"Delving further into the importance of placebo research, 97% of GPs participating in a recent trial in the UK were found to have prescribed placebos, at some time."

On the other hand 100% of religious practitioners have, every time.

"The realisation of the mental nature of health is beginning to enable us to gain even more than many health experts worldwide thought possible - a measure of mastery over the body."

I counted five levels of conditional statement in that one sentence… And I'm not against the concept in principle – but I look forward to being truly impressed when it constitutes a curative treatment for Altzheimers and dementia.

Of course the low or no cost aspect of mindfulness, spirituality and placebos is a huge plus. Though I don't know how Medicare bureaucrats will be able to factor in the price of a patient's soul.

But I bet they'll still charge you for it.

"It was a moment of awe when I realised what had made the difference this time."

Well, going strictly by your description of the story – apparently it was ten minutes of waiting.

Placebos are great. But here's something that seems to have escaped your notice Kay: they don't release pharmaceuticals onto the market without first testing them extensively. Like the placebos on the market pharmaceuticals are tested for safety but unlike the placebos they are also tested for efficacy. They have to be shown - in double-blind clinical trials - to be more effective than a placebo alone or they don't make it onto the market.

Placebos are effective treatments but pharmaceuticals are demonstrably more effective treatments. Unless there is a good reason to avoid the pharmaceutical - an allergy to aspirin for example - it would seem logical to prefer it to the placebo.

Cheers,

Tony

Kay, I am a great believer in the power of the mind, and have seen people do amazing things with their bodies through sheer self determination.

However, through many years dealing with the sick and dying, belief and prayers to a God of the patient's choice made not one iota of difference to a disease process or outcome.

Belief in a God, or a faith one believes in, certainly gave comfort to some people in their hour of need, but no change in their physical condition, compared to non-believers with the same problems.

To claim that consciously 'letting go' of irritation and putting down the phone caused a positive outcome is just plain silly, and mars an otherwise sensible article on the known benefits of placebos and spirituality. The kicker is, anyone can use a placebo (to whatever effect) but you can't 'make' yourself spiritual, so that avenue is closed to non-believers.