Hypnotherapy: A Brief History
James Esdaile (1808-1859) specialised in hypno-anaesthesia (mesmeric sleep) and performed hundreds of operations in India using hypnosis as the only anaesthetic. Whilst in charge of a hospital near Calcutta he continued his research into the use of hypnosis in surgery, only to be overtaken by events when Chloroform and Ether were discovered in 1853. In 1891 the British Medical Association reported “as a therapeutic agent, hypnotism is frequently effective in relieving pain, procuring sleep and alleviating many functional ailments”. This is considered to be a direct result of Esdaile’s work in the field.
Later Milton Erikson (1901-1980) an American physician, became known as ‘The Father of modern day hypnosis’. Erikson conducted numerous clinical and experimental studies which evaluated the nature of trance, trance logic, the use of metaphor and hypnosis as an indirect altered state of consciousness. He is best known for his use of indirect suggestions and communications as a means of therapeutic strategy.
Modern Hypnosis: The term ‘clinical hypnosis’ is now commonly used to describe a specific treatment protocol. It is the use of the ‘hypnotic state’ in a medical framework for the alleviation of physical, psychological or behavioural problems. Clinical Hypnosis employs a protocol, whereby the technique selected, correlates directly to information collected from the case history. This lends itself more readily to research and, in theory, is replicable regardless of practitioner.
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring phenomenon during which the body remains relaxed whilst the mind goes into a highly focused state.
We all experience natural hypnotic-like states, sometimes several times a day. When we are bored, or not fully engaged with our current surroundings, we distract ourselves by day-dreaming about things we would like to do in the future, or perhaps recall pleasant past events. If we are in pain or traumatised we can shift our awareness. It is an ability to dissociate and is a natural protective mechanism.
In addition to passive day-dreaming, there are learned activities such as driving a car, which becomes automatic, we say we are on auto pilot, this is sometimes known as ‘highway hypnosis’ and occurs when a route is so familiar that we do not need to ‘think’ about where we are going. The body is on auto pilot whilst the mind is elsewhere. Clinical hypnosis uses naturally occurring states and behaviours and amplifies them for a therapeutic outcome.
James Esdaile (1808-1859) specialised in hypno-anaesthesia (mesmeric sleep) and performed hundreds of operations in India using hypnosis as the only anaesthetic. Whilst in charge of a hospital near Calcutta he continued his research into the use of hypnosis in surgery, only to be overtaken by events when Chloroform and Ether were discovered in 1853. In 1891 the British Medical Association reported “as a therapeutic agent, hypnotism is frequently effective in relieving pain, procuring sleep and alleviating many functional ailments”. This is considered to be a direct result of Esdaile’s work in the field.
Later Milton Erikson (1901-1980) an American physician, became known as ‘The Father of modern day hypnosis’. Erikson conducted numerous clinical and experimental studies which evaluated the nature of trance, trance logic, the use of metaphor and hypnosis as an indirect altered state of consciousness. He is best known for his use of indirect suggestions and communications as a means of therapeutic strategy.
Modern Hypnosis: The term ‘clinical hypnosis’ is now commonly used to describe a specific treatment protocol. It is the use of the ‘hypnotic state’ in a medical framework for the alleviation of physical, psychological or behavioural problems. Clinical Hypnosis employs a protocol, whereby the technique selected, correlates directly to information collected from the case history. This lends itself more readily to research and, in theory, is replicable regardless of practitioner.
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring phenomenon during which the body remains relaxed whilst the mind goes into a highly focused state.
We all experience natural hypnotic-like states, sometimes several times a day. When we are bored, or not fully engaged with our current surroundings, we distract ourselves by day-dreaming about things we would like to do in the future, or perhaps recall pleasant past events. If we are in pain or traumatised we can shift our awareness. It is an ability to dissociate and is a natural protective mechanism.
In addition to passive day-dreaming, there are learned activities such as driving a car, which becomes automatic, we say we are on auto pilot, this is sometimes known as ‘highway hypnosis’ and occurs when a route is so familiar that we do not need to ‘think’ about where we are going. The body is on auto pilot whilst the mind is elsewhere. Clinical hypnosis uses naturally occurring states and behaviours and amplifies them for a therapeutic outcome.
