(NaturalNews) Experts at Harvard Medical School advocate that the placebo effect be received with more positivity, rather than viewed as a deceptive or inaccurate measure designed to test health. (1) They conclude that the power of thought can be extremely effective in helping people heal, focusing on physiological changes that have been linked to the placebo effect.

The placebo effect involves someone being given medicine that is actually typically nothing more than a sugar pill which does not contain active ingredients. Many times, patients receiving a placebo who are in need of healing a certain condition report feeling significantly better, if not altogether healed.

The experts at Harvard explain that improvements may take place because of the anticipated response that a person expects when given medication. The university's literature says that there is "evidence that some of the placebo effect is a favorable reaction to care and attention from people who patients believe can help ease their suffering and distress." (2) It goes on to say that the placebo effect "may be an integral part of good medical care and an ally that should be embraced by doctors and patients alike."

The healing power of thoughts

This paves the way for potential changes in how health is handled and, furthermore, reinforces the strength of the human mind to bring about healing and desired outcomes, health or otherwise.

When it comes to weight loss, inspirational speaker Esther Hicks is on board with the mind's ability to foster change. (3) For example, she says that shedding pounds can be made easier when a person starts believing that they truly need to get better and that they will succeed.

She feels that negative thoughts produce vibrations that, when put out in the atmosphere, will not elicit good outcomes but rather put people on an ongoing life path that never ultimately yields the results they desire. "You can't eat something that you believe will make you fat and be slender... it's all about vibrational balance," Hicks says.

Improving thoughts can also create happiness

Thinking more positively not only helps health but can encourage better social relationships that bolster happiness. A recent study found that, although people are social beings who crave connectedness, when they are in public transit settings in close proximity to strangers, they tend to remain silent based on their expectation that others may not want to engage in communication. (4) This kind of anticipation goes back to the importance of thinking positively at the onset and not letting negative feelings interfere with desired outcomes.

In the study with strangers, it was found that those who did indeed socialize with fellow commuters reported feeling happier overall.

Sources for this article include:

(1) http://news.therawfoodworld.com

(2) http://www.health.harvard.edu

(3) http://rawandnaturalhealth.com

(4) http://psycnet.apa.org

About the author:
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. >>> Click here to see more by Antonia