A state of increased receptivity to suggestion and direction, initially induced by the influence of another person. The origins of hypnosis date back to the ancient Chinese and Egyptians, who used it in religious rituals and as a medical treatment. The first modern-day medical uses of the therapy weren't recorded until the late 18th century, however, when the Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer, who was working in France, introduced what he called Mesmerism (the origin of the modern word "mesmerize").

The word "hypnosis" is derived from the Greek - Hypnos meaning "sleep." Actually, you're not asleep when hypnotized, but rather are in a trance like state of restful alertness. This is accompanied by an extreme openness and receptivity to suggestion. Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for self-improvement and/or healing.

Mesmer believed the body contained "animal magnetism" and that imbalances in "magnetic fluids" through the body could cause a variety of diseases. He claimed he had the ability to cure certain ailments by manipulating these subtle energies using iron filings and magnets, as well as soothing words and gestures. Not surprisingly, Mesmerism was rapidly discredited by a panel of physicians and academics.

Hypnosis reached a new level of acceptance by the scientific world in 1995, when a National Institutes of Health (NIH) assessment panel recommended that it be considered an element of the medical protocol for chronic pain. The assessment panel also recommended that hypnosis patients be reimbursed by insurance companies.

Health benefits:
Clinically, the hypnotic trance is mainly used to change unwanted behaviours, such as smoking, overeating, or overreacting to stress. Psychiatrists may also recommend hypnotherapy for controlling phobias or panic attacks.

Deep hypnosis can be beneficial in relieving chronic pain from such ailments as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and even cancer. It helps with depression & people suffering from Insomnia.