The Placebo Effect: Transforming

Biology With Belief

Jun 15, 2014

Did you know that we can change our biology simply by what we believe to be true? The placebo effect is
defined as the measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health or behavior not attributable to a
medication or invasive treatment that has been administered. It suggests that one can treat various ailments
by using the mind to heal. For example, if two people have a head ache and one takes tylenol while the
other is given a pill that contains nothing (sugar), both could report that the pill was successful and the
headache is gone. The difference is, the one that was given the pill which contained nothing still believed
that they were given a tylenol that would alleviate their headache. In doing so, their headache was cured
because of what they believed to be true. This has happened on numerous occasions, many studies have
shown that the placebo effect is real and highly effective.
The placebo practice is known, but widely dismissed in medicine. The placebo effect should be a major
topic of study in medical schools. Unfortunately drug companies study patients who respond to the placebo
effect with the goal of eliminating them from early clinical trials. It bothers pharmaceutical manufacturers
that in most of their clinical trials the placebos prove to be just as effective as their chemical ridden drugs.
Examining the placebo effect would give rise to a whole new category under science, which would
probably be consciousness. This is why its not examined thoroughly, the power of our perception and its
ability to create our reality and even change our biology would open the door to a multitude of other
questions, possibilities and potentialities for the human race. These potentialities would most likely wipe
out many industries on the planet, from health all the way down to energy. These concepts are also heavily
examined and illustrated by quantum physics.
A study from the Bay School of Medicine conducted in 2002 in the New England Journal of Medicine
studies patients with severe knee pain that went in for surgery. Many surgeons feel there is not a placebo
effect in surgery. Patients were divided into three groups. One group has the damaged cartilage of their

knee shaved. The second group had all the material causing inflammation in the knee joint removed. The
third group had no surgery but were sedated and told that they did have surgery. The doctors pretended that
this group did and played along. All three groups were given the same rehabilitation services. The placebo
group showed signs of improvement just as much as the groups that received the surgery.
One of the surgeons Dr. Moseley stated My skills as a surgeon had no benefits on the patients.
Another example of the placebo effect came from the United States Department of Health and Human
Services in 1999. This report stated that half of depresses patients taking drugs showed signs of
improvement compared to thirty-two percent of the placebo group. There are many negative side effects
that are a result of antidepressants. This industry alone is a multi-billion dollar a year industry.
Professor Kirsch stated, The difference between these groups was then two points on average. The
clinical scale goes from fifty to sixty points. That is a very small difference.
Researcher all over the world found placebo treatments to have a biological and physiological response.
Due to this there have been changes in the heart rate, blood pressure, and even brain activity. There have
also been positive responses in treating arthritis, depressing, fatigue, anxiety, and even Parkinsons. (2)

Many wonder what this means.

Through the power of belief biology can react to any ailment that a person is facing. Thoughts, feelings,
and emotions can be changed with biology. Many say the cause of depression is due to chemical deficits in
the brain. If this is true then a patient can work on feelings to change the chemical state. Many wonder why
there is not more research on this matter. Other wonder why the medical industry does not pay attention to
this.
People have been trained to believe medicine is needed to cure all aliments. While medicine is effective
people ignore the non-physical phenomenon. People believe they need something outside of the body to be
healed, and this is not always true. The human body is able to heal itself. Many people are not exposed to
this concept.
Changing the belief in biology is not easy. People are facing years of trust in the medical industry. If a
person wants to change the way they look at thing their thoughts will begin to change. The placebo effect
shows that at least in biology beliefs can become a reality. In order for this effect to work a person has to
believe in it.
The nature of reality has yet to be discovered but people are making progress in their understanding of it.
Now is the time to evolve against false thoughts and embrace a new understanding. People are capable of
much more and the potential of the human race is limitless.
Sources:
(1)http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa013259
(2)http://harvardmagazine.com/2013/01/the-placebo-phenomenon
(3)Lipton, Bruce. The Biology of Belief. Hay House, Inc, 2005
(4)http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mind-reviews-the-emperors-new-drugs
(5)http://psycnet.apa.org/?&fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/1522-3736.5.1.523a