Thinking Past Placebos

The audience excitement was palpable as they agreed to participate in a test on the Dr. Oz show. 

 The subject of the show was energy drinks, and audience members were all asked to sample one of the drinks.  A few minutes after they downed the various colored liquids offered by the staff of the show, Dr. Oz asked if anyone had felt any effects from the drink. Hands shot up. He interviewed two women who stated the drink had produced a positive effect. They felt energized and mentally sharper. But then a third woman said the drink had not produced any effect. Dr. Oz paused, smiled, and let the audience in on a secret. What his staff had served them was seltzer water. (see note 1)

The placebo effect was at work.

 Recognition of the placebo effect is nothing new.  In the mid-18th century a British ship’s doctor wrote about experimenting with placebos. Even the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the U.S. Health department, hosted a 2001 conference of experts to consider the effects of placebos and their role in healing. Two components of the NIH brought together more than 500 researchers to map the treatment value of placebos.(see note 2)

 Some patients, even when told they are receiving placebos, still experience positive results. On Dr. Oz’s show, for instance, he returned to the two women who had reported more energy and increased mental sharpness. He asked if they wanted to change their response. They didn’t. They insisted on the positive effects they were feeling. 

 In a 2010 medical study patients were either given a placebo or no treatment. Those given a placebo were informed it was a placebo.  There was a remarkable outcome: 59% of the patients - even though they knew they were taking a placebo - still experienced some relief from symptoms.(see note 3)

 Physicians and others are increasing research into the mind-body connection, but a growing number of people are expanding the bandwidth. These individuals are incorporating spirituality and even prayer to improve their health.  According to a National Interview survey, prayer accounts for close to half of the increased use of Complementary and Alternative Methods (CAM). The survey found more than one-third of adults use one or more CAM therapies “to treat their most serious illnesses.” (see note 4)

 Few people have understood the relationship between thought, spirituality, prayer and health better than Jesus. His record of healing was so exceptional that people continue to study his life, teachings and practices 2,000 years later. His teachings encouraged listeners and those who were healed to take care to keep their thought God-centered because there was a direct effect on their health and well-being.

1 http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/energy-drinks-do-they-work-pt-1

² http://nihrecord.od.nih.gov/newsletters/01_23_2001/story03.htm) 

³ http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/22/health/la-he-placebo-effect-20101223

⁴ Integrative Health Care and Medicine | RAND (David Eisenberg)