Why the placebo effect is not all in the mind

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

Taken from: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/uknews/news20051130.shtml#4

 

Researchers in Italy have found that medicines are more effective when a

doctor tells you they will work. This contributes to a growing body of

evidence on the placebo effect which suggests that the effect is not just

psychological but also has a physical impact on the healing process. It is

pertinent to note that many sufferers of Alzheimer's disease are incapable

of generating the expectations required for the placebo effect, and

therefore do not reinforce the action of painkillers by believing that they

will work.

 

Attilio: This may have some interesting outcomes for the study of

acupuncture.

 

Warm regards,

 

Attilio D'Alberto

Doctor of (Beijing, China)

B.Sc. (Hons) T.C.M., M.A.T.C.M.

Company Director

The Earth Health Clinic

0208 367 8378

enquiries

<http://www.theearthhealthclinic.com/> www.theearthhealthclinic.com

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Attilio D'Alberto wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> Taken from: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/uknews/news20051130.shtml#4

>

> Researchers in Italy have found that medicines are more effective when a

> doctor tells you they will work. This contributes to a growing body of

> evidence on the placebo effect which suggests that the effect is not just

> psychological but also has a physical impact on the healing process. It is

> pertinent to note that many sufferers of Alzheimer's disease are incapable

> of generating the expectations required for the placebo effect, and

> therefore do not reinforce the action of painkillers by believing that they

> will work.

>

> Attilio: This may have some interesting outcomes for the study of

> acupuncture.

 

Hi Attilio!

 

Indeed. We have a law here requiring that we refrain from claiming to

cure disease, restricting this type of practice somewhat.

 

Regards,

 

Pete

[Guest guest]

Hi Pete,

 

> We have a law here requiring that we refrain from claiming to cure disease,

restricting this >type of practice somewhat.

>

Replace " cure " by " improvement " ...

 

Artemis

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Artemis Papert wrote:

> Hi Pete,

>

>

>> We have a law here requiring that we refrain from claiming to cure

>> disease, restricting this >type of practice somewhat.

>>

>

> Replace " cure " by " improvement " ...

>

> Artemis

 

Hi Artemis!

 

Well, yes, that's what we do - play the semantics game.

 

Regards,

 

Pete

[Guest guest]

This law is used in most countries. In research however, its a

different matter.

 

Attilio

 

 

Chinese Medicine , petetheisen

<petetheisen@v...> wrote:

>

> Attilio D'Alberto wrote:

> > Hi all,

> >

> > Taken from:

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/uknews/news20051130.shtml#4

> >

> > Researchers in Italy have found that medicines are more

effective when a

> > doctor tells you they will work. This contributes to a growing

body of

> > evidence on the placebo effect which suggests that the effect is

not just

> > psychological but also has a physical impact on the healing

process. It is

> > pertinent to note that many sufferers of Alzheimer's disease are

incapable

> > of generating the expectations required for the placebo effect,

and

> > therefore do not reinforce the action of painkillers by

believing that they

> > will work.

> >

> > Attilio: This may have some interesting outcomes for the study of

> > acupuncture.

>

> Hi Attilio!

>

> Indeed. We have a law here requiring that we refrain from claiming

to

> cure disease, restricting this type of practice somewhat.

>

> Regards,

>

> Pete

>

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> This law is used in most countries. In research however, its a

> different matter.

 

Hi Attilio!

 

Do you know of any research in TCM being done in the states?

 

Regards,

 

Pete

[Guest guest]

Attilio D'Alberto wrote:

> I do not know of any research in progress.

 

Hi Attilio!

 

Something was on my desk about one study, one of the schools, can't find

it right now. But there really isn't much research going on as far as I

know. Takes a bundle of cash to do it, for one thing.

 

Regards,

 

Pete