Further Information About Hypnotherapy

History of Hypnosis

Hypnotherapy is a form of healing that can be traced back thousands of years to cultures where dancing and chanting were used as healing rituals. In ancient Egypt, people visited "sleep temples" where they were seen to enter a "trance-like" state before being cured of common ailments. The Druids, who referred to altered states of consciousness as "magic sleeps”, also practiced a sophisticated form of hypnotherapy.

By the early 20th century, hypnosis was seen primarily as a form of entertainment. In 1955 the British Medical Association endorsed the practice of "hypnotherapy" and now it is increasingly an accepted part of conventional medicine.

Hypnotherapy is becoming more and more of a recognized treatment for a wide range of diseases. It is often used within the hospice environment for the treatment of cancers as it can assist the patient in dealing with the stress of their illness.

Hypnotherapists are increasingly playing a role in general healthcare. It is estimated that more than 75% of modern day illnesses are stress induced. Hypnotherapy has a role to play in reducing stress and making significant changes to our body chemistry.

Stage Hypnosis

Stage Hypnosis is probably one of the most controversial ways that hypnosis is used today. There is a lot of concern over its use; however, it really only works because the practitioner has developed the ability to choose subjects with extrovert personalities who are susceptible to the power of suggestion. Social compliance can be a great motivator and being under hypnosis a good excuse to really express another side of yourself. The stage hypnotist has contributed to the image of hypnosis as a 'trance', 'sleep like' or 'out-of -this-world' state. In fact the opposite is true: under hypnosis all of your five senses are actually heightened.