Is hypnosis really a legitamite practice. I mean does it really work?
I'm interested in it, but know very little about it, I'm also a big skeptic. You have to admit ther are a lot of quacks and people out to take advantage of others for a dollar. If it is legit, can anyone suggest something I can do at home to test it out, and assess the results on myself?

That's like a physicist asking whether light is a particle or a wave.  It depends on which expert you ask.  

In NLP there's a whole community full of people who use it every day to help their clients.  

With Steve Allen, Penn and Teller, and the Amazing Randi, there's a whole community of skeptics who vehemently deny it exists, and they offer all sorts of rewards for proof that they will accept.  (emphasis on "that they will accept.")

I guess it was Milton Erickson, M.D., one of the world's leading therapeutic hypnotists who summed it up best.  "Effectiveness is the measure of truth."  Take some time to study, and I mean really take some time, and practice hypnosis techniques.  If it works for you, great.  If not, at least you'll have some good relaxation methods.    

good answer, your response is valued and appreciated!

Visualization is a good place to start. Stay in a quiet room.

1. write down your goal or what you want to achieve. WANT IT. ASK FOR IT.
2. visualize a person who is good at doing what you want to do or has what you want... Really picture all the positive things that person does behaviour, etc. in achieving that goal.
3. visualize yourself really being it, doing it, or having it.
4. Accept it. Do it.

very nice topic ..i am very much interested about hypnotism