When we look at science and the direction it chooses to place it’s attention and energy one can only help but wonder “Why is the science always focused on what man has made?” and more often than not avoids nature. God’s medicine. Or, if nature is explored and researched by scientists the body of evidence supporting the medicinal or therapeutic value of a plant gets brushed under the rug as the synthetic compound they extract becomes the next pharmaceutical drug.
We’ve seen it time and time again, and at this point we know what to expect. One area of research that is particularly fascinating to me is research around the mind. The mind-body connection and the power that our mind can possess.
What if our mind in and of itself was therapeutic in some sense? If we could will our mind to contain medicinal properties that our body needs? What if a large part of our healing and health simply came from the streams of consciousness that we own and control? What if science has been hiding this from us for decades? Or gave us hints into our own power but we didn’t dig deep enough to discover it?
From the science we do have on the mind we understand a few things and those few things are powerful enough to change our perception and benefit our lives.
Placebo vs. Nocebo And Why It Matters
We’ve all heard of the Placebo effect, right? The placebo effect states that a beneficial effect is produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient’s belief in that treatment.
An example here would be a sugar pill. The physician would administer a sugar pill to a patient but tell the patient that this is the latest and greatest medicine for their ailment and that it works very well. The patient receives that message, takes the sugar pill and feels better. Spontaneous healing.
The sugar pill did nothing, in fact, if anything the sugar pill made it harder for the body to heal.
The mind did all the work. All the healing, balancing, harmony. What does this teach us? That simply believing you will get well. Simply believing that you can be well alone in and of itself has the power to heal your body. The belief has to be real however. No doubt, no questions.
Get this, about 30% of the time placebos actually work as well as the clinical trial it is being compared to.
The Less Discussed Nocebo Effect
The nocebo effect is often less discussed and many people aware of the placebo effect did not know that the nocebo effect even existed. The nocebo effect states “A situation in which a patient develops side effects or symptoms that can occur with a drug or other therapy just because the patient believes they may occur.”
Essentially, believing that you will be harmed, damaged or hurt from something you take.
The placebo effect is the opposite of the nocebo effect. It’s simply faith (placebo) vs. fear (nocebo) and the choice to believe in faith or to subscribe to fear is up to you.
According to PubMed.gov (A government run public health/literature database) it now states that “Robust empirical evidence now demonstrate that placebo and nocebo effects are both measurable and significant for many conditions including but not limited to pain, depression, Parkinson’s disease, fatigue, allergies and even immune deficiencies at large.
In other words your mind can improve or make your pain, allergies, fatigue, depression, Parkinson’s and immune conditions worse or better based on how you feel about them and what you truly believe deep down.
Choosing Faith Over Fear
Often times we forget how rare it is to be here, alive now. The timing of the sperm and egg to create you. That alone makes you magnificent. The experience of life is a gift and oftentimes we forget that. We forget to be grateful. We forget to focus on the positive. We forget to express gratitude for our existence. There is so much to be grateful for. Someone always has it worse than you, always. Don’t ever forget that.
According to Dr. Amit Sood of the Mayo Clinic he shares that practicing gratitude can improve overall happiness, health and wellbeing. Improving sleep, boosting immunity and lowering risk of disease.
Remember, gratitude is also known as “appreciation” and the definition of appreciation in real estate or any asset class is to “Increase in value.” So, if you’d like to live a happier, healthier life simply appreciate it. Appreciate the gift of life and the gift of living. Keep in mind that what you appreciate (have gratitude for) appreciates in value. Appreciating your health, life and loved ones grows the value in the ethereal and it’s only a matter of time before it comes back to the physical.
The “Biology Of Belief” Explained By Dr. Bruce Lipton
Dr. Bruce Lipton is a stem cell biologist who got his PH.D. from the University of Virginia. He joined the University of Wisconsin school of medicine in 1973. He then went on to study at Stanford University’s school of medicine where he made a massive discovery.
Dr. Bruce Lipton discovered that gene expression was controlled by the environment of the cell membrane. The environment of the cell membrane determined whether genes were shut on or off. Any genes. We’re talking cancer genes, obesity genes, diabetic genes, you name it.
Dr. Lipton went on to coin the term “Biology of belief” because he found that 2/3rds (66%) of gene regulation was controlled by the environment of the cell. Once something in the cell membrane passed that tipping point the gene turned on or off. In other words, Bruce’s work proved the placebo and nocebo effect on an even deeper level. That genes are not simply genetically playing out what they’re instructed to play out.
Genes are playing out what their environment instructs them to play out. Who controls the environment of a cell membrane? YOU!
That’s right. You can change your cellular membrane by the amount of food you eat, what kind of food you eat. Sunshine, exercise, rest. Healthy thoughts, beliefs, emotions. What you put into your body conditions these cellular environments which then allows for genes to be turned on or off.
This gene expression became known as “Epigenetics” (Epi-meaning above) genetics.
Dr. Lipton now believes that we are not ‘victims’ of our genes but powerful creators of our internal environment which regulates the body in it’s genetic replication. Genes that run in the family don’t need to run in the family, they can run the hell out!
Here is a powerful message from Bruce Lipton sharing how the subconscious mind is responsible for programming our conscious mind and our environmental terrain.
You can pick up a copy of Dr. Bruce Lipton’s book “Biology of Belief” 10th edition by clicking here.
My personal belief is that from the little science we do have from the placebo effect to epigenetics, we do have more power and control than we once thought. Mind over matter isn’t just talk, it’s a real life tangible concept. We have the power to heal by focusing on healing, and not on the sickness itself.
