| There was information recently published relating | | | | the impact of placebo medication. Country |
| a positive attitude with increased ability to resist | | | | doctors have used this piece of information for |
| viral infections. This was reported in both the | | | | years without doubting it for a second. This has |
| Journal for the Association of Psychological | | | | been recently reported in Wired magazine. A |
| Sciences (2/24/10) and in the Miller McCune Online | | | | recent article talked about the effect of placebos |
| Magazine. The study documented a group of 124 | | | | on depression. Unbelievably placebos were found |
| first year law students and found that the ones | | | | to be just as effective as the medications that |
| who had a better overall attitude had higher levels | | | | cost millions of dollars in research by big pharma. |
| of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) which is a | | | | Wow, ain't that a kick in the pants, Merck? The |
| mechanism in the body which fights off viral | | | | bonus -placebos don't have the harmful side |
| infections. | | | | effects. Hmm, double bonus there, plus the cost is |
| This is something that has been bandied about in | | | | minimal. The article also pointed out that you don't |
| the metaphysical community for years, attitude | | | | have to believe the placebos are going to work. |
| and health are definitely tied together. Often when | | | | They just do. |
| looking at obituaries you will find that a person has | | | | Suddenly the witch doctors waving their hands in |
| died within a short period of time from their | | | | the air don't seem as primitive and crazy |
| spouses death. You may think this is coincidental, | | | | anymore, now do they? This could also account |
| but is it possible that people have given up the will | | | | for a lot of other things sometimes viewed as |
| to live an death follows not long afterwards? Ask | | | | worthless. For years my Mother has been praying |
| anyone who works in hospitals and they can tell | | | | for me, and I've always been happy about that. |
| you that it is common to see higher death rates | | | | The thing is my prayers and her prayers have |
| following certain holidays or milestone birthdays. | | | | different outcomes. But undoubtedly there is |
| Do people have it in their minds that they just | | | | power in both of them. How about alternative |
| want to have one more Christmas with the | | | | medicines and faith healing of all sorts? It now |
| family or they just want to reach 80, and then | | | | makes more sense that laying on hands and |
| they'll be happy?? Seems fairly likely to me, and | | | | praying over a sick person could have the exact |
| this study, although unrelated directly, does seem | | | | same power as a Reiki practitioner channeling |
| to support the fact that it could be true. | | | | energy to help an aching back. Who's to say? |
| Interestingly enough there is also new evidence of | | | | |