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2B Daily News – Thursday, December 12, 2013 FEATURES Placebo effect can stimulate healing in the body. DEAR DOCHowever, they TOR K: In previalso sometimes ous columns stimulate natural you've mentioned healing powers. something called Take pain, for the "placebo instance. Like all effect." Can you symptoms, pain explain what that is experienced in means? the brain. It also DEAR READDr. K can be treated by ER: We used to by Anthony L. think the placebo Komaroff, M.D. the brain. Endorphins are brain effect was imaginary. Today, I think the chemicals that are natuevidence indicates other- rally released when a wise: It's an example of person experiences pain, our remarkable powers reducing its intensity. There is growing eviof self-healing. A placebo is a pill or dence that when a placeother treatment that is bo leads to pain relief, it inactive. It may look is because taking the identical to a real drug, placebo stimulates the but it doesn't really have production of endorthe drug in it. It's also phins. It's not just pain. In called a "sugar pill," although the inactive Parkinson's disease, for substances in it don't example, a deficiency of a natural brain chemical include table sugar. Researchers use makes it difficult for a placebos in clinical stud- person to move in a ies. They compare the coordinated way. A pill results for a group of that supplies that defichemical can people who got an active cient treatment with the improve the condition. results for a group of One study showed that people with people who got the when placebo treatment. Typi- Parkinson's disease took cally, neither the people a placebo pill (instead of in the study nor their the real pill), their brains doctors know if they are responded by naturally taking the real medicine making more of the or the placebo until after missing chemical. That's the study is ended. This why they improved. It is how researchers can was not their imaginatell how well a treatment tion: It was natural healing that was stimulated worked. Even when people by their belief in the pill. Belief surely plays taking the real drug do better than the people an important role. Studtaking the placebo, ies show that people are something interesting more likely to respond often happens: The peo- to a placebo when they ple taking the placebo are told it is powerful sometimes report that or that it is expensive. they also feel better People who believe in since they started taking acupuncture are more likely to feel better folit. For many years, most lowing real acupuncture during sham of us in the medical pro- and fession assumed such acupuncture. Studies people were just imagin- like these have opened ing that they were feel- our eyes to what the ing better. After all, the placebo effect really is. placebo pill contained Dr. Komaroff is a no active substance that physician and professor could affect the chemistry of the body. We at Harvard Medical To send called it the "placebo School. questions, go to effect." or What's behind that AskDoctorK.com, effect? When real medi- write: Ask Doctor K, 10 cines work, they often Shattuck St., Second Boston, MA do so by supplying a Floor, chemical that is missing 02115. He's lost that loving feeling could happen repeatedly if Dear Annie: My husthe two of you do not learn band and I have been marto communicate more clearried for only 18 months. ly. Things were blissful for the Dear Annie: You often first year, and then things suggest that family members took a drastic change. One try to work out their differday, he told me he has lost ences if there is an estrangethe ''in love'' feeling. ment. But there are two Apparently, he had felt animosity for some time, Annie's sides to every story. My husband and I were but I had no idea. He chose treated horrendously by a to hold his emotions in, and over time, the result was by Kathy Mitchell family member, and every that he stopped loving me. and Marcy Sugar relative allowed it to continue even though they were He now spends four days a week with friends and comes home fully aware of the pain it caused us. past midnight. I don't believe he is The stress was constant and created cheating. When he was single, he physical as well as emotional issues. After trying to work it out, chose to live a sheltered life. My husband is aware that his we finally made the painful decibehavior is extreme. Could this be a sion to separate ourselves from this midlife crisis, even though he is part of the family. Just because you are related to only 36? How can I help him through this stage? — Newlywed someone does not mean you have to allow yourself to be abused or bulBlues Dear Newlywed: Every married lied. It is frustrating to read letters couple has a period of adjustment, from those who ''don't know why but we think there is more to your Betty won't speak to the family.'' husband's story than what he is I'm sure many of them know pertelling you. You cannot expect his fectly well why. They simply behavior to improve on its own. choose not to acknowledge the part Unless he is willing to be honest they may have played in Betty's and address what is wrong, there is decision. — Tired of Being the