Dr. Currie argues that framing the effectiveness of shamanic medicine in terms of placebo effects alone does not do justice to the sophistication of shamanic practice. The latter, she maintains, is based on a complex, multi-tiered metaphysics whereby cause and effect relations beyond the visible material world are deliberately exploited by the shaman.
Saved you a click: Author believes calling it a placebo is wrong because shamans are actual magic. Erm, I mean metaphysics. And a whole lot of waffling about what exactly the definition of placebo is.
The way that headline was written I was expecting some discussion about the pageantry, actual folk medicine in use, and perhaps some stuff about the role of shamans in their community.
Saved you a click: Author believes calling it a placebo is wrong because shamans are actual magic. Erm, I mean metaphysics. And a whole lot of waffling about what exactly the definition of placebo is.
The way that headline was written I was expecting some discussion about the pageantry, actual folk medicine in use, and perhaps some stuff about the role of shamans in their community.