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The Placebo Effect

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 8/22/2006 11:56 AM (GMT -6)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14309026/

An interesting article on how often placebo pills work on people with pain and depression, among other things.  Doctors used to think that people were just tricking themselves into believing that it worked, but someone finally got smart enough to say, "Okay, if they are tricking themselves into believing that the sugar pill works, then how are they doing it?"  Rather than the effect being a drawback to medicine, they are finally realizing that it's helpful because people actually contain the ability to help heal themselves to some degree.  They mention that positive thinking does seem to bring about positive changes. 

Might be something some of our people who have been failed by traditional medicine might want to try and take up.  There are all sorts of positive affirmation tapes out there and most cities of any size have new-age/holistic healers who can offer meditative guidance.  This would also be of benefit to people whose anxiety makes their IBS worse. 

Posted 8/22/2006 1:28 PM (GMT -6)
This is a timely article...all of the schools I am applying to are osteopathic medical schools.  That means I will get a D.O. degree, which is equivalent to an M.D., although there are a few differences.  Both DOs and MDs can specialize, do surgery, prescribe, etc. but one of the main differences that I find really interesting and refreshing is that osteopathic programs emphasize the ability of the body to heal itself much of the time.  We're always trying to fix something as quickly as possible no matter what.  How often do we take antihistimines or robitussin when we have a cold, or pop Imodiums like candy to cover up our symptoms (oh, did I mention, I am not immune to this phenomenon either)?  What if we just ride out the cold, ride out the stomach bug, ride out whatever?  If we take care of ourselves, genuinely take care of ourselves, much of the time (I emphasize the word "much;" certainly not all the time, as we can all attest to) we recover on our own.  And I think a lot of it has to do with our mental state. 
Posted 8/22/2006 1:45 PM (GMT -6)
I must admit, I was too lazy to go to the doctor when I had a sinus infection two years ago. I rode it out, like you said. I haven't had another one since, and I average one bad sinus problem a year, if not always a full-blown infection. I've had my runny noses and colds and the like, but nothing like I normally get in the spring. Of course, I have gotten better about being pre-emptive and taking meds to keep me from draining so much so it isn't as likely to get infected, but I think I'm probably a little more immune than I was before because I let it run it's course. Of course, I'm otherwise a young, healthy person who can afford to be taking that kind of chance.

I think that sounds like a good program, Sarita. I think everyone on here could use a more total-body G.I. who is willing to try all sorts of things, like hynotherapy and acupuncture and organic diets--anything that might help.
Posted 8/22/2006 4:03 PM (GMT -6)
I have had wonderful DO's. Here in California you don't always know if they are a DO or not because they can use either MD or DO. Good luck to you.
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