Bad unlikely to be any change in your Guys Dear Tired: In many instances, relationship. Counseling could help get to the this is true. People put their heads in bottom of it, provided your husband the sand when it is too complicated is cooperative. If not, please decide to look around and shake things up. whether you want to remain in this We usually suggest people make an marriage, because what is going on effort to see whether family relamay not get better, and even if it tionships can be repaired. But we does, this type of sudden coldness don't expect anyone to tolerate hor- Mailbox rible behavior that won't change. You made the effort. It didn't work. You then did what was necessary for your mental and physical health. Dear Annie: I had to laugh when I read the letter from ''Perplexed in Pennsylvania,'' who is upset that her best friend keeps forgetting her birthday. That could be me. It could also be my best friend. You see, in today's world, we sometimes get too busy to stop and smell the roses and remember the birthdays of those we care about. It certainly doesn't mean we care any less. I sometimes forget the birthdays of my own children and siblings. I may remember several days in advance and then forget on the actual day and feel sorry afterward. But it's not the end of the world. Every now and then, my friends and I have a special lunch together to celebrate our friendship. We do not exchange gifts, because we all have more ''things'' than we need. A fun card is just that, and it's good at any time. ''Perplexed'' should think of what she can do for herself on her special day. — One Who Knows in Oklahoma Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. The rules of regifting Two weeks until Christmas. That's right, I said it. Start thinking it over. And while you're doing that, allow me to whisper just one word in your ear: Regifting. The act of regifting -passing on as new a gift someone else gave you -- is controversial, but only because of those who do a noticeably bad job of it. After all, if every act of regifting were carried out flawlessly, no one would have the occasion to find it distasteful. And that brings me to the first Rule of Regifting: -- Never admit to regifting. If your friends know you're a regifter, you'll find yourself in the unpleasant situation of explaining why regifting is different from not caring. Worse, they will be suspicious of the gifts you give them. It's best to keep regifting completely to yourself. -- Designate a location. Keep regifts in a convenient, albeit secret, place in a special box or cupboard with extra wrapping paper and ribbon. Some people shop for gifts in department stores. Never underesti- -- No telltale signs. A mate the utility of a gift regift must look brandstash that allows new. If the box is damaged you to shop at or shows any signs that it home. has been opened, it does -- Have a heart. not qualify as a regift. Any gift made -Not remotely especially for you acquainted. Your regiftee or given to you by a must not in any way be parent, child or close acquainted with anyone in relative cannot be regiftthe circle of friends or relaed. Even if it's not ideal, tives of the person who consider its sentimental gave this to you. Refer to value. Don't even think Mary rules 3 and 4 above. of regifting. It just -- If there's a time you wouldn't be right. want to use new paper and -- Label all regifts. Do ribbon, it's on a regift. this as soon as you deterAnything else is a dead mine you've received a giveaway. regift to avoid the heart-- No matter how you break of backgifting -feel about it, the practice of giving someone a gift they gave you. Simply make a detailed regifting is here to stay. If you participate, do it well. note of where this item originated. -- Want to make sure your gift -- Check again. You cannot be too careful. Let's say the gift is a doesn't land in someone's regift book. Take a peek to make sure it box? Put a little thought and has not been inscribed to you. If it's effort into it to make sure it is a boxed gift, make sure the gift tag something the receiver will truly has not dropped inside the box. enjoy -- not just something that These are the careless acts that give let's you mark another name off your list. regifting a bad name. Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Joys of the Christmas season at the library The joys and hopes of the your loved one or a book store Christmas season have arrived gift card in a Christmas stockin Tehama County and they ing. I love books so much and were blown in in full force early love to share them. One way I in December by icy winds and share with my grandchildren is to wrap twelve books snow in some parts. each for them and But, as in every season every night starting if one wants to find on December 13th warmth and friendand ending on the ship, the library is the 26th, they open a place to be. Come in to book package and your local library to read a new story find all the signs of the together about the season — trees, garholiday season. I like lands, sweet and to slip Clement C. yummy things like Moore's A Visit From gingerbread houses, St. Nicholas in on the and books, books, 24th, and, yes, Virbooks. Some of the