Do you know your John Elliotson and James Esdaile history?

I've always found one of the most amazing uses of hypnosis to be in the area of pain control. The idea that full surgery can be done without any anesthesia has always been, in my opinion, one of the most impressive applications of hypnosis.

I've often mentioned to clients or audiences that hypnosis was used in many surgeries in the 1800's, especially noted in the Civil War for amputations. Not only would the operation be pain-free, but the survival rate was much higher and healing much faster with patients that had hypnoanesthesia.

That's why I was so pleased to find the article, "Hypnosis as Sole Anesthesia for Major Surgeries: Historical & Contemporary Perspectives," which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Oct 2008. It is not only an excellent reference on the history of hypnoanesthesia, focusing on the two most noted surgeons that used it in the Victorian age, but the author also covers modern cases, applications and results of hypnoanesthesia from his personal experience.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the article for some people, no doubt, will be the extensive references section. Seven pages of deep-dug references of books, studies, articles and documentation of hypnosis as the sole anesthesia for medical procedures.

For the professional hypnotherapist, this article will provide the citations, names and specifics behind the interesting conversations about hypnosis and surgery.