Books and
Cooks West
May 2004
Meaning, Medicine and the 'Placebo Effect'
by Daniel E. Moerman
Meaning, Medicine and the 'Placebo Effect'
by Daniel E. Moerman
Dawn and Jared's place
Saturday, May 8 at 5:30 PM
Veggie lasagna, three-bean salad, pate and crackers, red wine, apple pie, vanilla ice cream
Our rating: 4.2 cups of tea!
As
a family physician and behavioral scientist with strong interest in the
"placebo effect", I can say without reservation that this is one of the
best all-around reviews available. The "placebo paradox" has confounded
reductionist thinkers for decades: if there is nothing in the pill,
then how can it cause health effects? Dan Moerman doesn't have to take
us far out of the conventional box to show that - of course - it isn't
the inert pills, but instead the meanings attached with them that have
influenced outcomes in so many scientific experiments. Meaning, belief
and understanding govern how we think and feel, which in turn effect
our physical and psychological health. Empty colored pills, sham
surgery and suggestion lead to real health effects, even under the most
rigorous of settings: randomized, double-blind, controlled trials.
While reasonably comprehensive and highly accurate, this book is also
accessible, as it is written with a style and flair that should prove
attractive to most readers. Highly recommended it is!
