Mind Over Matter: The Science of Psychosomatics

Much can be achieved by will power and positive thinking, in ways that seem almost miraculous. Alternative treatments and cures are widespread and popular and, despite sometimes dubious rationale, people often gain benefit from them.

How do placebos and suggestion achieve such impressive effects and how can they be harnessed most effectively? Psychosomatics and psychoimmunology are lively frontiers of science, where much is being newly discovered with important application in our battle against disease, pain and debility.

Dr Glenn Wilson, previously of Gresham College and the Institute of Psychiatry, London, looks into mysterious phenomena such as hypnosis, hysterical contagion, stigmata, homeopathy and faith-healing to sift what might be of social and clinical value from that which plays upon gullibility in a way that is exploitative.