Mesmerism, also called animal magnetism, is the healing practice developed by the German physician Franz Anton Mesmer in the 1770s. Mesmer believed an invisible natural force flowed through all living things and that a practitioner could guide it, using hand movements called “passes”, to restore balance and health. Mesmerism became a sensation in 18th-century Europe and is the direct forerunner of modern hypnosis.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
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How we wrote this guide: this guide was written by Saj Ali. Every research claim below links to the original study, its DOI or an official record.
Quick answer: what is mesmerism?
- It is named after Franz Anton Mesmer. Mesmer (1734–1815) was a German physician who developed the theory of animal magnetism in Vienna and Paris (Encyclopaedia Britannica: Franz Anton Mesmer).
- It used “magnetic passes” and close rapport. Practitioners moved their hands slowly over or near the body and built a strong connection with the patient, often leading to deep, trance-like states.
- It led directly to hypnosis. Mesmer’s followers discovered “magnetic sleep”, and in the 1840s Scottish surgeon James Braid coined the word “hypnosis” while studying these states.
- The word “mesmerise” comes from it. Today, to be mesmerised means to be completely captivated, a reminder of how fascinating his sessions were.
- Its modern descendant is well researched. A meta-analysis of 20 controlled studies found that surgical patients who received hypnosis had better outcomes than 89% of patients in control groups (Montgomery et al., 2002).
Contents
- What Is Mesmerism?
- The Life of Franz Anton Mesmer
- How Mesmerism Worked
- How to Try a Mesmerism-Inspired Relaxation
- From Mesmerism to Hypnosis
- Mesmerism Around the World
- What People Use Mesmerism for Today
- What the Research Shows
- Getting the Most from Mesmerism
- Watch, Listen and Follow
- Frequently Asked Questions About Mesmerism
- Key Takeaways
- Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
- Sources
What Is Mesmerism?
Mesmerism is the system of healing that Franz Anton Mesmer developed in the 1770s. Mesmer proposed that an invisible fluid or force, which he called animal magnetism, flowed through the universe and all living things. Illness, he believed, came from blockages or imbalances in this flow, and a skilled practitioner could restore harmony by directing it (Encyclopaedia Britannica: Franz Anton Mesmer).
In practice, mesmerism involved slow hand movements over the body, steady eye contact, gentle touch and a deep sense of connection between practitioner and patient. Patients often entered unusual states, from dramatic, trembling episodes to deep calm and trance. These states fascinated doctors, philosophers and the public, and their study led directly to the development of hypnosis.
Mesmerism at a Glance
| Founder | Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815), a German physician |
| Also called | Animal magnetism, magnetism, mesmeric healing |
| Main era | 1770s to mid-1800s, in Vienna, Paris and later across Europe and America |
| Key techniques | Magnetic passes, rapport, eye contact, the baquet and group sessions |
| Legacy | The forerunner of modern hypnosis and an influence on psychotherapy |
The Life of Franz Anton Mesmer
Franz Anton Mesmer was born on 23 May 1734 in Iznang, a village on Lake Constance in what is now southern Germany. He studied medicine at the University of Vienna, receiving his medical degree in 1766. His dissertation suggested that the gravitational pull of the planets affected human health through an invisible fluid found in the body and throughout nature (Encyclopaedia Britannica: Franz Anton Mesmer).
From magnets to animal magnetism
In 1775 Mesmer revised his theory of “animal gravitation” into one of “animal magnetism”. The body’s invisible fluid, he now proposed, followed the laws of magnetism, and it could be activated by magnetised objects and guided by a trained practitioner (Encyclopaedia Britannica: Franz Anton Mesmer). He was also a keen music lover and played the glass harmonica, which he sometimes used to create a soothing atmosphere in his sessions.
Paris
In 1778 Mesmer moved to Paris, where his treatments became extremely fashionable. Demand was so great that he developed group treatments using the baquet, a large tub filled with water and iron filings, from which iron rods extended for patients to hold. Patients sat in circles, sometimes linked by cords, while soft music played.
