Placebo’s “evil twin” impacts health

Steven Salt By Steven Salt
on July 11, 2012 at 10:33 AM, updated July 11, 2012 at 10:59 AM

 "You look tired," she said.  "Thanks," I replied reluctantly.  I thought I felt fine, but after her comment I wasn't so sure, especially when I soon began to feel limp and listless.

Why the sickly response to my friend's innocent words?  Did she foresee something I didn't? 

Nope.  It turns out I was simply experiencing the "nocebo effect."

We've all heard about the positive influence of placebos: take a pill with no active ingredients whatsoever and a healing response ensues anyway.  A nocebo is an ill effect caused by the suggestion or belief that something is harmful.  Think of it as the placebo's sinister counterpart.  In either case, you quickly conclude there is a strong mental component involved when considering our health.

Searching for solutions to a myriad of health concerns, placebos and nocebos have garnered a lot of attention in the health community lately.  Their influence over health and wellness has been observed in clinical studies and, as you might suspect, the nocebo effect has significant health implications.



Case in point: the findings of two researchers studying pain levels in patients.  Simply telling a patient the painkiller he had been given had worn off increased the person's pain to the same levels before the drug was administered.



With the proliferation of sickly symptoms and so many new illnesses coming to the public consciousness, one has to wonder to what extent nocebo-induced conditions are swaying an individual's health.  How does the perpetual fascination with bodily abnormalities influence human health?

Attitude, expectation and anxiety: these mental qualities do have sway over how you feel.   Is there something you can do about it? Sure.  Change your thinking!

Paul, the Bible hero and healer, wrote to the Philippians that to experience peace our thought needs to turn to "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whosoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Phil 4:8)

That's how I start my prayer. I like to use prayer to support my mental outlook, even change it when needed.  I have always been a pray-er.  Talking to God, listening to the source higher than mine own, helps keep my thoughts peaceful,  my attitude buoyant, my expectations high and my fear low.  It's potent medicine.   It's what gets me through the clutter of opinion and negative suggestions and produces improved health.

Looking back at my experience, I can see the effect my thinking had over how I was feeling at the time.  My expectation – and how I felt - had suddenly changed due to the negative comment made by a friend.  But other experiences and my spiritual practice tell me we don't have to submit to this "evil twin."

Steve Salt is a Christian Science practitioner, blogging about the impact of thought and spirituality on wellness.