Hypnotism Has Value In Medicine, Says Visiting Entertainer

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 74, 9 December 1949, Page 4

Hypnotism Has Value In Medicine, Says Visiting Entertainer

Van Loewe, the eminent hypnotist* who comes here next week, is most enthusiastic .and delighted at the interest his entertainment has evinced during his current tour of New Zealand. Still that is 'understandable in view of the unusual and hilarious nature of the show. When Van Loewe was at school he found that somehow he had the capacity for reading other people’s minds and his present gifts have been developed from that beginning. 4

“Everybody has some degree of latent hypnotic power,” he says, “but to practice it effectively for medical reasons, you have to have a special flair.” Quite a number of Doctors have that flair. Van Loewe regards the use of hypnosis as having great value medically, especially in nervous disorders and mental ailments.

He is inundated with requests for help in these cases but steadfastly refuses to use his gifts* for anything but entertainment purposes.

“Hypnotism must be in expert hands,” he explains. “You must have some knowledge of what it is about. Above' all people should not play about, with a power of which they know nothing.” He doesn’t mind sceptics in his audience. Once the opening test has provided subjects with good reaction, no amount of scepticism, either silent or noisy, can spoil the show. ' /