Re: Supplement Information

Lee Daniel Crocker (
Wed, 9 Apr 1997 16:24:53 -0700 (PDT)

> How do you measure a 'rapture effect' without doing something
> impractical like measuring the level of endorphins in the brain?

Simple: ask. Give a dozen people a euphoric, and another dozen a
vitamin or something, then have them all answer multiple-choice
questions about how they feel. If the answers to some question
correlate strongly enough with those who took the real drug, you've
shown a measured effect (certainly not a conclusive one, but at
least better than nothing).

> There are some ways to experiment on your own, maintaining a healthy
> level of skepticism until you see some noticeable effect that is new
> in your experience and 'appears' to be causally associated with the
> substance being used.

This is generally a waste of time, even for someone who is skeptical
and knowledgeable about research, because placebo effects work even
on those who think they don't.

> How would you measure the improvements in your life from zen
> meditations?

I've never tried to, but I suppose I could if I really wanted to.
Hmm. How do you give a placebo for sitting?

Lee Daniel Crocker <>  <>