A Natural Remedy: Hypnosis

“Take a deep breath and slowly let it out. Imagine all your muscles slowly relaxing one by one. As you close your eyes picture yourself on the beach listening to the rhythmic beating of the waves against the shore. The salty breeze is the most soothing thing on earth and it makes you want to lie down and not think about your worries, but only about how tranquil it is by the ocean.” The hypnotist says these things as one slowly enters the hypnotic trance. This is one of the ways modern hypnotists use to induce someone into a hypnotic trance. Although many think of hypnosis as being used solely for entertainment; this is not the case. It’s also used in various situations for psychological therapy and has been proven to be successful. Let’s take closer look at this intriguing technique.

Originally thought of as witchcraft, hypnosis did not have a bright start with people, who rejected its validity. What we now call hypnotists used to be called witches, and later, charlatans who were mere entertainers (Temes 3). Franz Anton Mesmer, who is considered the father of hypnosis, began with practicing magnetic healing in the seventeen hundreds (Castleman 395). Magnetic healing then evolved to mesmerizing, which term comes from his last name and means to entrance (Castleman 395). His practices were discredited but his followers continued in his footsteps. The marquis de Puysegur discovered that patients could enter a sleep like state but still communicate and be responsive. (Hadley 10) While John Elliotson used hypnotic trances in his medical practice to perform one thousand eight hundred thirty four surgical operations painlessly (Hadley 10). Sigmund Freud chose not to believe that hypnosis could uncover repressed memories and used techn...

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...en used in many social occasions for harmless fun when a stage hypnotist comes to make people do funny actions. Fraternities and sororities sometimes hire one to socialize and be entertained.

Through the years it is easy to see how hypnosis has progressed. What started out as ordinary entertainment now has potential to actually change habits and thought processes. If someone is looking for a natural way to help with a phobia, pain, behavior, etc. without serious harmful side effects, hypnosis is a powerful solution. It’s important to remember though that only those who want and believe it can help will receive the best results. Although it can be used for more serious aspects, hypnosis is still used today for creative entertainment. Anyone can and should take advantage of its useful influences to overcome or improve whatever it may be, for it is a natural remedy.