December 16, 2021
Have you ever felt sick, but when you think you'll be okay, then you become okay shortly? Have you ever taken any medication because you believed it's effective, then when you felt better, you thought it was due to the substance you have taken? Have you ever been devoted to God or a certain Saint because you believe they will give you a miracle, and a great auspicious moment happened, for instance, your sickness was gone, then you thought your prayers or wishes have been granted?
Those are associated with our way of thinking. And it is given that if we have a positive mindset, then positive things will come in our way. That's how our mind works over matter. We also have seen magicians using this mind over matter concept. They would fool the audience and let them believe that there is magic, but everything is just false and deceit. So the audience would tend to focus on their presentation and won't mind the flaws.
The concept isn't just about those magicians disappearing on the stage or whatsoever. The belief of mind over matter can also be applied in curing whatever pain or sickness we have by the power of our thought alone. When we think we'll be okay, we'll be okay soon. Is that even possible in all cases? Can we truly be cured by our thoughts alone?
Just recently, I've been indulging myself in something I yearned for, and granted my cravings, but seemed to forget that I have food intolerances. And it's time to suffer the repercussions of my foolish actions. I've been pondering on the remedies of gluten intolerance or ways to easily digest it in my body because eradicating it from my life is so tough to endure.
Then I searched about it yesterday and I came across this article about an enzyme that blocks gluten. I felt hopeful upon reading the heading of the article and I promptly opened it and thoroughly read it.
The enzyme is called AN-PEP. It has been tested and worked effectively on patients that claimed to have gluten intolerance. What caught my attention wasn't the enzyme itself but the other substance that was used in the experiment. It's called Placebo.
Does it ring the bell? It does to me. And I am certain that those who have medical knowledge or are studying medical-related courses know this term.
Placebo is a substance with no therapeutic value and has no impact on the disease itself. But it can impact the patient's perception of their condition and help to alleviate the symptoms or relieve the pain.
Reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo
However, research says that Placebo only works if the patient believes that it works.
And I am certain that we all experience what they called, Placebo Effect, even with no intake of the substance itself. And Placebo and Placebo Effect are indifferent.
Placebo is the substance itself. While a Placebo Effect refers to any effects felt after taking a certain substance (even not Placebo itself), that has nothing to do with the substance itself.
(Check the Wikipedia link above for the references and more info about the matter.)
To make it clear for you. Take this for instance:
Person A has colon cancer and person B claimed that he's taking a certain substance that cured his prostate cancer. Person A believed that the substance can cure his colon problem as well so he took the same treatment even if it has nothing to do with his health problem. After several months of applying the same treatment, he felt better and he thought that was all due to the same medication. And that's the Placebo Effect.
Placebo and Placebo Effect, what is the catch?
The power of this treatment has something to do with the healing powers of our minds, and only shows that our mind is actually capable of convincing ourselves to believe that things will happen by how we want them to happen.
This also reminded me of things way back when we were kids. We were so playful kids that we sometimes fell and got scraped knees. Then our mother would blow our wound and would tell us, "shhh, it's fine, it's fine, you'll feel better," Just so for us to stop crying despite seeing our blood oozing out. But because we believe in our mother that we'll be better, we felt like the pain subsided after she blew our wound.
When we are in pain, we take pain relievers because we believe they are effective. Then shortly after taking the medicine, we feel better.
In a deeper sense, our minds can be our powerful healers, whether we are taking a placebo or not, or it's just a placebo effect.
In the Philippines, we have a lot of faith healers, and they can convince those who are sick that they'll get better. And those who believe in them and visit them religiously claim that they feel better thereafter.
Is it even possible that faith healers, albularyos, or practitioners using herbalism, incantations, prayers, or whatsoever could heal a sick one? Or is it just because of the Placebo Effect? Maybe yes, maybe no. Or maybe because of their strong faith and healing power of their minds as they want to get better, that's why they got healed.
And as we are all aware, people who pray fervently and religiously could receive miracles from God or whoever Saint they devoted their prayers to.
Yet, this made me think, does a miracle happen? Or is everything just a placebo effect? Or most likely, the healing power of our minds and our strong faith?
If we believe we can, then we can. If we believe our sickness will be healed, then we'll get better. Just like those who suffered depression, stress, or anxiety. Since they battled with their minds and believed they'll get better, they were able to withstand and get back on track.
It’s all about believing that anything we aim for can be achieved by any means. And the real power is all in our minds, our positive mindsets. And we have the utmost control of our minds.
So if I believe that I can withstand this intolerance, then maybe someday, my digestive system will be back to normal. And regarding the enzyme I mentioned above, I believe it needs a physician's prescription and may not be available over the counter.
Seems like I talk well about this matter where in fact I'm struggling to control my mind at times, lol. But yes, we just need to think that we'll get better and try to fight whatever monster in our minds. It is easier said than done but it's only us who can control our minds, so it's only us who can heal ourselves.
I have no intention to alter your beliefs regarding all the aforementioned matters. You are free to share your opinions below.
Thanks for your time.
Clue #3 is up on noisecash. Good luck
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You can use anything as a placebo, even a sugar pill, as long as the person who is going to take it does not know about it. It happened to a friend of mine in college, she had a very bad headache and was going to take an exam, someone gave her a pill and immediately the headache went away, it turns out it was a seed of a plant known as peony, which has nothing to do with pain, but she didn't know that.