(Foreword: This is our continuation to our reply to Greta, the Great’s query on crystals and other alternative healing methods today.)
DEAR Greta, the Great, Alright, we’re now almost near the finish line. The last time I told you that there are still things that scientists don’t know how things really work and it is still a big world out there waiting to be discovered.
Of course, there’s another explanation for this.
Don’t you know that the mere ritual of looking over a crystal, or even visiting a therapist or a reiki practitioner, with your expectations that they can help you can give you measurable changes in your brain and body?
Well, this is what you call as the placebo effect. This only means that if you believe that it wold help you, it might can really help you.
Remember that if you believe in something, most probably you can achieve it.
As a matter of fact, brain imaging studies have shown that when a patient performs an action, like taking some sugar pill or getting some acupuncture or reiki session, this activates very specific regions in the brain which can trigger the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and natural painkillers. What is interesting here is that, these are real biological process, and not something people are just making up - meaning, they are for real.
As a matter of fact, a lot of studies have shown that when patients are told that they are receiving a drug that will ease pain, they respond twice as well as when they are given an analgesic drug that was given through an IV or other ways, secretly.
Again, this fact suggests that a large portion of prescription drugs’ effectiveness comes from the power of suggestion.
So, here’s some tip. The next time, if you want your drug to work well, tell your loved one that this is effective for his or her condition before giving him or her the drugs - to boost the power of that pill over someone you care about for his or her condition.
Well, drug power coupled with power of suggestion, is really a boost to the 2nd power. This is some moral of the story here. But, oh, here we go again, we are out of space again, so, let me then again, continue this in my next issue. Until then!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.” She is also a faculty in a College of Pharmacy. For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o SunStar-Davao Publishing Inc., Ebro-Pelayo Building, Jacinto St., Davao City, (former Department of Foreign Affairs office), across Ateneo de Davao University and beside Holy Child School of Davao, or you e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)