In 1784 King Louis XVI appointed a royal commission, which included Benjamin Franklin and the chemist Antoine Lavoisier, to investigate animal magnetism. The commission’s work drew attention to the power of imagination and expectation, ideas that later became central to the scientific study of hypnosis and suggestion.
Britannica notes that Mesmer often achieved a close rapport with his patients and seems to have eased certain nervous disorders, and that his followers’ further study of the trance state eventually led to hypnotism (Encyclopaedia Britannica: Franz Anton Mesmer).
Later life
Mesmer later left Paris and spent his final years quietly in Switzerland and Germany. He died on 5 March 1815 in Meersburg, near his birthplace on Lake Constance (Encyclopaedia Britannica: Franz Anton Mesmer). By then his ideas had spread across Europe and were being developed in new directions by his followers.
How Mesmerism Worked
Magnetic passes
The signature technique of mesmerism was the “pass”: slow, sweeping movements of the hands, usually from the head downwards, over or near the patient’s body. Practitioners believed these movements guided the magnetic fluid and restored its flow.
Rapport
Mesmer placed great emphasis on rapport, a close bond of trust and attention between practitioner and patient. He often sat facing the patient, knees touching, holding their thumbs and gazing into their eyes. The word rapport is still used in hypnosis, counselling and NLP today.
The healing episode
In Mesmer’s own sessions, patients often went through a dramatic episode of trembling, laughing or crying, which he saw as a turning point towards healing. His followers later found that a quiet, sleep-like state was just as common and often more useful.
Key elements of mesmerism
| Element | What it involved | Modern echo |
|---|---|---|
| Passes | Slow hand movements over the body | Calming touch and energy therapies such as Reiki |
| Rapport | A close bond of trust and focus | Rapport in hypnosis, therapy and NLP |
| Gaze and fixation | Steady eye contact or focus | Eye-fixation inductions in hypnosis |
| Atmosphere | Soft music, low light, ritual | Relaxing settings for therapy and sound healing |
| Magnetic sleep | A deep, trance-like state | The hypnotic trance |
How to Try a Mesmerism-Inspired Relaxation
This exercise draws on two historical techniques: the slow hand “passes” used by Mesmer and his followers, and the eye fixation that James Braid used to induce what he called hypnosis. It is a calming relaxation practice you can do on your own.
- Find a quiet spot. Sit in a comfortable chair with your feet flat on the floor. Make sure you will not be disturbed for 15 minutes.
- Choose a focus point. Pick a small, bright point slightly above eye level, such as a mark on the wall or a light reflection. Braid often used a small shiny object held a little above the eyes.
- Fix your gaze. Keep your eyes on the point and breathe slowly. Let your eyelids grow heavier with each breath. When they want to close, allow them to close gently.
- Begin slow passes. With your eyes closed, raise your hands near the top of your head, palms facing you, and very slowly move them down in front of your face, chest and body to your lap, without touching. Imagine calm flowing down with them.
- Repeat and soften. Repeat the slow downward passes eight to ten times, letting your breathing slow and your muscles relax a little more each time.
- Rest in the calm. Rest your hands in your lap. For a few minutes, simply enjoy the feeling of heaviness, warmth and stillness. Silently repeat a soothing word such as “calm” if you like.
- Return gently. Count slowly from one to five, taking a deeper breath on each number. Open your eyes on five, stretch and take a moment before getting up.
Practise once a day for a week and notice how quickly you relax. If you would like to go further, our hypnosis guide explains modern self-hypnosis techniques.
From Mesmerism to Hypnosis
Puységur and magnetic sleep
In 1784 one of Mesmer’s students, the Marquis de Puységur, was magnetising a young farm worker named Victor Race. Instead of a dramatic episode, Victor fell into a calm, sleep-like state in which he could talk, answer questions and follow suggestions, and afterwards remembered nothing. Puységur called this “magnetic somnambulism”, or artificial sleepwalking. It was a turning point: the focus of mesmerism shifted from dramatic episodes to calm trance.
