'Nocebo': The Power Of The Mind Can Make You Sick

Posting Date: 01/13/2000

In another example, 50 high school boys in Japan who were allergic to poison oak were blindfolded and told poison oak was being brushed on one arm while the other arm was being brushed with chestnut tree leaves. Sure enough, the arm the boys believed was brushed with poison oak became red and itchy, while in most cases the arm actually rubbed with the poison had no adverse reaction.

I contend the nocebo mind-body effect can explain many complaints such as the Gulf War Syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities and other vague conditions that are typical of MSI.

Examples of the nocebo effect go back hundreds of years and it doesn?t mean there?s something wrong with you if you?re a victim. It just shows how the power of the mind ? triggered by perceptions of an event ? can make you physically ill.

Source: Hippocrates, November 1999

Page: 1 | 2   previous | next

Email this page  Printer Friendly Bookmark this page