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by rikelmens 2272 days ago
Yeah, but how does placebo actually work? :D

If it works, why don't we use it for our benefit?

3 comments

> ...but how does placebo actually work?

Whatever the mechanism factors turn out to be, I would not be at all surprised if it involves areas of study that clinical studies currently dismiss as unimportant.

> If it works, why don't we use it for our benefit?

Currently difficult to control outcomes because we understand so little of it, and a possibility that it would depress the financial results of a lot of current US "medical/healthcare industry" stakeholders if it turns out for example, having a doting Israeli grandmother dropping by each day with steaming hot matzo ball soup with some unmentionable ingredient that still tastes bitter as hell, a handful of friends calling with jokes, and a couple hours a day in the sauna works cheaper and just as well as a $200 antiviral prescription.

We do, but often not very explicitly. But it's definitely practiced in medicine all the time. The doctor silently thinks for a while, then gives some stern warnings and prescribe some pills. You leave, so grateful for living in a civilised time and place.
I think that is exactly what Reiki is!