Did Hypnosis Exist in Ancient Civilizations?

Did hypnosis exist in ancient times? How did people use hypnosis in their life? Below I will show you how hypnosis existed in the early ages of civilization.

In ancient times, hypnosis was used for healing purposes, especially in religious ceremonies. The earliest evidence of its existence was shamans.

Shaman paid special attention to the concentration before healing. He avoided the use of any chemicals or alcoholic substances in the first 24 hours of the process. Because he needed a strong concentration, so he avoided anything distracting.

During the process, shaman made himself as comfortable as possible, which allowed shaman’s subconscious mind to become strongly focused. Then he started the journey for healing. In this process, shaman was in a powerful process of visualization and suggestion during which he willed the sick person to be healed.

Group Hypnosis began with ancient civilizations. Many group rituals, such as mass chanting and meditation to a steady drum beat were parts of religious ceremonies. There was healing of the mind before any medical practice.

Hypnosis has been a part of ancient cultures in places such as Egypt. The earliest written records can be found in Ebers Papyrus - an Egyptian medical text. Ebers Papyrus preserves the most voluminous record of ancient Egyptian medicine.

The Ancient Egyptians had their Temples of Sleep and the Greeks their Shrines of Healing. Sleep temples were hospitals of sorts, healing a variety of ailments. Treatment involved chanting, dancing, placing the patient into a hypnotic state and analyzing their dreams in order to determine treatment.

Hypnotic-like inductions were used to place the individual in a sleep-like state, although it is now accepted that hypnosis is different from sleep.

The elements of hypnosis are also seen in Persian Magi, Celtic Druids, Chinese teachers of religion, Hindu Fakirs and African Witch Doctors.

Avicenna (980-1037), a Persian psychologist and physician, was the earliest to make a distinction between sleep and hypnosis. In “The Book of Healing”, which he published in 1027, he referred to hypnosis in Arabic as al-Wahm al-Amil, stating that one could create conditions in another person so that he/she accepts the reality of hypnosis.

This is an ancient history of hypnosis and how people used it. Learning ancient hypnosis history helps to understand the modern hypnosis better and improve it this way.