b
> 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.


Yes, I know. I passed my neuropsychology and the psychology of healt not long ago.



>
> 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.

Yes, but it is amazing, that in a blind test, the naxolone blocks the painkilling effect, since the patient does not know about the naxolone, but is expecting the painkiller to kick in. It cannot therefore be a question of pure belief, can it?


> 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.


Yes, I agree. But that is another debate altogether.


>
> The really, really interesting research area in
> this is how we can reliably produce a desired
> placebo effect in any patient upon command.


Hmmm, if you can solve that, then you have solved the mystery of the human mind. It might not be tomorrow, though.




Ritva



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/2005 07:01PM by ritva.