Susan Green

Hypnos is the Greek word for sleep, although the state of hypnosis is very different from sleep, and references to hypnosis can be found going all the way back to ancient Greece and Egypt. Both cultures used hypnosis to help problems. Austrian physician, Franz Mesmer (1734 - 1815) from whose name the word 'mesmerism' is derived, is credited with reviving the use of hypnotism in modern times. Although a brilliant man, Mesmer was criticised by his peers who no doubt found his methods of inducing hypnosis rather strange and certainly longwinded.