Can We Control Illness With Our Minds?
A released study of 1,093 patients treated for head and neck cancer showed that their state of mind had no influence on their outcomes. Or to put it simply, having a positive attitude, had no impact on survival.
In reporting the study, WebMD quoted Dr. Jimmie Holland from Sloan-Kettering, who coined the phrase “the tyranny of positive thinking.” Commenting on the study, Dr. Holland said, “The idea that we can control illness and death with our minds appeals to our deepest yearnings, but it just isn’t so. It is so sad that cancer patients are made to believe that if they aren’t doing well it is somehow their own fault because they aren’t positive enough.”
Harsh words, but that pretty much says it all — a definitive study that proves that what you think does not matter when it comes to cancer.
So what objection could I possibly have what WebMD calls “one of the largest and most rigorously designed investigations ever to examine the issue?”
Well, how about:
- The patients in the study received standard medical treatment
- Standard medical treatment, for the most part, means chemo and radiation
- Chemotherapy and radiation depress the immune system
- The benefit of positive thoughts are that they boost your immune system. Negative thoughts conversely depress it. Bottom line: your thoughts have a direct effect on your immune system — all things being equal.
But all things were not equal in this magnificent study. If you’re being treated with chemotherapy or radiation, then what you think doesn’t matter very much since your immune system is trashed no matter what you think. Once you acknowledge that fact, the results of the study are essentially a forgone conclusion. You don’t need to conduct “one of the largest and most rigorously designed investigations ever” to reaffirm that medical treatments trash your immune system beyond your ability to think your way out of it.
On the other hand, if you tested the effect of positive thinking in combination with either alternative health protocols that are immuno-supportive — or even one of the newer medical immuno-therapies that are designed to work with the immune system, that would indeed be a far more useful study.
Very good point Jon!
Great post Jon. One of the many things I like most about the info you share is when you review an actual study and point out the problems with that study. I find myself looking more deeply at the mainstram media’s reporting of these studys.
Excellent Jon.
I am a perfect example of where positive thinking has an impact. Sometime ago during a stressful time in my life I was always becoming ill. I didn’t understand it until I came across your book Lessons From the Miracle Doctors, specifically chapter 15 “”The thought that kills.”” Anyway, I replaced the negative thought with a positive one (what a challenge this was!) and eventually everything changed for the positive of course. I never really had a chance to thank you Jon, but Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your book lead me to read other books and my whole life just changed. All I can say is WOW!
Dear jon,
You are exactly right in your comments on positive thinking. many of the clients I treat find their conditions vastly improved by positive thinking leading to behavior modification and subsequent improvement in their physical well-being.
Will [uk].
Hello Jon,
You did well in exposing the fallacious premise upon which the “”rigorous”” study was performed.
On the other hand, if you would get deeper into Ron Paul’s philosophy,eating non-toxic foods with the proper supplements would almost eliminate the need for universal sickness (not health) care.
I’m tired of paying for others to be sick, when I make a concerted effort to stay healthy with exercise, good food, and supplements. By the way, I avoided all the conventional cancer treatments after being diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer three and a half years ago. I am now completely well.
I appreciate your post,
I appreciate your post, thanks for sharing the post, i want to hear more about this in future I like your article and it really gives an outstanding idea that is very helpful for all the people on web. great blog! i learn few things in this post, thanks for the share. nice posting keep blogging, these pictures are awesome!
I appreciate your post,
I appreciate your post, thanks for sharing the post, i want to hear more about this in future
I like your article and it really gives an outstanding idea that is very helpful for all the people on web.
great blog! i learn few things in this post, thanks for the share.
nice posting keep blogging,
these pictures are awesome!