Does The Color of Your Pill Make It Work Better?

The rational mind tells us that a pill is a medicine or herb and it works how it should no matter what it looks like.  Yet, people have expectations about how a pill works and how they will experience the pill based on its color, shape and size.

There is also a concept known as the placebo effect which is a beneficial effect, produced by a placebo drug or treatment, that cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment.  It is a remarkable phenomenon in which a placebo, a fake treatment that can be an inactive substance like sugar, distilled water, or saline solution, can in some cases improve a patient's condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful.

Both these concepts of a person believing something to be true (like a pill's physical appearance or a placebo treatment) based on their personal assessment or belief bring about a real result.  Our beliefs and thoughts carry so much power.  Yet, few people appreciate or take advantage of our mind and how it can help both our body and our life.

Ayurveda seeks to treat the whole person both body and spirit.  This is why meditation is one of the pillars of health.  Meditation helps to quiet the mind and helps one view their thoughts instead of thinking they are their thoughts.  From this perspective a person can take rational, constructive action.  Better choices make a better life.  There is one caveat.  The rational perspective does not have to be cynical.  The placebo effect shows us that being hopeful and optimistic still yields good results.  Meditation can help with that one too.  The more we meditate and the more we see how our thoughts are not a part of us, we start to see who really are.  Who is that? Each of us is a unique creation of G-d with a special purpose.  G-d joyfully created each one of us and that joy is within us.  Sometimes we have to let go of a few thoughts and beliefs to find the joy, but it is there.

Stay healthy & well,
Lisa