Quote:
Originally Posted by paigetheoracle
Thank you Mike - another interesting article from you that I need to pass onto somebody at work, dying of cancer (It might help).
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The first new scientist article puts a lot of our research in the "suspect" department. Especially
meta analysis and even
double blind studies and maybe even epidemiological studies. It took me a long time and a dozen reads to really come to grips with what was said. Basically the gold standard
meta-analysis is floored. Herbs for example often have many uses.
Heartsease is good for divining a lover or husband, a broken heart, making someone fall in love with you, cancer, and perhaps to dim traumatic memories.
The author points out that if you reviewed all the studies- looked at all the studies for opium-meta-analysis
(In statistics, a meta-analysis combines the results of several studies that address a set of related research hypotheses-wiki) for marriage break up, predicting the future, contacting spirits,pain, ingrown toenails, sleep, etc you would have to conclude that it is ineffective. Many herbs have dozens of traditional uses. So a meta-analysis of all the research on the herb (if there is any) will show that the herb is infective when it may be effective in particular situations/disease states.
(or even at particular times of the year sage
in flower may contain an anti-aging compound)
On your workmate with cancer
I had a friend/ work colleague some many years ago who was diagnosed with cancer. She went to the oncologist and said the waiting room was dim and funereal with a picture of vultures picking at a skeleton on the wall. (!) When she told the doctor she wanted to treat herself with diet, meditation and herbs he went ballistic, "If you want to kill yourself you don't need my help!" he screamed.
She found another oncologist who agreed to her treatment but said he had to see her every 3 months
She was very strict and disciplined with her diet, organic vegetarian, yoga, meditation, various herbs (like heartsease). She was very disciplined and determined to beat the cancer. The Doc. eventually said " OK see me every 6 months', then every year, the every 2 years, then every three etc-- you get the picture.
Have a look at the Hypography threads "Cancer cures" and " Violets, Violet leaf tea and cyclocides" here at Hypography. There may be something useful there.
Sometimes i wonder if cancer is an acceptable way of topping yourself?
i worked with a psychiatrist in a Tuberculosis ward a long time ago as a young psychiatric nurse in training. He said TB was a psychosomatic disease. We all howled him down disbelieving- "But is a bacteria something real that you can kill with anti-biotics- how can it be psychosomatic!?". He pointed out that
most people come into contact with the TB bacteria, but rarely get anything more serious than a cold.
Most of the patients were alcoholics (it was government policy then to hospitalise alcoholics at state expense until the TB was clear-18 months).
Alcohol can kill slowly or suddenly-your choice. A much more dangerous and deadly drug than heroin- and it kills a 1,000 times more people.
Australian Aborigines have a ritual "curse" for people who have committed very serious crimes ( in their culture). It is called "pointing the bone" because at the end of the ceremony a bone is pointed at the accused. The person usually dies within a week or so. It is a death sentence done totally by belief and suggestion.
SEE
Bone pointing@Everything2.com
Aborigines
The psychiatrist who developed the
Transactional Analysis way of analysing communication said people often "scripted" their lives and even their death date. " i will die at 61,71 81 101 etc"
Ask around at the office watercooler and see how many have a belief like this. " "I don't want to live without you" etc.
Re: Placebo - mind over matter?
