Hypnosis is certainly not a new idea. Techniques involving focused attention, suggestion and altered states of awareness have been described in different cultures for centuries. The modern development of hypnosis, however, began to take shape during the 18th and 19th centuries.
One fascinating part of its history is its use in medicine and surgery. In 1829, French surgeon Jules Cloquet reported carrying out a breast operation using what was then described as mesmerism (hypnotism) for pain control.
A few years later, Dr James Esdaile, a Scottish surgeon working in India, became particularly well known for using mesmerism during surgery. In the 1840s he reported carrying out hundreds of operations using mesmerism as the sole form of anaesthesia, including major procedures such as amputations and tumour removal. His work attracted considerable attention, although it was also controversial at the time.
Interestingly, 1846 was also the year that modern chemical surgical anaesthesia began to emerge, and the rapid development of ether and other anaesthetics meant that mesmerism was soon used much less frequently for surgery.
The story of hypnosis continued to develop. James Braid, a Scottish surgeon, later moved away from the idea of mesmerism and helped establish a more scientific approach. He introduced the term “hypnotism” and described it in terms of focused attention rather than magnetic or mystical forces.
Today, hypnosis is understood very differently from the mesmerism which began with Franz Mesmer in the mid-70s. It is now used as a therapeutic technique involving focused attention, relaxation and suggestion, and continues to be explored and used in areas including pain management, anxiety and other healthcare settings.
So, while hypnotherapy may feel like a modern approach, it’s fascinating history stretches back much further than we realise, and we now know where the word “mersmerised” comes from.