A closer look at health
The next breakthrough in health is here
We're following the latest health trends, some of which point to how consciousness affects health. Current pioneers are looking into whether it's possible to govern thought so that one can expect consistent health. Similarly, a pioneer in the mind/health connection in the late 1800's, Mary Baker Eddy, experimented with these ideas as well. She ultimately concluded that the human mind was subordinate to the divine Mind, which has broad implications on health today.
This page contains videos and blogs about these ideas.
Mary Baker Eddy, pioneer on health.
Videos
Press Room blog
The Press Room blog includes articles published in other news media outlets that relate to health and Christian Science.
Hope and health – a good partnership
By Donald Ingwerson
How many times have we heard someone respond to another’s hopes and dreams with, “Get real?” Well, maybe we do need to get real, but hope may be tied more closely with reality than we think, especially in the quest for health.
The effect of hope on health may be viewed like that of prayer and meditation – it's hard to provide scientific proof questioners will accept.
This article was published on BlogCritics.com on May 13, 2013.
When too much of a good thing is no longer good
By Wendy Margolese
Remember when you ate too much ice cream as a kid and afterwards your tummy ached? Fast forward to your adult experience. What if the drug you are taking is too high a dosage or has side effects? A tummy ache may be the least of your worries given the other possible adverse effects.
According to experts in drug policy, many Canadians are over-medicated and at risk from the effects of pharmaceutical drugs.
This article was published on Simcoe.com on May 17, 2013.
The placebo effect
Placebos are a trending topic in the public discussion on health. This section contains some articles on the subject by colleagues.
By Linda Ross
Many of you may have seen the recent 60 Minutes segment exploring the placebo effect, pointing out the effect of a patient’s thought on their health outcomes. The results of the research were astounding in identifying that placebos are often as effective as drugs in treating mild and moderate depression. Hearing this report was almost as striking for me as the first time I saw on television someone telling about being healed through prayer alone.
This blog by Linda Ross was published on the Creedible on Feb. 27, 2012.
By Keith Wommack
CBS Television News magazine, 60 Minutes, aired a segment that correspondent Lesley Stahl described as “explosive” in promos for the piece. The segment discussed the new scientific research that is creating a stir in the medical community.
Stahl interviewed psychologist Irving Kirsch, associate director of the Placebo Studies Program at Harvard Medical School. Kirsch’s research challenges the effectiveness of antidepressants. He said the difference between the effect of a placebo and the effect of an antidepressant is minimal for most people.
This blog by Keith Wommack was published on the Houston Chronicle on Feb. 20, 2012.
By John Clague
The Institute of Medicine released a report in June describing the prevalence of chronic pain in America. They report that it “affects at least 116 million American adults—more than the total affected by heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. Pain also costs the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatment and lost productivity.” So, what methods can be used to treat pain?
By Bob Cummings
The placebo effect is usually considered to be the curative effective resulting from patients equipping a sugar pill with their belief in its ability to help. But it turns out that the placebo effect can result from the thought of the caregiver as well.
Source: Glow Images
It turns out that in 1993 Dr. Peter Kramer published a blockbuster bestseller called Listening to Prozac. Kramer claimed in the book that Prozac and other SSRIs (selective serotonin uptake inhibitors) provided a near miraculous cure for depression. For those whose faith in the power of drugs may have reached an almost religious zeal, the reality has turned out to be more nightmare than miracle.
By Steve Salt
The results are in. Another study has been published on the effectiveness of placebos in treating pain even when the patient knows he is taking one. The study, published in an issue of PLoS One, reports that researchers saw clear evidence of positive results when placebo pills were prescribed to patients.