John Elliotson and James Esdaile
In Britain, the physician John Elliotson, a professor at University College London, championed mesmerism in the 1830s and 1840s and in 1843 helped found The Zoist, a journal devoted to the subject. In India, the Scottish surgeon James Esdaile used mesmeric trance to help patients through hundreds of operations before chemical anaesthesia was widely available, describing his work in Mesmerism in India (1846).
James Braid and the birth of hypnosis
The Manchester surgeon James Braid watched a mesmerism demonstration in 1841 and set out to understand it. He found he could induce a similar state simply by asking people to fix their gaze on a bright object. He believed the effects came from focused attention rather than a magnetic fluid, and in his 1843 book Neurypnology he popularised the term “hypnotism”, from the Greek word for sleep.
The legacy
Braid’s work opened the way to the medical and psychological study of hypnosis. Later pioneers, including Jean-Martin Charcot, Hippolyte Bernheim and Sigmund Freud, built on these ideas, and the study of trance and suggestion helped shape modern psychotherapy. Historian Adam Crabtree traces this story in From Mesmer to Freud.
Mesmerism Around the World
Mesmerism spread far beyond Paris. By the 1830s and 1840s, travelling lecturers were giving demonstrations across Europe and North America, and mesmerism had become a popular topic in salons, newspapers and novels.
America and New Thought
In 1836 the French mesmerist Charles Poyen began lecturing in New England. One of the people inspired by these demonstrations was Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, a clockmaker from Maine, who went on to explore how belief and the mind influence health. Quimby’s ideas helped inspire the New Thought movement, which in turn influenced many modern ideas about the power of thought, including the law of attraction.
Literature and music
Mesmerism captured the imagination of artists and writers. In Mozart’s opera Così fan tutte (1790), the maid Despina, disguised as a doctor, revives two “patients” with a giant magnet in a playful nod to Mesmer. Edgar Allan Poe wrote stories about mesmeric trance, and Charles Dickens practised mesmerism himself in the 1840s.
A lasting word
Mesmer’s most familiar legacy may be the word itself. To be “mesmerised” is to be spellbound, completely absorbed by something, which is exactly the focused, captivated state that today’s hypnotists and meditation teachers help people reach.
What People Use Mesmerism for Today
A small number of practitioners still teach traditional mesmerism and magnetic passes, often alongside hypnosis. More often, people explore mesmerism to understand the roots of modern techniques, or use its calming methods for:
- Relaxation and stress relief. Slow passes and steady focus are deeply calming. See stress management and relaxation.
- Learning hypnosis. Many hypnotists study mesmerism to deepen their understanding of trance and rapport. See hypnosis.
- Comfort with pain. Esdaile’s surgical work foreshadowed modern hypnosis for pain. See pain relief.
- Better sleep. Gentle relaxation before bed can help you unwind. See sleep.
- Anxiety. Trance-based relaxation can help you feel calmer. See anxiety.
- Energy-based healing. Mesmer’s idea of a healing life force is echoed in practices such as Reiki and spiritual healing.
Learning mesmerism today
If you are curious, there are several ways to explore. You can read the classic histories listed below, watch demonstrations by hypnotists who teach magnetic passes, or try the simple self-relaxation in this guide. Many hypnosis trainers include a session on mesmerism and its techniques, and some offer dedicated workshops. If you would like help with a specific goal, such as stress, sleep or confidence, a qualified hypnotherapist can offer modern, structured sessions that build on the same roots of rapport and focused attention.
Whichever route you choose, approach the practice with curiosity and patience. The early mesmerists stressed calm, unhurried sessions, and that remains good advice for anyone exploring trance and deep relaxation today.
