Placebo - The Real Thing From the link below, non-medical readers can get a good idea of how placebo works - via well known physiological pathways - or what is called 'Mind over Body'. This serious write-up is from the Science Editor of Newsweek magazine and appeared in this month's issue. The link is provided below
http://www.newsweek.com/id/198727?from=rss To the scientists on this forum (and there are many) the question is if "On an average sham acupuncture delivered as much benefit as real acupuncture", then how much of the "real acupuncture" is scientific and real? If scientific (expensive) medicines can use the placebo effect as the studies show, why would not the same pathways apply to / be used by Ayurveda, homeopathy, alternative medicines, nutraceuticals, etc.? These need some real explanations, not some demagoguery. For those interested in the science and medical version of "Hooked on a Feeling - This is your brain on Placebo" please read this month's issue of "Archives of Medicine". What is intriguing, the various (3) types of acupuncture (non-traditional treatments) had about twice the benefit (60 percent) compared to the standard medical care with anti-inflammatory drugs (39 percent). I have still to study this paper in detail. Regards, GL
