Placebos have often been dismissed as mere “dummies” in the medical world, commonly used as controls in various studies. However, new research has shown that placebos can genuinely provide a healing effect for certain individuals. A recent study conducted by Michigan State University revealed that placebos, even when fully disclosed to participants, can effectively reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, even when administered remotely. Remarkably, the simple belief in the placebo’s effect, despite knowing it’s a placebo, can act as a supplementary element in therapy. The findings, published in the journal Applied Psychology: Health & Well-Being, are especially significant in light of the ongoing mental health challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focused on individuals who experienced prolonged stress due to quarantine. Over two weeks, participants were divided into two groups: one received a placebo with full disclosure, while the other group received no treatment and served as the control. Participants in the placebo group were informed about the placebo effect and given tablets with instructions for use. The entire process, including four virtual sessions with researchers, was conducted remotely via Zoom. Those who took the non-deceptive placebos reported significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression compared to the control group. Jason Moser, a co-author of the study and a professor in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University, emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that such interventions could offer substantial mental health benefits with minimal effort. Darwin Guevarra, another co-author and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco, highlighted the potential for remotely administered placebos to be scaled up, making them a viable option for individuals who may otherwise lack access to mental health care. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that psychological interventions, including those involving placebos, can have real and measurable impacts on mental health. Moreover, the researchers noted that the ability to administer such placebos remotely could significantly expand access to mental health care, particularly for millions of people in underserved communities. The post Healing Power of Placebos: New Research Validates Their Impact appeared first on Anomalien.com.

French video game site Jeux Video shared and then quickly deleted a video of an early preview of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

Scientists have taken looking for love to a whole new level, revealing that different types of love light up different parts of the brain. A recent study has mapped the brain’s response to different forms of love, showing that areas like the basal ganglia and the striatum light up depending on whether the love is [...]

Height loss could be an early sign of a more serious health condition.

Top O' the BriefingHappy Monday, dear Kruiser Morning Briefing friends. The Sine Qua Non Sequitur is spending the day teaching underprivileged minstrels how to properly throw a gentrified clambake. …

The principal of a NYC school that faced turmoil over rampant anti-Semitism and homophobia by Muslim students is being removed, and replaced with a MUSLIM (a follower of the most anti-Semitic, homophobic…

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Qatar-funded Al Jazeera has obtained videos of Israeli soldiers burning and tearing out pages of the Quran in northern Gaza’s Bani Saleh Mosque, as well as drone…

“As you know, I left that [Democratic] party in October because it had departed so dramatically from the core values that I grew up with. It had become the party of war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, big Ag, and big money. When it abandoned democracy by canceling the primary to conceal the cognitive decline of the sitting president, I left the party to run as an independent. The mainstream of American politics and journalism derided my decision. Conventional wisdom said that it would be impossible even to get on the ballot as an independent, because each state imposes … The post The Editors’ Quote of the Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Today’s graphic from X/Twitter is a timely meme that has gone viral.  I didn’t create it. (My own meme creations are usually posted on Sundays.) This meme came to me by way of Terry in Idaho.  I’d like to give credit to this meme’s creator, if someone can let me know. The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.       Meme Text: “They’re only Weapons Of War if you try to come and take them…” — Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your … The post SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The following recipe for Storage Rice and Spicy Red Beans is from SurvivalBlog reader Tony D.  He says: “This is a way you can use your storage food supply. Rice plus beans makes a complete protein.” BEans Ingredients 4 cups Dry Red Beans 3 Tablespoons Dried Onions 1 Tablespoon dried minced garlic 1 Tablespoon dried crushed red peppers Water RiCE InGredients 8 Cups of water 4 cups of rice (I prefer Basmati-type) 1/4 teaspoon of salt BEANS Directions Rinse and then soak the beans overnight. Change the water, to “de-gas” the swelled beans. Add the onions, garlic, and pepppers and … The post Recipe of the Week: Storage Rice and Spicy Red Beans appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.