Acharya Mahaprajna
In ancient times, both man and animal had the instinct to guide them to whatever they needed to keep them healthy. But while the animal retained the faculty, man with the progress of civilization gradually lost the instinct. Somebody, however, in the community did retain enough ability to consult instincts and was usually accepted as the healer [1]. Apart from nature healing, diet, medicinal herb, bone setting, minor surgery etc., he also used faith healing in which he made the patient to relax and gave suggestion.
This technique of suggestion (and auto-suggestion) is the most ancient psychotherapy known to mankind. Almost every culture has, in its own may, while exploring the higher states of consciousness, stumbled upon this technique. Each culture, again, has tried to explain these states in accordance with its own beliefs. The most basic factor had always been relaxation and suggestion, which was used to heal the sick.
The technique gained great acceptance during world wars and ultimately was given recognition by both British Medical Association as well as the American Medical Association. Today more and more doctors as well as psychologists use autosuggestion in their practices.
Autosuggestion or self-hypnosis may be seen as a special kind of hypnosis in which the patient himself controls the process. Autosuggestion is the basic principle of the technique of relaxation. Each part of the body is relaxed, in turn by coaxing autosuggestion.
[1] Eg, also called witch doctor in African community.
