How much of lifes cures is a placebo ? Please Vote

[johntitor]

On reflection of all things wierd and wonderful in the world of healing and medicine. How much do you people actualy put the cure down to the 'placebo effect'. Crystal healing, Radionics, Bach remedies they all have their own relative reasearch. But how much of this is actualy mind manifest ? Please vote from.

[creepingdave]

I think it plays a bigger part than we might think. That would explain why such things as crystal healing/radionics may not work for skeptics or certain individuals because they already have the mindset that it wont work. I think you've stumbled into the philosophical debate regarding the relationship between mind and body!

I'm not sure if you can put a percentage on it, i'm sure many things are, many things arn't so much. It does depend if you believe it works or not.

I'm wondering if many supplements and things like that are really all that beneficial, or if any good health comes from them its just the power of the mind. I've bought and used several with generally little effect, even with the belief of it working in mind.

[anthony1965]

There is a danger here of confusing two related, but separate issues.

The power of the mind, positive thinking.

And the effectiveness of various cures.

And the danger of lumping all so-called "alternative remedies" into one basket, which is what the pharma industry / the medical mafia try to do.

Many alternative remedies are based on solid science. Much more solid than the mumbo jumbo chemical cocktails that big pharma pushes.

Take, for example, folk remedies that involved particular herbs, foods, drinks, etc. Some at least of the remeedies were based on solid science because they contained substances that are beneficial for us.

Compare that with the shit that we are given via vaccines, processed food, fluoridated water, etc.

Acupuncture was scoffed at, but is now common practice.

We are not just chemicals, we are also electical and magnetic.

My wife has used homeopathic treatments for a number of years and I had some good results; hayfever cured for example. I know of a local couple whose autistic son was detoxed of heavy metals using homeopathic medicines and he was able to speak again.

A simpler story comes from my wife. She had a nasty bump and applied arnica creme to a plaster. The following day there was bruising surrounding the plaster but no bruising under the plaster.

Her father was recently operated on twice for vein problems in his legs. The first time he ignored her advice... and he suffered pain afterwards. the second time he took the homeopathic pills and he was fine.

The list goes on and on.

As for placebos and positive thinking.

A genuine placebo is an excellent example of the power of positive thinking. The success of placebos shows that we could do without much of the chemical cocktails supplied by big pharma. And doesn't the placebo effect also apply to vaccines, pills etc.?