Faith and the Placebo Effect: An Argument for Self-healing

by Lolette Kuby

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Novato, CA: Origin Press 2001, 322 pp. 34pp notes and refs. $23 23pp notes and refs

This is an excellent, broad introduction for beginners who are interested in learning about the spectrum of suggestion effects that can bring about self-healing. It is engagingly written, with many wise and helpful observations.

Lolette Kuby started on her journey of self-exploration when challenged by a lump in her breast that was discovered during surgery for breast augmentation. After reading books on "New Thought" (religious teachings that promote self-healing) she experienced spiritual revelations in which she felt she was transformed. She knew her cancer was cured, and indeed survived with no growth or spread of the cancer.

A wealth of variations on the theme of placebo effects is presented. Good examples are offered for therapists' suggestions that bring about healing effects. For instance, women suffering from nausea in pregnancy can be given medicine that regularly makes people vomit, with cures of their nausea because they are told that this medicine is a potent treatment for nausea.

With observations such as the following, however, I find much that is over-stated::

. . . Very few health practitioners recognize that their effectiveness depends upon the belief of their patients. Whether they are medical doctors, crystal healers, or acupuncturists, they believe that the healing power lies in themselves – or in the crystal or in putting the needle into the right spot or in the blood pressure medication. Ironically, their own faith in themselves and their techniques actually does increase their effectiveness: The faith of the physician stimulates the faith of the patient – a classical Freudian transference phenomenon. But the question that underlies this entire book remains the same: Why is it that acupuncture and surgery and a sugar pill can cure the same ailment? The answer points to the one constant factor among all the variables – the placebo effect. (p242)

Much of the material is presented as gospel, without considering that suggestion often accounts for only part of the effects of any treatment. Prayer, for instance, is dismissed as useless, wishful thinking – outside of its benefits in offering hope and self-suggestion.

More details at http://www.originpress.com/placeboeffect

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