Oriental hypnosis

Oriental Hypnosis Oriental Hypnosis old Indian method of healing practiced by Sadhus, Fakirs,Yogis and Sanyasis. These people indulge in self hypnosis by practicing rhythmic breathing exercise method like pranayama and meditation etc. For hetero hypnosis they used suggestive techniques (including loud command “sleep”) and threatening stare etc. to bring out subjects imagination generated from within the mind. In the early 19th century Abbe Faria a contemporary to Mesmer introduced oriental hypnosis to Paris.

Later Dr. James Esdaile learned some trance techniques from Bengali Hindu fakirs and developed it as mesmeric anesthesia. Famous historian Will Durant writes in his book “The Story of civilizations” (Page 531 of 1937-edition.) “Hypnotism as therapy seems to have originated among Indians, who often took their sick to the temples to be cured by hypnotic suggestion. The Englishmen who introduced hypnotherapy into England-Braid, Esdaile and Elliotson- "undoubtedly got their ideas, and some of their experience, from contact with India."