Now on BBC2 - Horizon: Power of the Placebo

[mcelliott]

"Horizon expores why placebos work despite containing no active ingredient, and explains how we could all benefit from their hidden power"

Looks interesting.

[ewenm]

The mind is a strange and powerful thing.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Nothing new to see here - the psycho-somatic power of placebo has been known for donkeys. Probably just a programme to explain it to the masses...

[mcelliott]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

Nothing new to see here - the psycho-somatic power of placebo has been known for donkeys. Probably just a programme to explain it to the masses...

I bow to your awesomeness.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

mcelliott said:

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

Nothing new to see here - the psycho-somatic power of placebo has been known for donkeys. Probably just a programme to explain it to the masses...

I bow to your awesomeness.

Ba-ha-ha-haaa, actually I DID sound like a big-headed, know-it-all tt then didn't I? Which clearly I don't!

Sorry bout that, sometimes need to think before posting...


Anyway peeps - ignore my postulating, and watch the programme with an open mind, make your own conclusions, etc...


Meanwhile, I will go and write out 100 times 'I must think before I post' and I will have it on your desk for 9am Sir.

[Halb]

mcelliott said:

"Horizon expores why placebos work despite containing no active ingredient, and explains how we could all benefit from their hidden power"

Looks interesting.

Ties into my current reading about Monks and their ability to consciously regulate their bodyheat.
I believe a lot of things that current science might pooh-pooh are possible. Who knows what wonders of the mind we shall unlock in future years.

[MacGee]

Excellent read for this with scientific links is Simon Singhs book called trick or treatment. If you like nerdy reads then this is for you.
Have mentioned this before but its so good for those cynics like me re alterntaive unproven healthcare.

[Hoofy]

MacGee said:

Excellent read for this with scientific links is Simon Singhs book called trick or treatment. If you like nerdy reads then this is for you.
Have mentioned this before but its so good for those cynics like me re alterntaive unproven healthcare.

So you can argue with Storm?

[TheJimi]

Hoofy said:

MacGee said:

Excellent read for this with scientific links is Simon Singhs book called trick or treatment. If you like nerdy reads then this is for you.
Have mentioned this before but its so good for those cynics like me re alterntaive unproven healthcare.

So you can argue with Storm?

Obscure reference is obscure.

Pillock

[Hoofy]

Come on. Every anti-complementary-therapy-dontcha-know-I'm-a-scientist atheist knows "Storm".

[Hoofy]

Watched half of it so far - problem with placebos:

Say you're going into an operation, the anaesthetist says, "Well, you've heard of placebos? So we're going to give you a placebo not a real general anaesthetic."

DON'T TELL ME FFS!

[MacGee]

Placebos only work for mild conditions which can be masked by willpower. Limited use only. I once treated a magician who claimed he didnt need local for a wisdom tooth removal. ......not a chance!

[Hoofy]

MacGee said:

Placebos only work for mild conditions which can be masked by willpower. Limited use only. I once treated a magician who claimed he didnt need local for a wisdom tooth removal. ......not a chance!

Ouch.

PS You watched the programme, right? Magician cum dentist removed wisdom tooth from someone without anaesthetic.

[Flibble]

MacGee said:

Placebos only work for mild conditions which can be masked by willpower. Limited use only. I once treated a magician who claimed he didnt need local for a wisdom tooth removal. ......not a chance!

Placebo and willpower are not the same at all, you should watch the programme.

[MacGee]

Didnt watch..will do. Placebo could be construed as subconscious willpower as no extrinsic chemical influence. Your mind is convinced that you are having medication and so can overcome certain conditions. Rugby players with ruptured testicles can play out a match with willpower whereas a footballer breaks a nail and needs hospitalisation!
Medication format has a great influence on the placebo effect. Also who administers too. A white coat beats a scruffy nurse.
Will watch soon. I deal more with psychological calming than placebos...but its a world of difference to how the patient can be treated. But LA is almost always neccessary.