What the Research Shows
Research today focuses on hypnosis, the modern practice that grew out of mesmerism. It has a strong evidence base, particularly for pain and for surgical patients.
Hypnosis and surgery
Echoing Esdaile’s early work, Montgomery and colleagues analysed 20 controlled studies of hypnosis with surgical patients. They found a large effect: patients who received hypnosis had better outcomes than 89% of patients in control groups, whether hypnosis was delivered live or by audio recording (Montgomery et al., 2002).
Hypnosis and pain
A meta-analysis of 18 studies of hypnotic pain relief found a moderate to large effect. Hypnotic suggestion was equally effective for clinical pain and for pain in laboratory settings, and the authors suggested broader use of hypnotic techniques with pain patients (Montgomery et al., 2000).
Hypnosis more broadly
A meta-analysis of 57 randomised controlled studies found that hypnosis had a medium-sized effect for a range of conditions compared with untreated controls (Flammer & Bongartz, 2003). The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health also summarises research on hypnosis for pain, anxiety and other uses (NCCIH: Hypnosis).
The studies at a glance
| Study | Focus | Main finding |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery et al., 2002 | 20 controlled studies, surgical patients | Better outcomes than 89% of controls |
| Montgomery et al., 2000 | 18 studies of hypnotic pain relief | Moderate to large pain-relieving effect |
| Flammer & Bongartz, 2003 | 57 randomised studies | Medium-sized effect across conditions |
Getting the Most from Mesmerism
- Start with relaxation. Mesmerism-inspired practices work best when you are comfortable and unhurried.
- Go slowly. Slow, rhythmic passes and breathing are the heart of the practice.
- Use your focus. Braid showed that steady, absorbed attention is the key to trance. See also flow state.
- Explore with a qualified hypnotherapist. If you want guided sessions for a particular goal, a trained, certified hypnotherapist can help.
- Read the history. The story of Mesmer, Puységur and Braid brings modern hypnosis to life.
- Combine with imagery. Pairing relaxation with visualisation can deepen the experience.
- Practise regularly. Like any relaxation skill, trance becomes easier with repetition.
Mesmerism vs Hypnosis vs Reiki
| Mesmerism | Hypnosis | Reiki | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origins | Franz Mesmer, 1770s | James Braid, 1840s | Mikao Usui, 1920s Japan |
| Main idea | Guiding a natural healing force | Focused attention and suggestion | Channelling universal life energy |
| Techniques | Passes, rapport, gaze | Inductions, suggestions, imagery | Light touch or hands near the body |
| Learn more | Encyclopaedia Britannica: Franz Anton Mesmer | Hypnosis guide | Reiki guide |
Watch, Listen and Follow
Explore the history of mesmerism and its journey into modern hypnosis, with historians, hypnotists and practical demonstrations of magnetic passes.
Videos
- Mesmerism (History of Hypnosis Documentary Series – Episode 02) With Dan Jones – Dan Jones | Inside The Quiet Mind. Dan Jones on the history of mesmerism.
- The Phenomenology of Mesmerism with Adam Crabtree – New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove. Historian Adam Crabtree on mesmerism and its legacy.
- part 1: Video History of Mesmerism and Hypnotism from Mesmer until today – MARCO PARET. Marco Paret on the history of mesmerism.
- A Brief History of Hypnosis – NCCIH. A brief history of hypnosis from the NIH’s NCCIH.
- Hypnosis (History of Hypnosis Documentary Series – Episode 03) With Dan Jones – Dan Jones | Inside The Quiet Mind. Dan Jones on the move from mesmerism to hypnosis.
- How James Braid Discovered Hypnosis – Mike Mandel Hypnosis. Mike Mandel on James Braid and the birth of hypnosis.
- Hypnosis History – Who is James Braid? – Roberta Fernandez, Your Mind Stylist. The story of James Braid.
- MESMERISM techniques and ANIMAL MAGNETISM – 5 KEYS – Franz Anton Mesmer Tradition – MARCO PARET. Marco Paret on five keys to mesmerism.
