The Placebo Effect - Can Even That Do Some Good?

Is there anything really wrong with the placebo effect? I tend to think not. In our world of excessive information overload and cure all ideas for everything from under eye bags to severe pain it is nearly impossible to determine what really works and what doesn’t. Plus, we all know that what’s a miracle cure for one person may not work for someone else and that the mind is the most powerful weapon on the planet.

What works for one doesn't for everyone

I’ve often seen my loved ones try various lotions, potions, diets, homeopathic remedies and more to try to improve their life with psoriatic arthritis and other diseases. Some have proven successful, some epic failures and some the jury is still out. What I’ve found is that whatever makes them feel the best they possibly can physically and mentally I’m all for it. I don’t see the need to crush their spirits when I see something that in my opinion isn’t doing much of anything, but in theirs is giving them a new lease on life. What good would it serve to tell them to stop something they feel is helping even if it’s only in their mind.

Power of the positive mind

I’ve seen incredible things happen just from the power of the mind. The Laws of Attraction will tell you, you can manifest anything you set your mind to. If there’s something out there that can help your mind believe the best and will it to be, then go for it. That said, I’m not encouraging doing something that is ultimately dangerous or quitting all medication and therapies cold turkey, especially when there is no proven evidence the alternative is a solid replacement. There’s a threshold for sure, but why not boost their spirit and support their wellness in whatever way they respond to best.

We don’t live in our loved one's brains. We feel their pain by proxy and want only the best for them at all times. From that chair, it’s very easy to pass judgment on things that seem to be hocus pocus or about out of the norm. It’s not that we don’t want them to uncover every option imaginable to help, it’s just that we fear what we don’t understand and some things seem downright kooky at times. The best way we can help is to be there for the people we care about, let them try anything that could prove successful and do our own due diligence to be tuned in to any weird side effects that could pop up. These weird side effects are just as rampant in the tried and true medications too, by the way.

To each his own when it comes to symptom management

If hyperbaric therapy gives them better movement, fantastic. If they want to lie on a device that seems to give them increased energy and balance even though you feel nothing when you lie on it yourself, let them go for it. If you don’t see any improvement in them but they feel they are on the mend, then let them feel they are on the mend. As long as they are keeping up with their medical care and are honest with their doctors with the alternate things they’re trying, what do they have to lose? Stranger things have happened than something out of the ordinary curing or solving a health problem.

We’ve all heard or seen things for ourselves where people have overcome incredible odds. Who’s to say that our loved one won’t be one of those persons. I know the people I love facing these obstacles all have iron wills and spirits. If anyone is going to beat it, they will.

Supporting loved ones no matter what

It’s not our job to profess we have the answers. There are no real answers with this disease or others. If there were, they’d have been eradicated by now. Just like every human being is different, the key to success is different too. We have to honor that for those we love. We have to give them the room to be creative. We have to be there to catch them when they fall and we have to be there as the biggest cheerleaders when they soar. That’s what we’re here for, that cheerleading to victory is what our focus should be no matter what crazy way they get there.