Miracle healing
Wunder Heilung is a documentary film by the Austrian science journalist Kurt Langbein released in 2012 . In it, he describes examples of complete healings from cancer , each of which could not be explained exclusively medically ( spontaneous healing ). Langbein deals with the part of the psyche in healing , among other things through the placebo effect . The film was awarded the Romy in 2013 for best TV documentary .
The patients
The film introduces four patients who have been cured from cancer.
- Kurt Langbein himself developed prostate cancer . The Gleason score was with him 8 of 10. He decided to use a radiation therapy and a " oncological Psychotherapy " and is at the time of completion of the film free of cancer.
- Bettina Reiter, herself a doctor and psychotherapist, went to a clinic because of digestive problems. During an operation, she was found to have ovarian cancer and metastases in the abdomen . The attending physicians estimated her further life expectancy at six months. Reiter received conventional therapy, but also took advantage of alternative, holistic therapy offers (including artificial fever ). At the time the film was made, Reiter was free of cancer.
- Winfried Egger, a forester from Vienna , was forced into retirement in 2000. In 2005 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Egger attributes his cancer to the forced retirement. After surgery and chemotherapy , he turns to a " holistic doctor with psycho-oncological training". He also finds support in faith , he prays a lot. At the time the film was made, Egger was free of cancer.
- Helmut Bayreuther from Franconia had colon cancer with metastases in the liver and kidneys . After five rounds of conventional chemotherapy, he stopped the treatment against the advice of his doctors in Erlangen ("I [...] had no more strength"). Instead, he was treated in the Hufeland Clinic in Bad Mergentheim with a combination of milder chemotherapy, artificial fever and various psychotherapeutic measures . Bayreuth began jogging and cycling . After two years he was cancer free. Langbein comments in the film: “For more than a dozen years, Mr. Bayreuther has come for a cure and check-up once a year. The liver is free from cancer, it is healthy. "
Attempted explanation
Langbein builds up the following chain of cause and effect in the film: The patient accepts the disease, that is, he accepts the possibility of dying from this disease. This changes his consciousness, i.e. his attitude towards himself. This change in consciousness can be achieved through various measures, e.g. B. through psychotherapy, be supported and directed. It activates or strengthens the body's self-healing powers , which until now could only be partially researched using scientific methods .
The self-healing powers “defeat” cancer in conjunction with therapeutic measures (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, artificial fever, etc.). The placebo effect also plays a role here. Langbein comments: “If moods influence the immune system, the confidence in healing should actually promote healing. Even the belief in the effect of a therapy is actually effective. "
Scientific evidence
Langbein speaks to a number of international researchers from various disciplines in order to uncover the mystery of spontaneous healing and describes their research work.
- The neurobiologist Gerald Hüther explains that constant stress combined with feelings of powerlessness, such as those triggered by cancer, paralyzed the body's defenses.
- Martha McClintock from the Institute for Mind and Biology at the University of Chicago carried out studies on clone mice. A group of mice were kept in families. The mice of the other group were each kept individually, they could see the other mice but not make contact with them. This isolation caused stress in the mice. The mice kept in isolation developed breast cancer much earlier, their life expectancy was 40% lower, their mortality rate was much higher, and the cancer grew eight times faster. It was possible to prove “that the stress hormones are directly involved in the cancer process”. McClintock expresses the hypothesis that "stress hormones influence the function of genes in brain tissue".
- Sarah Gehlert of the Institute for Public Health found that black women in Chicago are 68% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. African-American women often live in districts with many vacant houses that are often frequented by drug dealers and users. This dangerous environment changes the metabolism of women, they no longer sleep deeply, have high levels of stress and are at high risk of “triple negative breast cancer”, the type of breast cancer with the worst prognosis. The fear of crime leads to isolation, this leads to isolation and this in turn leads to a “burn-out of the immune system” in 2/3 of the women, as studies of saliva samples have shown. Cleola Richmond, one of the breast cancer patients examined by Gehlert, has her say in the film: “Here on the street we are all single women. The men are dead and the children are out of the house. I have security doors at the front and back and I don't go out in the evening. When I go to church, someone picks me up and brings me back. It's safe like that. ”And:“ I've been dealt with. I've already reached stage IV . I only have the firm belief that God will help me. "
- Christian Schubert ( psychoneuroimmunologist , Innsbruck ) was able to prove by examining urine samples that positive and negative experiences affect the immune system with a delay of up to 90 hours. He also comments on the strengthening effect of religious belief: "Studies show that people who believe in God are less psychopathologically conspicuous, that is, they suffer less from depression, less from anxiety, less from somatization disorders." “Meditation, this spiritual aspect that is effective. But to what extent Catholic prayer, for example, also has an effect on immunological, hormonal factors that are very close to health or illness, there are no results. ”“ There are also some studies that can show that religion is based on one Side can have very positive effects. But at the moment when the whole thing tilts towards fear and towards severity and guilt, there are also clearly negative effects, including on health. ”Social relationships also strengthen the immune system. Religious people who z. B. Belonging to a parish may benefit from this.
- By examining blood samples taken from actors after certain scenes, it could be shown that even acted emotions influence the immune system. Positive feelings increase its activity, negative feelings decrease it. The film does not state when, where and by whom these examinations were carried out.
- A study was carried out on two groups of knee osteoarthritis patients. The patients in one group underwent minimally invasive surgery , while the patients in the other group were only pretended to have had an operation through superficial incisions. In both groups, 90% of the patients were satisfied with the success of the operation after two years, those who operated on sham felt even less pain. For this study, too, it is not stated in the film when, where or by whom it was carried out.
- The neurophysiologist Fabrizio Benedetti from Turin is investigating the placebo effect in Parkinson's patients who have been given a brain pacemaker . The previous announcement that the brain pacemaker was about to be activated reinforced the effect caused by the device. Even such an announcement without subsequently turning on the brain pacemaker led to a clearly measurable effect. Langbein comments: "The conviction that you will be helped actually helps." And: "A good doctor also heals through the power of the conviction that he can heal."
- Neuroscientist Manfred Schedlowski is also researching the placebo effect. In one of his experiments, test subjects drank a novel looking and tasting liquid and took immunosuppressants at the same time . After a few weeks, the drink alone was enough to produce the effect.
- The doctor Nina Reis from the Hufeland Clinic Bad Mergentheim says: “The disease originated in the human body. That is where the healing lies. "
- The expert for artificial fever Ralf Kleef emphasizes the necessity of conventional therapy measures. However, he also believes that thoughts and the way you think have an impact on health and recovery from cancer. He says: “Of course, the collective unconscious stands against them. It says you can't do it, it's a fatal disease. And I am sure that this firm belief, this will to survive this disease, is the basis of any healing. "
DVD, book
The film was released on DVD in 2014 under the title Miracle Healing - The Power of Confidence and Trust .
Kurt Langbein wrote the book Radish from Above - About Living with Cancer on the same subject . It was published in 2012 by Ecowin Verlag, Salzburg .
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