Sally ginia, there really is a new books Miss JenSanta Claus. nifer has put on the Santa Himself will shelves for your readmanage to fit a visit ing pleasure are Robert Parker's Silent Night, to our Red Bluff Christmas Nancy Thayer's Nantucket party on December 18th into his Christmas, and, for the mystery very busy schedule. At our buffs, Sara Paretsky's Critical usual story hour time, there will Mass. Also four new story hour be stories and music and treats boxes will be added in Red and the children will have a Bluff. Come and check them chance to tell Santa personally what they dream about for out. Books make a wonderful gift Christmas. Our children are learning all to give or receive. Consider wrapping up a big, juicy one for about Christmas every day and Ainsworth Sen. Jim Nielsesn office to be in Corning today The office of State Sen. Jim Nielsen will hold mobile office hours 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Corning City Hall, 794 3rd St. If you are having difficulty resolving an issue with a state department, mobile office hours are intended to help make the process easier for you to get the help you need. A staff member will be available. To schedule an appointment, call (530) 8797424. However, making an appointment is not required and drop-in appointments will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. that involves giving as well as receiving. As a special service, your library is hosting a Lil' Shopper's Shoppe. Children will have the opportunity to pick out their own inexpensive, high quality gifts for family and friends. This is a program designed for children to shop on their own in a safe non-commercial environment. They can learn to budget their money and spend wisely, while also experiencing the "Joy of Giving." The shoppe will be set up in the Red Bluff library conference room and will be run by volunteers. Gifts are priced for a child's budget, ranging from 25 cents to $10 with most priced under $5. There are gifts available for all the members of your Lil' Shopper's family. We have provided a Shopping Budget Envelope. This will allow you and your child the opportunity to decide together how much can be spent on each person. As you all know, the library is fundraising for your new library. This fundraiser will benefit the Library Building Fund. The Lil' Shopper's Shoppe will be open 2-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Santa will be here this day also. The shoppe will remain open the week of Dec.16 through the 20 in the library conference room. Great news for the Corning Branch. They have been named recipients of a Libri Foundation Grant. This is a grant from Oregon which awards $1,000 worth of childrens books to the deserving branch. The friends of the Corning library will be pitching in $500 to make it $1,500 for new books. Seventyfive new fiction and non-fiction children's books, each identified with a special seal on the front page, will be arriving after the first of next year. You'll want your children to be among the first in line to check these books out. Los Molinos branch was the proud recipient of this award last year and we are all so grateful to the Libri Foundation for extending this grant to Tehama County again. Now is the time for new year's resolutions and dreams of the future. Perhaps as you consider your resolution, you'll include, if you don't already have one, signing up for a free library card for you and your family members. Then consider joining the Friends of the Library at your branch. For merely a $5 yearly fee, you can help keep your library alive and well into the future. This past year that is drawing to a close has been a busy year full of suprises for us. We learned we had to move to a new location — like you we're still wondering where — but we took the challenge and are running with it, with you right beside us. The new year ahead is still a mystery, but there is one constant about our library and that is that our Friends and Patrons come first. Without you there would be no library, just an abandoned building full of dusty books. You put the life and the love and the magic into the library when you walk through the door. We love you and thank you and wish you a happy and healthy and prosperous new year. Sally Ainsworth is the Tehama County Librarian. Calif. couple conceives rare identical triplets SACRAMENTO (AP) — Doctors at a Northern California hospital say a couple has given birth to a rare set of naturally conceived identical triplets. The Sacramento Bee reports Abby, Brin and Laurel Hepner were born Nov. 22 at Sutter Memorial Hospital to Hannah and Tom Hepner, of Quincy. The triplets were produced when a single, fertilized egg split into three. Dr. William Gilbert, director of Sutter Women's Services, says the odds of producing identical triplets without fertility drugs range from 1-in-1-million to 1in-100-million. He said the rarity makes it difficult to more accurately calculate the frequency of such births. Abby weighed 3 pounds, 2 ounces; Brin 3 pounds, 11 ounces; and Laurel 4 pounds. The triplets are still in the hospital until they can maintain body temperature and eat properly. ——— Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com