The history of hypnosis is full of contradictions. It can be compared to that of breathing; like hypnosis, breathing is an intrinsic and universal trait, shared and experienced by all human beings since the dawn of time, but it has only been decades since man has come to study and appreciate its immense importance (Kihlstorm 1 ). Thus, continually preserving its relevance to breathing, "hypnosis itself has not changed for millennia, but our understanding of it and our ability to control it has changed quite profoundly. The history of hypnosis, therefore, it really is the story of hypnosis." this change in perception" (Kihlstorm 1). It has always been present, although it is a natural state of your body, yet it has recently been dissected and experimented to truly understand its purpose and power. "Ancient Chinese, Hindu, and Egyptian texts mention all healing procedures that are hypnotic inductions by any other name" (Walkin 4), so the roots of hypnosis have come a long way. During these times, the practice was practiced, but without any scientific explanation, resulting in rumored of a demonic or spiritual work. After modernization and industrialization began to replace and extinguish all unproven techniques, including hypnosis, hypnosis took several decades before its next prosperous flowering. Hypnosis in the medical field can be attributed to the famous Franz Mesmer as his work "can be seen as both the last flowering of 'occult' hypnosis and the first flowering of the 'scientific' point of view. Mesmer was the first to propose a rational basis for the effects of hypnosis" (Walkin 16). Mesmer allowed hypnosis to flourish again, but to be accepted among the new "enlig... middle of paper... of your thinking ” (Temes 11). The unconscious mind, which controls all of the automatic processes in your body involuntarily, allows any idea to remain in your brain. With the conscious mind absent, the brain does not judge any new idea coming in, so the mind will agree and believe it without any doubt, free from the subconscious, "your guard is down; Ideas that you might normally object to are easily conveyed into your mind. You will not reject new information that you might normally be wary of" (Temes 12). As a result, one can easily overcome phobias that the mind usually rejects or fears, and even consider new characteristics or habits. With the brain that mentally manages almost every aspect of your actions and character, this mind control allows for an effective alternative or medical technique to help in different situations.