Posted by Simcha on January 19, 2004, at 12:10:05
In reply to Re: let's talk about placebo » nobodyz, posted by PoohBear on January 19, 2004, at 10:42:34
The placebo effect is a very powerful one. There is a connection between body and mind that is undeniable. We all have immense power at our disposal if we only learn how to tap into it.
I go to grad school in a graduate school for holistic studies. It's amazing learning about the connections between mind and body. I'm learning how to effect changes in my own body with my mind. I use crystals, tarot, herbs, ritual, meditation, and scent to assist talk therapy and medication in treating my major depression. You can call it a "placebo" effect and yet these things actually work. I've found that the mind, the senses, the body, the soul, the emotions, and the spirit are very powerful medicine when used in a unified way.
Using medication is one important piece of the puzzle for me in treating my major depression. I've had two wonderful psychiatrists who have told me that medication alone does not work. It requires life changes and all of the other work I do on myself in order to sustain remission. We cannot ignore body chemistry. The mind is powerful. I believe that it is not the only piece.
Therefore I would think that it would be irresponsible to prescribe a placebo to a client. At school we did learn from a psychiatrist in our diagnosis in assessment classes that all medications are about 60% effective. This is a truth. Upon my questioning the psychiatrist explained that the 40% who are not helped by one med might be helped by another. By the third trial the statistics say that 90% of people will be helped by medication. There is such a thing as "treatment resistant people."
The psychiatrist who gave our presentation works holistically. He uses herbs, hypnosis, and other methods to help people. There is much that we do not understand about the mind/body connection. We don't even understand all of the workings of the body. If we did there would be a "magic" solution to body imbalances that would effectively cure chemical imbalances for everyone.
My belief is that even if we did know the solution to chemical imbalance we would still be missing important pieces of the puzzle like, nutrition, exercise, spirituality, lifestyle habits, family situation, work situation, etc.
Simcha
poster:Simcha
thread:296708
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040118/msgs/302746.html