The Power of Belief

Ever since I learned the term "placebo" I have been fascinated with the power of this entity to "heal". In all placebo-controlled research trials, the placebo "effect" - meaning trial participants improve without "active" treatment - is approximately 30%. This is not an absolute, and the effect varies greatly across trials, but in aggregate, this is about right - that is, 1 out of 3 persons receives benefit from a chemically inert compound (such as milk sugar). There was a new blog writing about placebo's power that caught my eye, and that I refer you to: http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/culture/3806/what%E2%80%99s_the_problem_with_a_good_placebo_/.

So, what is the "power of the placebo"? More and more I'm convinced that it is the power of belief. When we believe something, it becomes fact to us and we operate our world-view from that perspective. Thus, if someone believes that sucking on horrible tasting zinc lozenges shortens his/her cold, then it probably does (or at least that person feels better for doing it). There has been enormous interest in complementary approaches to classical "Western" medicine. Americans spent enormous amounts of money on these products (herbals, homeopathy, etc). I find myself musing on the growth of complementary interventions and the decline in church attendance and persons who report that they believe in G-d.

Is there a direct relationship between these two activities - or is it just a case of "true-true but unrelated"? Hard to know, but one thing that I've observed over the past 25 years as a healthcare professional is the perspective that Western medical therapy is the only thing that "works". When traditional medicine fails to offer a cure (or even a meaningful option) well-meaning people (WMP) will search high and low for an option. Take a look at the number of persons who visit Lourdes and other sacred healing sites around the world - a member of my congregation did that in the last year of her life with cancer. She reported a significant lifting of her mood, and her perspective on how to live the remainder of her life.

Healing comes in many different forms - and spirituality certainly offers an approach that is truly complementary to all other options. The reason that Possibilities Journey, Inc, came into being is the realization that the lack of a spiritual focus and community of support is a factor in our individual and communal dis-ease (see www.possjrny.org). Our mission is to return faith communities to the role of provider of this support to all persons who are in need of compassionate understanding and friendship. It helps the journey with physical and mental illness, and has long been a mainstay in our approach to life and living.

This week, explore the role of belief in something outside yourself. Is it placebo? Maybe, but as the article and our scientific research show, the placebo effect is powerful and long lasting. Belief in something is healing.

Peace,
Dan