- THE MAGICAL POWER OF MAGNETIC PASSES – DEMONSTRATION – MARCO PARET. A demonstration of magnetic passes.
Books
- From Mesmer to Freud: Magnetic Sleep and the Roots of Psychological Healing – Adam Crabtree (Yale University Press, 1993). A rich history of mesmerism and its influence.
- A History of Hypnotism – Alan Gauld (Cambridge University Press, 1992). A detailed scholarly history from Mesmer onwards.
- Mesmerism and the End of the Enlightenment in France – Robert Darnton (Harvard University Press, 1968). Mesmerism’s role in pre-revolutionary Paris.
Free resources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Franz Anton Mesmer – a concise biography.
- NCCIH: Hypnosis – a research-based overview of modern hypnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mesmerism
What is mesmerism?
Mesmerism, or animal magnetism, is the healing practice developed by Franz Anton Mesmer in the 1770s. It used slow hand passes and close rapport to guide what Mesmer believed was a natural healing force, and it led to modern hypnosis.
Who was Franz Anton Mesmer?
Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815) was a German physician who trained in Vienna and became famous in Paris for his theory of animal magnetism.
Is mesmerism the same as hypnosis?
Not quite. Mesmerism is the earlier practice based on animal magnetism. Hypnosis grew out of it in the 1840s, when James Braid explained trance through focused attention and suggestion.
What are magnetic passes?
Magnetic passes are slow, sweeping hand movements made over or near the body, usually from the head downwards, used by mesmerists to calm and balance the patient.
Where does the word “mesmerise” come from?
It comes from Franz Mesmer. Because his sessions were so captivating, “mesmerise” came to mean to hold someone’s attention completely.
Is mesmerism still practised?
Yes, a small number of practitioners still teach traditional mesmerism and magnetic passes, often alongside hypnosis, and many hypnotists study it to understand trance and rapport.
What does the research say?
Research today focuses on hypnosis, mesmerism’s modern descendant. Meta-analyses show benefits for pain and for surgical patients, with hypnosis groups doing better than 89% of controls in one analysis.
Key Takeaways
- Mesmerism was developed by German physician Franz Anton Mesmer in the 1770s.
- It was based on the idea of animal magnetism, a natural healing force.
- Key techniques were magnetic passes, rapport and steady gaze.
- Puységur discovered magnetic sleep, and James Braid coined “hypnosis” in the 1840s.
- Mesmerism is the direct forerunner of modern hypnosis and influenced psychotherapy.
- Modern hypnosis has strong research support for pain and surgical care.
Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
Use these guides alongside this one:
- Hypnosis – focused trance
- Neuro-Hypnotic Repatterning – reprogram patterns
- NLP – language and rapport
- Reiki – energy healing
- Spiritual healing – heal body and spirit
- Relaxation – release tension
- Visualisation – mental imagery
- Past life regression – hypnotic exploration
- Law of attraction – the power of thought
- Pain relief – ease pain
- Anxiety – feel calmer
- Sleep – rest better
- Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. Franz Anton Mesmer. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franz-Anton-Mesmer
- Montgomery, G. H., David, D., Winkel, G., Silverstein, J. H., & Bovbjerg, D. H. (2002). The effectiveness of adjunctive hypnosis with surgical patients: A meta-analysis. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 94(6), 1639–1645. https://doi.org/10.1213/00000539-200206000-00052
- Montgomery, G. H., DuHamel, K. N., & Redd, W. H. (2000). A meta-analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia: How effective is hypnosis? International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 48(2), 138–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207140008410045
- Flammer, E., & Bongartz, W. (2003). On the efficacy of hypnosis: A meta-analytic study. Contemporary Hypnosis, 20(4), 179–197. https://doi.org/10.1002/ch.277
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Hypnosis. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hypnosis
Self Help Supermarket guides are for general information and are not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.
