The POWER of your mind

[WillBrink]

The power of our mind to directly impact our physiology has long been debated. It's (obviously) a tough area to do real objective research on vs the cosmic crap that gets passed around. The study of the brains ability to directly impact our physiology is growing by leaps as both technology and techniques have improved greatly.

I think one of the most obvious places to look in terms of showing just how powerful the mind is, is when looking at the placebo effect.

Most non scientists* think of the placebo effect as generally meaning a non effect. That is, nothing happened.

That's not true at all. The placebo effect is a real effect, and measurable. It's only recently getting the attention is deserves as a legit effect showing just how powerful the mind is and it's direct impact on us.

Researchers involved in clinical studies have known about it forever, and it's taught in every classroom as science 101, yet, only recently getting some real focus.

Here's a vid that does an excellent, and entertaining, job of summarizing just how amazing and powerful the placebo effect is, which is a direct measurement of the brains ability to alter all manner of our physiology.

I think the mental disconnect for most people is realizing it's generated by the mind, but don't realize it's a real effect, that is, has direct and "real" physiological changes take place.

Some times, at just as high a % as the active compound it's being compared to, or to a lesser degree (which may or may not statistical significance but I'll leave it there as to not make eyes gloss over...) then the compound being tested.

Not a dry boring vid, but really interesting and entertaining:

The Strange Powers of the Placebo Effect


* = and some scientists/medical types who should know better....

[pilotguyo540]

Excellent post Will.

[ALCOAR]

I cannot even guesstimate how much time I spend pondering this very subject...so much that I don't know where to start in terms of a forum reply.

Some believe the mind is so powerful it generates a higher power in order to compensate for the physiological effect of fear in the human's mind. With the human's mind having the ability to be self aware and thereby understanding an inevitable death is unavoidable, a higher power or a second birth/life tends to quail or curb the mind's overwhelming fear of death.

When the human mind is completely isolated, studies have shown just about everyone "feels" a "presence", many of the test subjects described this "presence" as God like. I would imagine this again has to do with curbing the human's natural insecurity of being alone in life.

I view these things like the mind's natural placebo's.

[ZRH]

It's probably worth mentioning the other side of the coin in psychosomatic 'effects,' where if the person disbelieves in the positive value of something, or is just generally depressed, it can wreck their health. Low morale, lack of a positive outlook, etc. can have significant real negative effects.

[WillBrink]

Low morale, lack of a positive outlook, etc. can have significant real negative effects.

Absolutely.

[Makintrax73]

I hate to post a link to NPR on this site for fear of ridicule, but that said the program "Radiolab" is an excellent science based radio program. And it's great to download to your Ipod to pass the time on long trips.

Here is a link to their hour long podcast on the Placebo effect:

http://www.radiolab.org/2007/may/17/

A very interesting subject to say the least.

[RetiredCO]

The POWER of your mind
"Billy Miske: Dead Man Fighting"
William Arthur "Billy" Miske was an American boxer of German descent who competed successfully as a light-heavyweight and heavyweight, defeating many well-known fighters such as Tommy Gibbons and Harry Greb. But unknown to both his competitors and his family, he was harboring a troubling secret. In the spring of 1918, Billy's doctor had diagnosed him with a debilitating kidney ailment called Bright's disease. Given only five years to live and the advice to immediately retire, Billy decided to keep his illness a secret and continue his boxing career. A prior investment into a car distributorship had given Billy almost $100,000 dollars in debt, so despite his doctor's wishes he continued to take on boxing opponents in order to pay off his debt and provide for his family.

Boasting an impressive record, that included only one knockout at the hands on none other than Jack Dempsey, Billy climbed into the ring 70 times after being told of his “death sentence”. But fights were few and far between with his purse winnings going directly to paying of his large debts. In January of 1923, after knocking Harry Foley out in one round, his health began to deteriorate even more. Forced to stay home and rest through the spring, summer, and fall, Billy's concern for his family's security continued to grow. As he strolled through the streets during the first snowfall of the year, all Billy could do was think of how little he was able to provide for his wife and children and how bleak their upcoming Christmas would be.

Feeling worse every day, Billy went directly to his manager, Jack Reddy, and begged him for a fight. He pleaded with Jack to ignore his sickly appearance and get him one more bout before Christmas, so he could give his family the Christmas they deserve. A concerned Reddy fretted for his friend's life, but knew what he had to do and managed to set up a fight with an impressive boxer named Bill Brennan. Billy was so weak that he couldn’t train for the fight and barely got out of his rocking chair until the day of the fight. But when fight night finally arrived, for those 121 minutes Billy was no longer a dying man. With thoughts of his family in his head, Billy fought Brennan valiantly, winning the fight with a knockout in the fourth round. As Billy Miske's arm was raised in the victor's salute he smiled at the crowd for the last time. Winning the fight enabled Billy to walk away with a $2400 purse.

He took the money back to his family in St. Paul, Minnesota and bought furniture to fill the rooms in his house that had been empty for so long. He bought a piano for his wife Marie and toys for the children, and even had enough money left over for Marie to put aside for the future. Billy and his family had a joyous Christmas, by far the best ever for the Miske clan. But despite the wonderful Christmas festivities, Billy began to feel extremely sick and retired to his bedroom. Waking up the day after, Billy was in agony and called Jack, his manager and friend, to come and take him to the hospital. Billy was rushed to the doctor and forced to finally come clean with his wife about his secret illness. Six days later, on the morning of the New Year, Billy Miske passed away.

[chuckman]

A friend of mine (and a shooting buddy incidently) is a psychiatrist at Duke. He has written several books about faith and healthing/religion and health, and a common theme is that a belief in a higher power leads to a positive outlook and diminishes negativity, all of which has measureable positive outcomes. He extrapolates that regardless of one's religious beliefs, a positive outlook and an optomistic lifeview alters physiology for the better. I am surely over-simplifying it, but you get the point.

[OutlawDon]

"The mind is the chief,
The body is the servant,
The consciousness is the controller,
The mind comprehends."

[ffusaf23]

I've always been fascinated by the effectiveness of placebos. The placebo effect really demonstrates the vast potential of the human mind and I hope there is vigorous research going on in this area. Interesting post...