by Kalendaine » June 9th, 2007, 12:01 pm
I would say that hypnosis creates the ultimate placebo effect, jessica.
Oddly enough, your theory makes sense, especially about hhow hypnosis heals wounds and illnesses. Have you ever heard of the healing power of children? When a limb, such as an arm or hand - even as little as a finger! - is amputated, often they'll start to grow back in smaller children. However, when such a fuss is made about it, ("OMG!! you can't do that! That's not possible!") Such healing will often slow, then crawl at the 'normal' pace.
For me, this proves the healing power of the mind, which means that hypnosis is also anout the same level. If you considered *anything* to be an illness (and truly believed it), i'd think that your body would begin to 'heal' itself without much prompting.
-- And before I get attacked for citing a 'public domain' anecdote, i have a friend who actually went through this. His hand was amputated when he was four (i forget why, i was about the same age) and he started to regrow it - and doctors went, "omg! what's happening? it's miraculous healing! It's impossible!" and so, being told it wasn't possible, his mind accepted the constraints and healed his body at the normal pace.
Just adding in my thoughts :p