Hypnotic or suggestive therapy is the oldest of all healing techniques that has been used for many centuries. The concept of trance phenomenon recurs throughout history, where some form of hypnosis appears part of many cultures. The term hypnosis "curing sleep" comes from ancient Egypt. The best known links to modern hypnosis are the "sleep temples" of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, which were places of pilgrimage and healing.  In the middle Ages, belief in miraculous cures associated with religious shrines was widespread. Healing was brought about by touch and prayer.

Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815)

Mesmer's dissertation at the University of Vienna (M.D., 1766), suggested that the gravitational attraction of the planets affect human health by affecting an invisible fluid found in the human body and throughout nature.  In 1775, Mesmer revised his theory of "animal gravitation" to one of "animal magnetism," wherein the invisible fluid in the body acted according to the laws of magnetism.  According to Mesmer, animal magnetism could be activated by any magnetized object and manipulated by any trained person.

Count Maxime de Puysegut (1784)

Discovered a form of deep trance he called somnambulism.  He believed that the magnetic power was produced in his own mind and was transferred to the patient via his fingertips. He found that he could produce a sleep in which the patient would follow his commands - very authoritarian - and introduced the terms “perfect crisis” and “profound sleep”.

James Braid (1795-1860)

British surgeon and a pioneer investigator of hypnosis. In 1841, James Braid saw a demonstration of mesmerism by a French man named La Fontaine. He was impressed, and started using the mesmerism techniques in his practice. He used his shiny bright lancet case to induce his patients to enter a deep "hypnotic sleep". In that state, his patients would accept his "healing suggestions." He thought the reason this worked was staring at a bright object exhausted the nervous system rather than involving magnetism. He coined the word Neurypnology (literally ‘nervous sleep’), from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep.

This was the first use of the word hypnosis.

Emile Coue (1857-1926)

Pioneered the use of autosuggestion.  Although stressing he was not primarily a healer, but one who taught others to heal themselves.  He claimed to have effected organic changes through autosuggestion.

Milton H. Erickson, MD (1901-1980)

Recognized as the leading authority on clinical hypnosis and a master of indirect hypnosis. Erickson was able to put a person into a trance without even mentioning the word hypnosis.

Other significant dates:

1925-1947:  Use of hypnosis in dentistry is developed in the U.S.

1950s:  Both the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association issued statements supporting the usefulness of hypnosis as a form of therapy.

1958:  British Hypnotherapy founded and the Catholic Church accepted hypnosis as legitimate therapy.

1962:  Indianapolis, IN - A brain operation was performed under hypnosis.

1968:  The British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis was founded, exclusively for medical doctors and dentists.