, pointing outwards towards the part of the person’s body that needed healing.

From the iron rod, there was a rope that the patient would hold, which was supposed to communicate with the vessel and then to the next person around the vessel. This was a very early form of healing, which was quickly stopped by King Louis XVI, who appointed four members of the Faculty of Medicine as commissioners to investigate animal magnetism as practised by Mesmer.

Where Did Hypnosis Come From?

The word hypnosis was proposed by Dr James Braid (1799-1860) around 1841, a Scottish surgeon studying Mesmer’s work. The word hypnosis derives from a technique from mesmerism after Dr Braid attended an event on hypnotism by Swiss magnetizer Charles Lafontaine in Manchester.

Dr Braid initially concluded that the phenomenon was a form of sleep and called it hypnosis after Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep and master of dreams. The words hypnosis and hypnotism came from neuro-hypnotism (nervous sleep).

In 1847, Dr Braid realized that the phenomenon of catalepsy, anaesthesia, and amnesia could be induced without sleep, so he attempted to change the name to monoideism (a state of prolonged absorption in a single idea), but it was too late. The term hypnosis was here to stay because it had already been adopted all over Europe.

The Future Of Hypnosis

Hypnosis has moved on a very long way since Dr Braid. Nevertheless, it has become widely accepted in the medical profession as a precious natural alternative therapy, which has proven to be incredibly effective where modern medicine has been ineffective (especially for psychological disorders).

In modern times, hypnosis can be used as a powerful tool by clinical hypnotherapists in Newcastle upon Tyne to access the subconscious part of the mind where they can use the skill of hypnotherapy to help people stop smoking, lose weight or overcome fear and social phobias.

Contact Quays Clinic Today!

If you want hypnotherapy in Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, or County Durham for help with stopping smoking or weight loss, contact Quays Clinic. Hypnotherapist Ian Smith is an Internationally respected hypnotist who is a certified instructor in self-hypnosis and hypnotherapy training.

Quays Clinic: Telephone 0774 3353367

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