an idea

Recent studies have shown that placebos are equally effective as most medications. (and in some bizarre cases, they are more effective) They have the added advantage that there are very few side effects to placebos. It's very difficult to be truly addicted to the pain reliever in a sugar pill, or so I would think.

Anyway, because of this, I've decided that the best way for me to find a cure for the swelling in my back is to start taking a placebo. But, I know that there is also a group think component of placebo efficacy. If the people in my immediate social network don't believe that it will work, I will somehow pick up on that disbelief and the percentages of success begin to drop. So, I want all of you to believe that if I drink a glass of grape juice every day for three days, my back pain will miraculously disappear. Why did I pick grape juice? Well, it's cheap. But, it also has antioxidant properties and it is a mild laxative, so it will flush all the icky stuff out of my spinal column that is causing the swelling. I will also have to stretch several times a day to increase the circulation in my spine.

So, (lifting a glass of grape juice) here's to my health.