Dear Reader,
I know things can get heavy.. But I try to keep these stories fun and light.. Tonight should be easy, because we have a great story!!
In honor of black history month, I want to tell you the story of Vance Vanders (I believe, it was)
This was the first person who was able to demonstrate the power of the mind over the body, from this event, they derived the Nocebo and Placebo effects.
This was able to be discovered, because different cultures came together.. So lets jump right in!!!
Our story begins, for dramatic effect, when the wife of Vance Vanders, enlisted the help of a white doctor.
Now this was at a time when white and black people, were divided.
So the white doctor listens to the wife, she explains that her husband has fallen ill.. that he gets weaker by the day.. and that she fears for the worst!
The white doctor, believing it would be a simple fix, invited her to bring him and that he would be happy to help if he could.. (Doctors used to feel that pledge, or oath they take, very proudly, and they enjoyed to show the power of their medicine!)
The story takes a turn however, when the doctor can not find any problems known to man, in Vance..
They test for everything they know to do.. like everything is just coming back negative.. he doesn’t have this, he doesn’t have that.
But what is true, as his wife attested, was that his condition was deteriorating.. He was growing weaker by the day...
As I said, this was at a time of differences, so he may not have cared more for his fellow man, but as a challenge of medicine.. of science..
The white doctor, had exhausted all of his methods, every test had been performed.. but he just couldn’t stop trying, to admit defeat to Vance and his wife.. was a point of pride.
This gnawed at him.. He lost sleep..
He often heard Vance discount his methods and tests.. Vance expressed obvious distrust in his medicine, and it was clear he believed some things stronger than treatments available, even from a modern hospital.
This was not just insulting, but disheartening to the doctor, as unless he could cure Vance, he would not hold his head high, it was an intellectual challenge!
Until one day, this doctor decided to open his mind..
Much like we witnessed on the Dr. “House” TV show, sometimes if you want to get to the bottom of the issues, you need to understand the lifestyle and beliefs.. This can help determine any factors that contributed or any contamination that is uncommon.
So the doctor went to Vance’s home.. he investigated his living area, and questioned his wife and Vance vigorously.
The saving grace, seemed to be when Vance’s wife recalled an argument, and mentioned a Voodoo doctor, or witch doctor.
The white doctor went to visit the cemetery, where the voodoo practitioner would often be.
He ventured to inquire about his methods, and made it known he would be very grateful for any insight. He humbled himself, and came with an open mind.
The voodoo doctor was hesitant at first, but enjoyed the respect such curiosity ignited.
The good witch doctor shared with him a bag and unknown powder which he demonstrated that he would palm then blow, over enemies to curse them.
He expressed that when he and Vance had a falling out, this is precisely what occurred.
They bartered, and the good doctor was allowed to return with some of the powder.
The white doctor was sure whatever was in the powder, would lead his way to the cure.
However.. when he returned, and tested the powder in every way he was able.. it proved to be nothing more than ash.. from a common fire perhaps.
You might imagine this was most troubling to the white doctor.
He knew it was not substituted as the witch doctor had no idea he would visit, and had the bag on his belt upon first sight.
Could it have nothing to do with Vance’s condition?
Days went by, and he continued to watch Vance grow weaker…
Now, the MAGIC!!
The white doctor thought long and hard, his very livelihood hung in the balance, not to mention his pride, as even in a weakened state Vance was vocal.
How had Vance not mentioned the witch doctor himself, why did the wife have to give such insight?
But then, it HIT him..
They came from different worlds, had different cultures, and different beliefs!
Vance had not volunteered this information because it was clear, the white doctor would discount such beliefs.
BUT.. what would happen if he didn’t? (are your neck hairs standing up?)
The white doctor humbled himself even more, and decided to create an “experiment”.
The next day, he greeted Vance differently, without his career enforced optimism.
He came with his head held low..
He explained to Vance, in somber tones.. that Vance’s wife had told him of the argument.
Vance was surprised.
He explained that he left the hospital to go to Vance’s his home.. to venture to the cemetery, and to question the witch doctor.
Vance looked at the white doctor like he thought the doctor was starting to understand.
The white doctor explained that he had gotten some of the powder from the witch doctor, and showed Vance, who was clearly unhappy to have the powder around.
The white doctor played a slight trick, and explained to Vance..
“This Powder he blew in your face, had lizard eggs in it.. and since he cursed you, those eggs went inside you.. Those lizards are inside you.. They are eating your food, and drinking your drink..”
This conversation got more expression from Vance, than all other testing combined!
The white doctor went further to express why none of his tests could help, why he was in such a bad mood. Basically it seemed like he leveled with Vance.
He paid his culture respect, even slightly underhanded..
He explained to Vance, that yes, the witch doctor had strong and very powerful methods.
That against such a force his modern medicine, had little to provide.
Vance felt heard, seen, and believed!
From a healer, this is incredibly important!
So the white doctor explained they had only one choice. There was only one medicine that could possibly counter such strong voodoo.
He gathered some pills that would induce vomit, to make Vance sick.
Now it was known, Vance did not actually have lizards in his stomach, but to make him sick would serve as a distraction.
The white doctor coordinated with Vance’s wife and explained it was the most important that she play along and when he signaled her, that she would block sight from Vance.
Vance’s wife, just wanting to save her husband, happily complied.
So the next morning early, they began giving Vance the pills.
He became ill and sick and they brought in buckets, he would use when he got sick.
This lasted hours.
Finally, after some time, the white doctor gave the signal.
The wife was perfect, and hid his actions from Vance’s sight.
The white doctor who had brought a clean bucket to swap out, while holding the most recent bucket that Vance was sick into, he pulled lizards from his pockets and tossed them into the bucket.
Then, he made a scene..
He acted and shouted and became himself in disbelief.
He showed Vance the bucket, and Vance’s eyes were wide.
The white doctor said, it's working!! And Vance watched the lizards scurry about in the bottom of the bucket.
Just a little longer the white doctor encouraged.
Now after this, once the pills he gave had wore off, Vance returned to full health.
He went on to live ten years longer, in perfect health!
The white doctor went on to create the first book detailing the power of the mind, and how it can have strong control over the body.
This is how we have the Nocebo and Placebo effects. To know sometimes medicine won’t help if you don’t believe in it, and sometimes that sugar cubes can heal, if they believe in them strongly enough.
In many instances conditions can be diagnosed as mental or psychological because we know!
I really hope you enjoyed the story!
I hope you see, our different cultures can bring progress and advancements we are otherwise missing.
When we unify and care about each other, when we respect and value each other fully, we can make the largest leaps!
Happy black history month! Good luck sleeping!