Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:35 am   Reply with quote      

Does the placebo provide the key?

It's been described as the most powerful drug in the world, capable of treating patients with a wide range of problems - and it's completely harmless. It is, of course, the placebo.
The placebo is a benign 'sugar pill' that is used in medical research to test against the drug that is being reviewed. Half the patients get the drug, and half get the placebo, but nobody knows what they've been given. The trouble for the researchers is that the placebo always () produces positive results, and sometimes they are as good as the drug itself. Symptoms of the people given the placebo suddenly improve, and they report a marked improvement in their health.

And now it's moved from the research environment into the clinic, where doctors are reporting a wider use of the placebo as part of their day-to-day practice.

A new study at two large hospitals in Jerusalem has discovered that 60 per cent of the doctors regularly use a placebo, some as frequently as once a week or so, and most of these told the patient they were being given a prescription drug. Over half reported that the placebo was 'generally' effective.
The debate throws open a far wider issue, and suggests the healing powers of the mind - provided it is given 'permission' to act.

(Source: British Medical Journal, 204; 329: 944-6).

This seems to reinforce what I've always believed - that we heal ourselves (I queried the word 'always' because this is not true. Healing will only take place if the patient really wants to get well - not all of them do, for various reasons.)

Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:47 am   Reply with quote      

I agree with you Thais. The mind is a wonderful thing and can do all sorts of good if focused in the right way.

I've never really been convinced that drugs do much good and have personally tried to use my mind before even thinking about drugs.

Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:01 am   Reply with quote      

Yes, I can believe this to be the case also. Some people are often ill, others are hardly ever. I don't think this necessarily has anything to do with their actual physical condition. I see it more as a mind thing, and a difference between people that are able to mind over matter and those that are not.

Aaron

Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:08 am   Reply with quote      

Wouldn't it be interesting for a trial to be done with placebos where the docs handed them out to various patients, saying that one of the side effects was bad diarrhoea, for instance, to see how many people actually suffered from it??

Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:25 am   Reply with quote      

I think people have done experiments using placebos in place of alcohol and people act exactly the same as they would if they were actually drunk.

Makes you wonder why people still need to get so drunk on weekends.

Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:43 am   Reply with quote      

Bah... and I thought it was a genuine pint you bought me, Adi...!

Aaron

Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:13 pm   Reply with quote      

I would never be so irresponsible as to buy an aardvark a pint

Sat Dec 04, 2004 12:56 am   Reply with quote      

Do they typically test minor conditions such as diarrhea and fever? How about life threatening diseases like cancer?

Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:34 am   Reply with quote      

Oh, My God!

Sat Aug 27, 2005 3:18 pm   Reply with quote      

You called?

Sat Aug 27, 2005 3:23 pm   Reply with quote      

Does taking nothing count as a placebo?

I have actually shown some folks how a glass of water cures a headache!
People really think that it's the aspirin that does the trick... but you take it with water, don't you? It appears to be quite the active ingredient!

So next time you have a headache? Try taking the water... without the aspirin. You'll be suprised! Just try it out - you've got nothing to lose by trying!

Of course, if the aspirin wouldn't have helped, then the water isn't gonna do the trick... but for those who claim aspirin takes away their headache? Try just the water next time... BINGO... same effect!

Sat Aug 27, 2005 6:03 pm   Reply with quote      

The mind is such a strange thing. So much of it goes unused.

As for taking asprin with water, I usually take mine with juice. I can't stand the water here in Florida.

Sat Aug 27, 2005 6:15 pm   Reply with quote      

Too true!

Of course... one ingredient in juice is..?

Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:34 am   Reply with quote      

As the saying goes, "Mind over matter"

Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:48 pm   Reply with quote      

Does the hypochondriac worry himself sick over being ill? :p