Braid on Hypnotism, Childbirth and Infants
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Excerpts from The Discovery of Hypnosis, The Complete Writings of James Braid, dealing with childbirth and infants. Continue reading
Category Archives: James Braid: The Founder of Hypnotherapy
“On Esdaile and Hypnotic Anaesthetic” from The Complete Writings of James Braid
On Esdaile & Hypnotic Anaesthetic”: Letter to The Medical Times (1847) Excerpt from The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid[This small study could be considered to show, at best, either 30% or 60% “success” for Esdaile’s Mesmeric … Continue reading
Essential Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy Information
A short article addressing five common fallacies about hypnosis and hypnotherapy, still all-too-common among hypnotherapists. Continue reading
Hypnotism versus Homoeopathy in the Writings of James Braid
Excerpts from the writings of James Braid showing the founder of hypnotherapy highlighting the contradictions between hypnotism and homoeopathy, which he attacks as a pseudoscientific and nostrum (“quack”) remedy. Continue reading
Key Figures in the History of Hypnosis
Short article, with links to Wikipedia, with notes on some of the most influential figures in the history of hypnotism. Continue reading
James Braid on Suggestion and Childbirth
This brief excerpt shows James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy, employing suggestion with a hypnotic subject to induce labour. Continue reading
An Early Hypnotic Subject Speaks
Dr. James John Garth Wilkinson was an early Victorian hypnotist. He was hypnotised by James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy, observed many of his experiments, and became a hypnotist himself. Wilkinson was also a popular writer and describes the subjective experience of being hypnotised in colourful and expressive language, e.g., as a “diamond glare” of focused attention, etc. Continue reading
James Esdaile writes to James Braid about Mesmerism and Hypnotism
Excerpt from a letter by the Mesmerist James Esdaile to fellow Scotsman James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy. Continue reading
James Braid on Self-Hypnosis and Hindu Yoga
Excerpt from James Braid’s collected writings, The Discovery of Hypnosis, in which the founder of hypnotherapy discusses the relationship between hypnotism and yogic meditation, from a sceptical perspective. Continue reading
That Hypnotism Never Meant Mind-Control According to its Founder James Braid
Another short snippet from James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy, which makes it very clear that Braid emphasised hypnotism required the conscious consent of the subject and could not be used for “mind-control”, contrary to the claims of the Mesmerists. Continue reading