The placebo response

The Placebo response is a phenomenon well known to physicians and practitioners worldwide. It is the response that a person has to an inert (dummy) remedy or tablet. Medical trials determine the efficacy of a drug by comparing its effect against that of placebo. Strangely the placebo is often effective, say for pain relief, in 20% of cases. In fact many doctors would like to be able to prescribe a placebo but for some reason they feel that it is unethical. The mechanism however is not fully understood.

Conventional doctors feel uncomfortable about not understanding the scientific mechanism of flower essences. However, they are happy to recognise them as non-threatening and useful, as this paragraph, written by my partner in General Medical Practice, illustrates:

"It has long been my belief that as the practice of medicine becomes more focused and pharmacological treatments more precise, that some individuals are in danger of being over-treated and of suffering from iatrogenic disease, that is illness caused by the treatment. Even fifty years ago the situation was very different - many diseases had no therapies associated with them. Consequently doctors relied on their personal abilities to ease their patients' distress, coupled with a number of preparations which often had little therapeutic benefit but were free from the risk of harming the patient.

"I have no doubt that there is a place in the medical practitioner's armament for 'benign' therapies which have no likelihood of causing iatrogenic disease. Such therapies would be suitable for self limiting disorders and symptoms of transient mental turmoil.

"Although not comfortable with recommending therapies whose mode of action is inexplicable (or seems irrational) I am pragmatic enough to sanction their use wherever appropriate in conjunction with conventional medicine." - Dr Peter Glanvill MB BS, GP, Chard, Somerset, since 1979.

One simple explanation of the placebo effect runs as follows:

We all possess a powerful inner healing power whose job it is to maintain health and balance. For most of us this Inner Healer is not consciously activated. When we take a substance or course of action that we think will make us better, we are consciously activating the inner healer. If we have great faith in our doctor, nurse, practitioner or in our attending loved ones then, again, we are consciously activating our inner healer. If the people around us fear for our health and our life, we pick up those vibes. Our inner healer is not only shut off, but the 'nocebo' effect (opposite of the placebo) comes into play and we may become more ill as a result.

An Aboriginal Medicine Man knew all about this effect. When asked what single thing he would suggest to improve Western Medicine he replied that the medical system should 'stop pointing the bone'. To point the bone at someone is to convince them that the spell of death is upon them.

A common question is whether the effect of flower remedies is just a placebo?

For essences used on a child or an animal as we have heard it is most unlikely that the effect is a placebo. For an adult choosing remedies for themselves it is a different case. Although the remedies certainly have a powerful effect, the placebo effect does exist, for the following reason.

If you choose a remedy by reading the written word - or even mentally identifying the correct essence, (such Holly for jealousy, revenge, envy, suspicion and greed), you are in effect saying to your Inner Healer "I want to work on this bit of me". Before you've even taken a single drop of the essence your Inner Healer has been activated to work on this aspect of you. And work it does, for you have consciously activated the power of the Inner Healer. For most of us the Inner Healer is only ticking over quietly, in neutral. To make a positive affirmation about your health activates the Healer powerfully, putting it in gear and revving up the engine. The branch of science studying these effects is psychoneuroimmunology.

The placebo mechanism is one of the most valuable yet least understood tools that medicine can use. The powerful effect that positive affirmations can have on health has not been yet harnessed to our full benefit. With many essences, affirmations are supplied in order to amplify the healing potential that taking the remedy has.

Psychoneuroimmunology is the modern scientific study of the effect of mind on matter. Specifically it looks at the effect of thoughts and emotions on the functioning of the immune system and health of the body. Modern research is now proving many of Dr Bach's observations and theories of health to be true.

Research over the next few years is likely to build on the scientific truth of the above mechanisms of action of flower remedies as a vital aspect of vibrational medicine. It will clarify many details which as yet are not fully clear. Such research is to be warmly welcomed! It will confirm scientifically what millions of people have learnt by personal experience.