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
This brief excerpt from an earlier article summarises specific examples of the main suggestions (and autosuggestions) used for coping with pregnancy and natural childbirth, derived from a survey of the hypnotherapy literature. Continue reading
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
Excerpt from a letter by the Mesmerist James Esdaile to fellow Scotsman James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy. Continue reading
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
This short article provides some little-known quotations from Hippolyte Bernheim’s later writings in which the father of 20th century hypnotism makes it clear that he does not consider hypnosis to be in any way related to sleep but rather to be a general state of heightened suggestibility. Continue reading
James Braid’s life and works, an excerpt from the book The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid (2009). Continue reading
This short article explains how hypnotism actually originated, in part, under the influence of Oriental meditation techniques, described in the writings of James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy. Continue reading
Some reviews and free online sample of the new collected edition of James Braid’s writings. Continue reading
This short article reviews Braid’s concept of hypnotism in his later writings and attempts to correct certain widespread misconceptions among hypnotherapists, about the original nature of hypnotism. Continue reading