Sounds almost a little counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? But read on. As one who has been to Venice and also one who enjoys Rick Steves’ travel programs, the lead paragraph in a recent Vancouver Sun article by Health Writer Anna Bowness-Park drew a vivid word picture for me: “On a recent Rick Steves travel program, Steves
Here are three articles in the news recently with Christmas in mind that focus on the intersection of spirituality and health. In the first article, Scrooge’s life lessons are adapted to health, the second includes a personal account of gaining freedom from depression, and the third has a surprise ending that will make you smile. 1. Transforming a bah-humbug
In an article in the Houston Chronicle, after sharing a very touching story of how he and his step-son-to-be learned together about living love, Keith Wommack – a nationally syndicated columnist on health, thought, and spirituality – discusses the love that has health benefits. He asks, “What kind of love makes the biggest difference in our health?”
(©Glowimages/Stock photo; Models used for illustrative purposes only)
Images of the category EF-5 tornado that went through portions of Oklahoma on Monday and the trail of destruction it left behind can be disturbing to watch. And, as in the case of other recent tragedies, such as hurricane Sandy, the Newtown massacre and the Boston Marathon bombing, our hearts yearn for everyone involved to find comfort and peace, along with any needed provisions.
Perhaps we recognize familiar sentiments from these words of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah when he wrote in the book of Lamentations¹ about devastation:
It seems that chocolate and other sweets are everywhere right now. Last Saturday Chelsea, Michigan held their 5th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza. On Sunday a good friend gave me a jar of homemade chocolate sauce that I enjoyed on ice cream. Tuesday is Paczki Day and Thursday is Valentine’s Day (can you say, “box of chocolates”?) Would
Blushing provides a great example, I think, of how consciousness can affect health. An emotional response in thought (e.g. feeling embarrassment) has a direct effect on the body – a change in blood flow seen as blushing in the face. I have found that through prayer, a change in thought resulting from feeling a connection to God, or feeling God’s love, can result in physical healing.
Charles Darwin (courtesy of flickr user shehal)
So I was pleasantly surprised to come across some of Charles Darwin’s writings about blushing in Chapter 13 of his book, The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals (see pages 325-326). Now I’m not getting into any debate here between evolution and creationism. I’m just sharing interesting insights from a well-known and respected naturalist.
Darwin wrote (emphasis added by me), “It is not the simple act of reflecting on our own appearance, but the thinking what others think of us, which excites a blush.
If the placebo effect is the result of an expectation in thought, if we took the placebo out of the equation and retained only the thought, would that still help? If the placebo has no intrinsic medicinal value, isn’t the effect from a placebo already the result of the thought connected with it?
A placebo is a non-medicated pill, or sugar pill, often used to set a benchmark in research to determine the effect of a drug. Patients often experience positive therapeutic effects from a placebo and this is thought to be the result of their thought that it will help them. This is called the “placebo effect”.
I’ve read that larger placebos have been found to be more effective than smaller ones and taking two placebos more effective than one. Also, that placebos were more effective when given to a patient by a doctor than when they were self-administered. All of this even though they have no active ingredient.