Bio week 1

One of the things that really struck me this week in class is how important the pysco-emotional state is in the healing process. The fact that a placebo effect even exisits - that because we believe we are getting medication, we get better - means that we have yet to really understand the mind's and emotions' ability to help or hinder healing. Additionally, nocebo proves this even further, if we truly believe our body will experience negative consequences, then it will, regardless of if we are or are not exposed to what is causing the negative consequences. This leads me to believe that the mind is far more powerful than we give it credit for. Our outlook on healing might have just as much to do with if we get better as does the medicine and modalities we employ in this process. Perhaps we need to rethink how we test drugs if this is the case. Perhaps we need to rethink if drugs are always the solution - if it's possible to harness the minds ability to heal itself, that seems like the best of all worlds - no side effects, less costly, and could give the patient a real sense of empowerment.

Comments

  1. alexMay 14, 2017 at 7:55 PM

    Hi Emma!
    I totally agree with the conclusion you've come to about rethinking the way we use and test drugs as placebo and nocebo studies expose just how profound the psycho-emotional state is!
    Particularly what you've said: "our outlook on healing might have just as much to do with if we get better as does the medicine and modalities we employ in this process" - not only is a positive outlook a real factor in getting better, but what kind of medicine we use is as well. Questions such as, "am I an agent in my own health?" come to mind. It makes me realize that although we say Chinese Medicine, philosophically, includes the observer in the process and gives a lot of credibility to subjectivity (vs. objectivity), that we still run the risk of cloaking the experience of getting acu treatment in white lab coats, with the doctor as the gatekeeper of knowledge and the one with authority. It makes me wonder about ways to better improve the experience of a patient which are empowering and inclusive.
    Anyway, your comment really sums this up! The mind is so powerful and amazing.
    Glad to have a class with such thoughtful people! :), Alex

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