The Strange Powers of the Placebo Effect

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Comment by Susan French on November 7, 2011 at 12:07pm

We have  empirical knowledge that the brain itself cannot distinguish between reality and imagination.  I have a negative first-gut-reaction to any "explanation" that only talks about the observable effect but ignores the fact that we may just not know the causation from a physical standpoint.

 

In other words, even the word placebo carries a connotation of non-reality, as if we are just "imagining" the effect.  What drives me nuts is the fact that as our understanding of our physical 'reality' evolves, we come to be able to understand cause and effect of anything in a more tangible way.  Then the connotation changes.

 

Let me see if I can explain my thoughts more clearly.  When we were less evolved/knowledgable, we explained phenomena such as wind, thunder, lightning, eclipses, etc. as being created by the "Gods" or whatever mythology we used at the time.

 

Then, as these phenomena become more understood through the use of powerful microscopes or telescopes, we can see a more linear-connected cause and effect.

 

If, at the time the Village shaman suggested that these phenomena were only figments of our imagination, and we went along with that, that would be our belief or perception.

 

The thing that bugs me about calling a 'placebo' a 'placebo' is that it carries the connotation that it is caused by a change in perception.  However, as we evolve and learn more of the cause-and-effect facts, we often come to see whatever it is as a more tangible reality.

 

For instance, the work that Bruce Lipton, and others have done in studying and suggesting a more tangible cause-and-effect (like frequencies, energy,  string theory, etc) the connotation changes.  As we come to accept a more tangible, physical, explainable causation, we no longer view it as a change in perception.  We see it more as cause-and-effect.

 

The reason that this distinction is important, I think, is that the more understandable, explainable cause-and-effect something has, the more precise we can be about creating the desired effect.

 

When I was first introduced to quantum physics phenomena, it was only explained in terms of effect.  If I imagine abundance, I can create it.  It was harder for me to wrap my head around something that intangible.  As I began to learn more about the theory of quantum physics, about how everything in the universe is made up of tiny vibrating frequencies and each vibrating frequency affects each vibrating frequency around it, it made more sense.  It was easier for me, then, to use the principles to effect change than when I was supposed to believe it just because someone said so.

 

I'm not sure if what I'm trying to say is making any sense.  I guess I can only say that something I understand carries more credibility in my mind than something as intangible as placebo effect. 

 

It is for that reason that I balk at brushing something off as a "placebo" (connotation, i.e, it's only happening in our perception).

 

lol.  I still don't know if that made any sense, but it makes sense to me.

 

Susan

http://www.hypno4success.com

 

Comment by docregal.com on October 8, 2011 at 9:26am

This summed it up well: "Our minds create the medicine."

Comment by Roger Moore on October 5, 2011 at 8:31pm

FANTASTIC!