There’s some patent medicine that has a commercial, “Eat like a kid again.” Brilliant. Gorge yourself to the point of nausea, then take this pill to avoid the consequences. Why not just use peacock feathers dipped in olive oil? Sometimes the old ways are best.
According to Moses Maimonides, no disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means. I would add exercise to diet. Maybe in the twelfth century when Maimonides was writing, everybody got lots of exercise automatically.
To maintain good general health, I also take a big placebo once in a while, especially if I feel a cold coming on. Some people think taking a placebo is pointless if you know it’s a placebo, but follow my logic here: I know about the placebo effect too. Studies have shown that the placebo effect is real. So there’s no illogic in taking advantage of the real placebo effect by taking a real placebo. Also, by now I’ve established through my own experience that taking a placebo works for me, so it does work for me. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t do this.
The trick is to choose a placebo that’s cheap, with no harmful side effects. It’s a bonus if it has some actual physical utility independent of it’s placidifying benefit. Unless you’re completely deranged you’ll choose something that’s available over the counter, preferably at the grocery store. I like vitamin C, and sometimes zinc. I tried echinacea, but that didn’t do anything for me. I think some of those so-called “natural remedies” are just silly superstitions, like homeopathic medicine.
If a sensible diet and an hour of exercise every day don’t work, then I turn to a stronger remedy. I take a nap and drink a big glass of water. This usually works in time, but if not, or if the pain is extreme, then I kick it up a notch and pursue a strategy of benign neglect and denial. Sometimes I eat a cookie. So far, this has almost always worked. The rare exceptions have required a trip to the library, a web search, and once or twice a visit to a doctor.
Monday Evening 