Hypnosis dates back to over 4000 years ago and the times of Ancient Egypt. The people had places called dream or sleep temples where the sick were healed. Priests would perform chanting which would send the sick people to sleep and whilst in that condition the person would be healed of their ailment. This, of course, was the power of suggestion at work as a healer.

In today's world, hypnosis is used regularly on many self improvement programs such as weight loss and stopping smoking. It has also been used as a control method for other situations, for example, thumb-sucking and bed-wetting. One of the reasons that hypnotherapy is becoming popular so quickly is that it does not involve drugs and the patients suffer no known serious side effects.

Hypnosis is defined in the dictionary as a changed state of consciousness normally achieved with the help of a hypnotherapist. Someone who is under hypnosis is usually considered to have deep attentiveness, in intense relaxation and has elevated suggestibility. Many believe that hypnosis is also a means of access to introverted memories, numerous personalities, spiritual visions or recollections of long-ago lives.

Hypnosis is also used as a restorative practice to help get control over one's actions and deeds, feelings or well-being. Hypnotherapy also has the possibilities to aid in the respite of warning signs connected with different health circumstances. It is characteristically used alongside other treatments.

The most frequent hypnotic techniques are eye fixation or fixed-gaze induction, rapid progressive relaxation and imagery, and losing ones balance. The fixed-gaze induction or eye fixation method engages in getting the person to concentrate intently on any one object and block everything else out. The hypnotist talks to the person in a low tone which lulls him or her into a full state of relaxation.

The rapid technique is carried out by filling the subject's mind to capacity with firm and abrupt commands. The subject will then surrender his conscious control over the situation. This is the method usually used by stage hypnotists.

The hypnotic method is the one mostly employed by psychiatrists during performance of the progressive relaxation and imagery technique. The hypnotist's slow and relaxed voice will gradually lull the subject into complete oblivion until full hypnosis is reached. This method is also used in self-hypnosis training when listening to relaxation and meditation audio tapes. The loss of balance system uses unhurried, cadenced rocking to produce a loss of symmetry. An example of this is when we rock a baby to sleep.

Supporters of hypnotism regard it as an important tool with a broad array of functions. For one, hypnotism can be used to turn round bad habits. Hypnotherapists may propose ways that subjects can use hypnosis to reach precise objectives such as taking control of, or stopping longings related to smoking cessation. Unconstructive patterns of behavior may also be addressed through forms of psychiatric hypnotherapy and it is especially effective in problems with fears and phobias. Law enforcement persons can also take advantage of hypnosis through forensic hypnotism when a subject's deep memories are brought out into the open to help solve a crime. Medical hypnotherapy is also seen as a useful tool. Hypnotic suggestions are used on patients to relieve them of pain and to cure their illnesses.

Hypnosis is thought to be complementary and an option for treatment and should always be carried out whilst being supervised by a trained hypnotherapist. If hypnosis is not performed correctly it may lead to dizziness, nausea and headaches.