Over the years, the placebo has earned an unfair reputation as an instrument of medical fakery; a white lie to convince unsuspecting patients they are being treated when in fact their treatment is nothing more than a sugar pill or surgical sleight of hand.

However growing evidence suggests the placebo and its effects are far more significant in modern medical practice than many of us realised. Some are arguing that instead of viewing it with disdain, we should instead be embracing it.

http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2013/11/11/3888346.htm

Homeopathy FTW

“LIFE IS A PLACEBO”

runs away european anarchist styles!

I find it fascinating.

I’ve used placebo on a couple of children over the years, With the consent of the parents. Children quite convinced they needed glasses – but there was nothing wrong with them. So glasses were supplied after me using my Authority to assure the children that what ailed them could be fixed so they would not need glasses later. We had a plan in place with the child for them to wear the glasses full time for a certain period of time and then reduce the wearing time.

It’s not something I do lightly, and I’ve only done it once or twice. I never told a lie to the child. I was a little economical with what I did tell them though. It worked. Child happy, and ‘cured’ and parents happy.

You have to know the whole story. These children were embroiled in family breakups at the time and needed some attention to be paid to them. I did that.

It’s an ethical mine field for real humans…I mean adults.

errant space

Yes, I wonder what the unmeasurable placebo benefits are from real antidepressant medication.

Apparently money in the bank has placebo-like benefits also.

30% of people are placebo responders.

every me, every you

OCDC said:

30% of people are placebo responders.

Huh?

I thought everyone was?

Dropbear said:

OCDC said:

30% of people are placebo responders.

Huh?

I thought everyone was?

Nope, not everyone. That 30% even includes people who know they’re getting a placebo! FIIK how that works.

OCDC said:

That 30% even includes people who know they’re getting a placebo! FIIK how that works.

You learn something every day.

I’m not sure if I could persuade myself. I suspect I could.

I’ve just taken a nurofen, and I believe it will work. But it will take 15 or 20 minutes. So I’ll get some photos off my camera onto the computer while I wait for it to make up its mind.

the placebo and its effects are far more significant in modern medical practice than many of us realised.
——————————————

Panadol people have known for a long time that Panadol works better than Panadol pretenders…

Have a coke and enjoy life.

You deserve it.

Champ.

I believe in the placebo effect

wookiemeister said:

I believe in the placebo effect

It works I tell ya.

I heard a rumour that the hope and real chance of relief or simply trending reduced dicomfort has positive benefits for the entire organism, sort of a light at the end if the tunnel thing. Don’t quote me though.

Hold the fucking phone, Missy. If they know it is a placebo, it isn’t a placebo, it’s just a sugar pill.

dv said:

Hold the fucking phone, Missy. If they know it is a placebo, it isn’t a placebo, it’s just a sugar pill.

That’s the point. You give them a pill and say it will make them better. The sugar coating is there to mask the unpleasant taste of the drug inside. So swallow it down without chewing or sucking.

Yeah.. still works the goods.

I guess that is the question.

>If they know it is a placebo, it isn’t a placebo

We’ve been through all this before. You people always miss the new level. The level at which we (like the doctors) know it’s a placebo, but still (like the doctors) expect it to work as a placebo.

Bubblecar said:

>If they know it is a placebo, it isn’t a placebo

We’ve been through all this before. You people always miss the new level. The level at which we (like the doctors) know it’s a placebo, but still (like the doctors) expect it to work as a placebo.

What do you mean by “you people”.

Are you being speciast?

sibeen said:

Bubblecar said:

>If they know it is a placebo, it isn’t a placebo

We’ve been through all this before. You people always miss the new level. The level at which we (like the doctors) know it’s a placebo, but still (like the doctors) expect it to work as a placebo.

What do you mean by “you people”.

Are you being speciast?

I was poo-pooed on an old science forum (I think they called it SSSF) for suggesting that the power of placebos could be better harnessed if we were upfront about them being placebos. Yes, this would involve an adjustment of the definition of the term, but far from detracting from the effect, might actually enhance it.

Bubblecar said:

sibeen said:

Bubblecar said:

>If they know it is a placebo, it isn’t a placebo

We’ve been through all this before. You people always miss the new level. The level at which we (like the doctors) know it’s a placebo, but still (like the doctors) expect it to work as a placebo.

What do you mean by “you people”.

Are you being speciast?

I was poo-pooed on an old science forum (I think they called it SSSF) for suggesting that the power of placebos could be better harnessed if we were upfront about them being placebos. Yes, this would involve an adjustment of the definition of the term, but far from detracting from the effect, might actually enhance it.

Like homeopath actually tells you he waters his product down? and you still buy it?

roughbarked said:

and you still buy it?

Only if he/she promises that it has been watered down a real lot.

sibeen said:

roughbarked said:

and you still buy it?

Only if he/she promises that it has been watered down a real lot.

Like I water down port with lots of lemon flavoured mineral water?

It takes longer but it still gets me all sleepy.

We know that placebos actually work to some degree (they return better results than no formal treatment at all). So, why not split them into two: the normal placebos as used in drug testing, and others that are officially identified as placebos. The latter might be even more effective. You might even be able to devise interesting trials (officially identified placebos vs normal ones) to compare them :)

Bubblecar said:

We know that placebos actually work to some degree (they return better results than no formal treatment at all). So, why not split them into two: the normal placebos as used in drug testing, and others that are officially identified as placebos. The latter might be even more effective. You might even be able to devise interesting trials (officially identified placebos vs normal ones) to compare them :)

Pick up any book on herbs and read that this herb is useful for your perceived ailment and you take it. Without checking other references to see if the attribute is correct. You’ll most likely think it is doing you some good though no doctor has prescribed it.

>I find it fascinating.

Me too. Great article and a nice story from Buffy about its effective clinical use.

Obviously there is so much still to learn, eg lesscebo effect and what makes a good bedside manner.