Ritva Kurittu Wrote:
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> Yes, I agree. But that just goes to show, that the
> placebo effect is biochemical and can therefore be
> tested scientifically. This said, we still do not
> know exactly why the placebo works as it does.
Well, we have made some advances. There are a number of experiments that show that the mind and its emotions can generate enzymes and chemical reactions. After all, (without getting into the metaphysics of the soul) the bottom line of what goes on in the mind is biochemistry - and there is no reason why it should not connect to the rest of the body. The simplest example is the great production of adrenaline, which affects a large number of bodily functions, when we are scared or angry. More complex is psychoneuroimmunology which studies the effect on the immune system of emotions like grief and/or stress. We find that widows and widowers are much more susceptible to diseases than would be expected for their age and physical condition. when tested, their immune systems are found to be depressed. etc.
Thus, it is entirely possible that a strong belief that a particular substance is a pain killer and/or a medicine will induce an enhanced reaction of those natural processes we already have to produce a placebo effect. In my opinion,there is a limit to what a placebo can do. We read all the time about the tragic consequences of people who die of cancer or AIDS because they refused medical treatment and relied on apricot pits, coffee enemas, ozone therapy, shark cartilage therapy, and a myriad of other "remedies" which could only function through a placebo effect.
The really, really interesting research area in this is how we can reliably produce a desired placebo effect in any patient upon command.
Bernard
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