Medical Hypnosis | Medical Hypnotherapy History

1. In 1821 Recamier performed the first modern recorded operation using hypnosis as the
     sole anesthesia.

2. Dr. Parker, MD., of England is credited with over 200 painless operations in England
     using hypnosis. His success earned him the nickname "Painless Parker."

3. Starting in 1846, Dr. James Esdaile performed over 2000 operations in Calcutta using
     hypnosis as the sole means of anesthetic, 300 of them major. In those days the chances
     of surviving even minor surgery were pretty slim. Hypnosis gave Dr. Esdaile a low
     mortality rate and rapid post-operative recovery. Hypnosis would probably be used more
     routinely in surgery today if not for the introduction of chloroform.

4. In 1841, in Manchester, England Professor James Braid first used the word "hypnotism",
     which stems from the Greek word "Hypnos", meaning sleep.

5. Dr. Som N. Nayer performed brain surgery using hypnosis for anesthesia in Indianapolis,
     1962. Hypnosis performed by Paul Brady.

6. The British Medical Association approved hypnosis in 1955. The American Medical
     Association followed suit in 1958, acknowledging the therapeutic value of hypnosis.

7. Dr. Herbert Speigel, MD. (Clinical Professor of the Columbia College of Physicians and
     surgeons) states: "Hypnosis is not a treatment; it is an idiom in which change of behavior
     can be brought about."

8. Dr. Milton Kline, Ph.D., states in the June edition of Harpers Bazaar, "Hypnosis has been
     able to cure people of smoking and over-eating when all else failed."

9. Dr. W.S. Kroger, states in the book, Mind Over Platter: "Hypnosis which bypasses the
     critical nature of the conscious mind and utilizes the automatically of the subconscious
     mind to make dieting a pleasant, as well as rewarding experience!"

10. William Hoffman, Executive Director of the American Clinical Society of Hypnosis (which
     represent 4,100 professional holding doctoral degrees in medicine, dentistry…) stated in
     the Chicago Sun Times: "It (hypnosis) can be very supportive for the things we hear most
     about, such as weight control."

11. Dr. Herbert Speigel (retired Clinical Professor of the Columbia College of Physicians and
     Surgeons) recently stated in an article entitled 'Pain Control and Hypnosis', featured in
     the Chicago Sun Times: "Modern medicine puts such extreme emphasis on high
     technology and drugs, that it often overlooks the oldest, most effective therapeutic
     instrument that humans possess – the mind."

12. Dr. R.B. Stuart, states in the report 'Behavior Control and Overeating', that with hypnosis,
     patients improved their social relationships, adopted the weight loss control regime and
     stopped smoking.

This is just a brief modern history. The real history goes back thousands of years. I originally put this on the site to help some children with a school project. Hopefully you find it interesting too.

The History of Medical Hypnosis

Just What The Doctor Ordered