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JosephB
25 Posts |
 Posted - 08/07/2004 : 05:50:37
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Placebos
I have seen on the TMSHelp Forum postings that others have recommended reading Norman Cousins’ book, Anatomy of an Illness, which contains reflections on healing and regeneration. His story is his complete and permanent recovery from the auto-immune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis. His book and his miraculous recovery have frequently been referred to by Dr. John Sarno, Dr. Andrew Weil, and others who truly believe in the mindbody connection.
I finally ordered the book because the local bookstore didn’t have one on hand, since it was written and copyrighted years ago in 1979. It is a super book to read, still relevant today, year 2004, and I certainly recommend it for anyone trying to recover from any serious disabling disorder or disease.
The most interesting and fascinating reading in the book was Chapter 2, The Mysterious Placebo. In this chapter, he describes a placebo as a “process”, and not so much just a milk-sugar pill. One popular process is the prescription ritual, whereby a physician writes a prescription for you, and this written prescription becomes a certificate of assured recovery for you. It is the doctor’s IOU that promises good health for you. The process begins with the patient’s confidence in the doctor and extends through to the full functioning of his own immunological and healing system. It may actually be a conventional famous-name drug (with side-effects), or it may be a placebo (with or without side-effects), but it can always cure whatever is ailing you.
Another placebo process is a written prescription for an actual placebo. Since I didn’t quite understand whether this healing process was still going on, I asked two different pharmacists whether prescriptions for placebos are still being written. One pharmacist told me that the common prescription “Cebo” was actually a placebo pill (to be taken three times a day), and was not a conventional drug to cure any specific disease, but was a placebo to cure all diseases, just simply a “placebo”. Another pharmacist told me that in the past she used to fill placebo prescriptions, but she has not done so for quite awhile now.
There is that mysterious ability of the brain to order biochemical changes that are essential for combating disease (page 56). Placebos can have profound effects on organic illnesses, including incurable malignancies (page 57). The placebo is proof that there is no real separation between mind and body. Illness is always an interaction between both. It can begin in the mind and affect the body, or it can begin in the body and affect the mind (page 64). Some medical experiments have shown that the number of patients who benefited from placebos was approximately the same as the number of patients benefiting from conventional drugs (page 67).
Norman Cousins ends his Chapter 2 on the subject of Placebos by telling the story of his opportunity to observe African witch-doctor medicine (African psychotherapy) with Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
“The witch doctor succeeds for the same reason all the rest of us doctors succeed, said Dr. Schweitzer. Each patient carries his own doctor inside him. We are at our best when we give the doctor who resides within each patient a chance to go to work. The Placebo is the doctor who resides within.”
I hope this posting has inspired anyone suffering from a serious disorder, sometimes labeled “incurable”, to read Norman Cousins’ incredible and truly encouraging story. God Bless You All.
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kenny V
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2004 : 07:38:00
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JoesephB,
Thanks for sharing this information, it is definitely reassuring how powerful a placebo can be.
I like the part where a placebo actually becomes part of the healing process. Hope many can make the connection of how the mind is capable of conditioning, programming and real effect placebos have.
I looked into many studies of how Double blinded placebo testing was done some time ago before implementing a proper nutritional protocol for my son’s incurable illness. (Autism). He was heavy metal burdened. He took some real nasty stuff (DMSA)(smelled and taste like burnt rubber) for chelation, but he wanted to take it, and even asked for it. Go figure I couldn’t even get him to take a multi vitamin supplement hat was cherry or orange flavor. There are some studies that show when someone is lacking a vitamin or is toxic that their body will crave the supplement they need. He is doing great, the funny thing is there was no placebo with his protocol he doesn’t understand what he is taken, but you can tell what works by his increased ability to communicate, make eye contact and socialization skills.
I am not surprised that pharmacist today don’t fill as much placebo prescriptions, however I bet if you spoke to a Doctor and participating pharmacist that followed up on the health of these patients, you would get a success rate well over 51%. And to approve a new drug as being effective by the FDA all you need as that 51%.
Something to think about?
Naa! There is more money to be made in selling these new drugs, and we all want that quick fix.
I bet ya some “old fashion” family Doc’s who care for a family for years, slip in placebos all the time.
Always Hope For Recovery
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luke
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2004 : 08:55:29
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Very interesting idea you guys. I have been wondering lately (having TMS) if it would have gone away on it's own without any intervention at all. But then again maybe I'm just doubting this whole diagnosis.It did seem to work at the time. My heel pain seemed to come and go in about a 3 week period without TOO much application of the Sarno's theory. Someone on this board (I don't remember who) had mentioned that some people "need" their pain which I would think why TMS has been sometimes labeled as incurable. There's probably a lot to that idea.
Kenny V. FYI I took DMSA myself a few years ago for mercury poisoning. I don't know what that has to do with TMS but I thought I'd mention it. It is nasty stuff as you say.
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kenny V
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2004 : 10:44:34
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quote:
Very interesting idea you guys. I have been wondering lately (having TMS) if it would have gone away on it's own without any intervention at all. But then again maybe I'm just doubting this whole diagnosis.It did seem to work at the time
Yea buddy, The work of sarno and the “ Mind body connection” ain't no Hoax-20 years of back 5 years of debilitating back, sciatic and o host of other manifestations don’t just disappear because I believe in a placebo. 
Sorry on that one -All of Sarno’s methodology I personally tested, proven to be accurate on all accounts. 
This included a MAJOR attack of a giant rock in the stomach and the terrible feeling, (not of nausea), but the feeling you get just before you throw up. 
This lasted 11 days straight when TMS was uncovered and got pissed off I knew the “Truth” 
It was then TMS took a hike.
quote:
I would think why TMS has been sometimes labeled as incurable. There's probably a lot to that idea.
Kenny V. FYI I took DMSA myself a few years ago for mercury poisoning. I don't know what that has to do with TMS but I thought I'd mention it. It is nasty stuff as you say.
It has a lot to do with TMS; it makes a comparison of what can be a real placebo and how you can know. It also reinforces once again what is said to be incurable by the mainstream medical community. And what protocols are being excepted as beneficial treatment. Many parents where looking for the silver bullet for a cure, and the ones who believed in heavy metal toxicity chelated found some pretty good ammunition.
Always Hope For Recovery
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Placebos
