Health results from the free flow of vital fluid through thousands of humor channels in the body. Sickness is caused by obstacles to this flow. If Nature fails to clear blocked pathways spontaneously, we can give its processes a push. For Mesmer, these helps included the magickal intentionality of the magnetizer and the use of mineral magnets. In the same way bleeding a patient restored his humors to balance, sanity could be restored by causing fits of madness. Magnetism was a sage way to create the temporary unbalance needed to remove blockages.

The purpose of the treatment was to induce “the crisis”—a temporary increase in symptoms that shocks the body into the convulsions needed to remove obstructions in the humoral system. Healing means restoring unblocked flow of the vital fluid.

When Nature failed to do this spontaneously, contact with a conductor of animal magnetism could be used to to accelerate such crises without danger. Mesmer aimed to aid or provoke the efforts of Nature by literally pushing things along.

By slowly passing his hands over patients' bodies, or with a simple flick of his magnetized wand, Mesmer’s treatment would provoke screams, fits of hysterical laughter, vomiting, and dramatic convulsions. These effects were considered cathartic and curative..