• Question: Since the placebo effect actually has beneficial measurable physiological effects on the human body, why don't scientists admit that there is such a thing as, "mind over matter"?

    Asked by Supriya to Jackie, Michele, Oliver, Vicky, Yelong on 9 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Vicky Bayliss

      Vicky Bayliss answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      ooooohhhh.
      I’m not sure that they don’t…. I saw something on tv ages ago about some buddist monks who could raise their body temperature through meditation. and certainly there have been scientific studies on the beneficial effects of meditation (lower blood pressure I believe, which in turn reduces the chances of heart attacks)
      Also another study I read about once was to do with how people were more likely to recover from serious illness (cancer etc) if they knew someone was praying for them – which could either be justified by the existence of god, or is an example of ‘mind over matter’, the placebo effect.

    • Photo: Oliver Brown

      Oliver Brown answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      I’m no expert on medical science, but I think this is mostly an issue of maintaining clarity in the matter of obtaining treatment. While it’s true that the placebo effect can assist in a good clinical outcome, it’s also true that not seeking proper treatment because you ‘don’t need it’ will lead to a bad one.

      It’s important that people seek treatment when they need it, and so it’s best that the medical establishment stays on message about ‘mind over matter’!

    • Photo: Michele Faucci Giannelli

      Michele Faucci Giannelli answered on 16 Mar 2015:

      It is not mind over matter but some limited direct control of the mind on some parts of the body. This usually come with a lot of training and it does not work with everything. For example you would not be able to control how much acids your digestive system will produce or anything on this detailed level. The placebo effect is in large part explainable by a more relaxed body (you think you got something, so you worry less, so less adrenaline) which in general is a preferred state to cure all illnesses.

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