Can placebo heal? Can placebo provide a short term burst of hope based on belief? Remember from our first post that from Latin placebo means ‘I shall please’ whereas Nocebo means ‘I shall harm’. Just how powerful are words of power, thoughts and beliefs?
With these definitions in mind, consider the following stories. They powerfully demonstrate how belief systems can either turn on or turn off the will to live and how inexplicable healing can sometimes occur through belief. Consider the power of Sovereigns to heal in medieval times and the power of prayer
It is interesting to remember how the Royal Touch was believed to heal and 
bless. With the spread of Christianity, monarchs were seen as religious figures with magical or curative powers. It was believed that Royal Touch, the touch of the sovereign of England or France, could cure diseases due to the devine right of sovereigns. Members of the royal courts often propagandized that those receiving the Royal Touch were miraculously healed. André du Laurens, the senior physician of Henry IV, publicized findings that at least half of those that received the Royal Touch were cured within a few days. Then we have the story of St peregrinus – the Patron Saint of Cancer.
Near the end of the thirteenth century a zealous young priest of the order of
Servites fell ill with a painful cancer of the foot. He bore his trial without a murmur and, when it was decided that amputation should be performed, he spent the night preceding the operation in prayer before his crucifix. He then sank into a light slumber from which he awoke completely cured—to the amazement of the doctors who could no longer detect any trace of the disease. The holy man lived to the age of eighty and died in sanctity. He became known as St. Peregrinus, the patron saint of cancer.
In this context – I introduce two other sources for placebo – Both are from an indigenous source. I encourage you to consider the difference between an uneducated person who accepts their cultural beliefs and background including those in authority and our current Western style culture where education levels are a higher standard and where tradition and authority is often scorned or rebelled against. Did these simple beliefs and rituals have a ‘magical’ placebo effect?
The following stories from the 1800’s were both recorded by medical physiologist Walton Cannon and concern Australian experiences – the first one being an indigenous Australian account and the second – a Kanaka from the Polynesian Islands. From his diary he states:
“Dr. S. M. Lambert of the Western Pacific Health Service of the Rockefeller Foundation wrote to me on several occasions as he had seen evidence of death from fear. In one case there was a startling recovery. At a mission at Mona Mona in North Queensland, were many native converts, but on the outskirts of the mission was a group of non-converts, including one “Nebo”, a famous witch doctor. The chief helper of the missionary was Rob, a native who had been converted. When Dr. Lambert arrived at the Mission he learned that Rob was in distress and that the missionary wanted him examined. Dr. Lambert made the examination, and found no fever, no complaint of pain, no symptoms or signs of disease. He was impressed, however, by the obvious indications that Rob was seriously ill and extremely weak. From the missionary he learned that Rob had had a bone pointed at him by Nebo and was convinced that, in consequence, he must die. Thereupon, Dr. Lambert and the missionary went for Nebo, threatened him sharply that his supply of food would be shut off if anything happened to Rob and that he and his people would be driven away from the mission. At once Nebo agreed to go with them to see Rob. He leaned over Rob’s bed and told the sick man that it was all a mistake, a mere joke…indeed, that he had not pointed a bone at all.
The relief, Dr. Lambert testifies, was almost instantaneous. That evening Rob was back at work, quite happy again and in full possession of his physical strength.
A less fortunate outcome is reported in the next account.
Dr. Lambert also wrote about an experience of Dr. P. S. Clarke with Kanakas working on the sugar plantations of North Queensland.
“One day a Kanaka came to his hospital and told him he would die in a few days because a spell had been put upon him and nothing could be done to counteract it. The man who had been known to Dr. Clarke for some time was given a
very thorough examination, including an examination of the stool and urine. All was found normal, but as he lay in bed he gradually grew weaker. Dr. Clarke called upon the foreman of the Kanakas to come to the hospital to give the man assurance, but on reaching the foot of the bed, the foreman leaned over, looked at the patient, and then turned to Dr. Clarke, saying, “Yes, doctor, close up him he die.” (that is he is nearly dead). The next day, at 11 o’clock in the morning, he ceased to live.”
Compare the technique used in the last two stories with our hill-billy friend from the story featured in part 2 on this topic. The hill-billy story talks of a positive message given to the patient, of hope of a cure. A positive Placebo! He is given a treatment with a technique and a ritual by which the cure can happen (i.e. the use of the thermometer) believing the doctor that this treatment will cure him. In our other two stories above, the belief systems of the tribe dictate the outcome.
This belief system decrees that if you are “pointed” with a bone by a witch doctor( vodoo doctor) or hexed by someone from the local village, then without exception you will die. With hope removed and a strong belief and expectation that death will be the result, the mind- spirit connection of the patient seals the decree and so the death completes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
How can we apply these stories in current time – What can we learn from them? When cancer or chronic illness is concerned – Is placebo enough? How can we get the best of both worlds? What is the relationship between positive thinking – possibility thinking and placebo effects?…Some food for thought. More on this topic next blog.