Throughout recorded history, many rituals and techniques used by various cultures and groups, such as the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and tribal cultures, can be best described as hypnotic in nature. And references to deep sleep and anaesthesia can be found in the Old Testament, the Talmud and even in a collection of sacred writings of Judaism. The history of hypnosis as studied in the West however, can be viewed as a blunder that led to some amazing discoveries and insights.

1770's: Franz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian physician, claimed to 'magnetise' his subjects using water tubs and magnetic wands to redistribute magnetic fluids which had been cut off or improperly distributed within the body and resulted in illness. A French commission in 1784 rejected his claims that magnetic fluids existed and concluded that any healing effects were the result of his subjects’ imaginations. But his ideas sparked off great interest in the power of the human mind.

Mid 1800’s: James Braid, a British physician, attempted to define hypnotism as a phenomena that could be scientifically studied.

Late 1800’s: Jean Martin Charcot, a French neurologist, performed many experiments using hypnosis that appeared to relieve certain nervous conditions.

Early 1900’s: Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist and psychologist, maintained the effects of hypnosis were based on the inhibition, or a blockage, of certain nerve impulses in the brain.

Today hypnosis is used in both mainstream medicine and in alternative therapy to help people overcome difficulties and challenges that require a change in thinking.