Quote:
Originally Posted by Phoenix
I wanted to say something like this. I do not personally believe in it, but in Asia it is huge. I think it helps the mind power up and get through some things. Just because you are going through the actions of trying to fix something.
Is that the definition of the placebo effect?
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Interestingly, there are numerous studies demonstrating that the efficacy of many medications has more to do with the placebo effect than the medication itself. There is something powerful that happens in the brain when you feel like you have "control" over that illness and like you said, your immune system and relevant functions, sort of "power up". This issue of "control" has all kinds of positive effects. For example, in nursing homes and hospices, there are studies showing that when you give people the options of choosing plants, decor, wall colors, schedules, tvs etc etc etc etc they tend to be a great deal healthier and live longer than people whose choices were made for them and where they had no control over their environment... even when they do nothing to exercise any control and make changes.
I agree that whether its the placebo effect or not, is irrelevant if it causes relief IN MOST CASES... particularly when it concerns pain relief. But personally, i think people carry it too far trying to cure an aggressive cancer by drawing dolphins or eating blueberries or whatever the shit and ignoring the basic science involved, as well as what are proven and effective treatment methods vs pipe dreams and wishful thinking. wehateporns M.O. is to try to convince everyone that anything thats conventional is a massive conspiracy by big pharma and greedy doctors... even though thats so obviously not the case and we continue to live longer and longer due to medical advances.