III THE PLACEBO EFFECT

1. What Is The Placebo Effect

The Placebo effect is "the patients' ability to cure themselves mentally."(Stevens 120) Basically the Placebo Effect is both shaman and patient believing the illness will be cured with whatever remedy or incantations they use. This is the way that most true shamans cure their patients. Drugs can play a small role in the healing process, but for the Placebo effect to work, the patient must cure himself by believing what the shaman gives them will cure them. There is no definite scientific answer for what the Placebo effect really is, but it has cured many people. A most recent story states a man dying of cancer was diagnosed with a prescription that would clear up the cancer growth. However, a few months later the man found out from his doctor that the pills were not working. Immediately the cancer growth in the man started to get worse. His doctor then decided to try a harmless experiment. The doctor simply gave the man some sugar pills and said they were knew and improved cancer fighting pills, and that they would cure the man. Immediately the cancer growth started to "diminish at an astronomical pace."(Stevens 128) The doctor then came to conclusion that "the mentality of a human being is the strongest medicine there is."(Stevens 129)

2. The Role Of The Placebo Effect In Shamanism

The Placebo effect can be induced on a patient in many different ways such as: hypnosis, incantations, a simple remedy or "strong belief in the healing spirits."(Walsh 152) In order for the shaman to choose which method he will use; he will first figure out exactly what problem is ailing the patient. If the patient had a severe sickness, the shaman would usually avoid the patient or make up a mystical story as to why the patient can't be healed. One of the reasons why shamans are so successful at healing is the fact that people believed in the shaman's powers, without a doubt. If the shaman can convince the patient that he/she will be healed, he has accomplished the first big step, and that is to get the patient to believe he/she will be healed. Absolute confidence and faith in the shaman by the patient is needed in order for the mental aspect of the healing to work.