Placebo: Mind Over Matter in Modern MedicineCan we really cure ourselves of disease by the power of thought alone? Faith healers and alternative therapists are convinced that we can, but what does science say? Contrary to public perception, orthodox medical opinion is remarkably confident about the healing powers of the mind. For the past fifty years, doctors have been taught that placebos such as sugar pills and water injections can relieve virtually any kind of medical condition. Yet placebos only In this intriguing exploration, Dylan Evans exposes the flaws in the scientific research into the placebo effect and reveals the limits of what can and cannot be cured by thought alone. Drawing on new ideas in immunology and evolutionary biology, Evans proposes a new theory about how placebos work, |
What people are saying - Write a review
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
References to this book
Trick Or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine Simon Singh,Edzard Ernst No preview available - 2008 |