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HEALTH / PSYCHIATRY
THE PLACEBO EFFECT
from the desk of Joseph Patrick Jakubal
The "placebo effect" is one of the most interesting things in medicine and
psychology. It demonstrates how powerful the mind can be in affecting the body.
Basically, the placebo effect happens when someone feels better after
getting a treatment that should not actually do anything ... like a "sugar pill" or "fake surgery".
But what is really surprising are all the cases where it works in ways that "seem impossible".
WHAT IS THE PLACEBO EFFECT?
The placebo effect relies on "belief". If someone "thinks" a treatment will help them, their body often
reacts like it actually did. This proves that "expectations", "hope", and "trust" can create real physical
changes.
Note that there is also something called the "nocebo effect", where negative beliefs can make
people feel worse.
Overall, the "placebo" effect shows how strong the connection is between the mind and body. Now, let's
look at some examples.
FAKE KNEE SURGERIES HELP WITH PAIN
In 2002, Dr. Bruce Moseley did a study 1 on knee surgery for arthritis patients. Some people got real
surgery, while others only had small cuts made on their knees without any actual procedure.
Strangely, both groups said their pain improved "equally".
This means the patients' belief in the surgery was enough to make them
feel better ... not the surgery itself.
SUGAR PILLS WORK FOR DEPRESSION
Studies have found that "placebo pills" can help reduce depression.
People who took sugar pills sometimes felt the same improvement as those taking real antidepressants.
This may happen because "expecting relief" can change brain chemistry, i.e., like increasing serotonin
(even without real medication).
Of course, there is another possibility, i.e., perhaps the anti-depressent has little to no therapeutic
effects. Maybe the "placebo effect" is veiling the fact that the anti-depressant did not work.
FAKE ACUPUNCTURE STILL HELPS
Some studies tested acupuncture and found that even fake versions, i.e., where needles do not
"go in" the "right places" or "do not go deep" also helped people with pain and stress.
This seems to indicate that simply "going through the process" of treatment, combined with trust in the
doctor, can trigger the placebo effect.
THINKING YOU SLEPT WELL IMPROVES PERFORMANCE
In a 2014 study, people were told (falsely) that they had slept well (even if they had not) ... they did
better on memory and focus tests just from believing they got good sleep.
This shows that perception can change how well the brain works.
SALINE INJECTIONS REDUCE PAIN
Some pain studies use saline injections (just saltwater) as placebos.
Even though there is no real painkiller, patients often feel relief.
Getting the injection (plus believing it will work) can make the body release natural "pain relief"
chemicals like "endorphins".
PARKINSON'S PATIENTS IMPROVE WITH PLACEBOS
Parkinson's disease involves low dopamine, which affects movement. But when patients took placebo
pills, some actually moved better.
Believing they got real medicine made their brains release more dopamine temporarily.
ASTHMA PATIENTS FEEL BETTER WITH FAKE INHALERS
People with asthma sometimes felt like they could breathe easier after using placebo inhalers ...
even though their actual lung function did not change.
This indicates that feeling better isn not always about "physical changes", but about what the mind
"expects".
PLACEBO "TRIGGERS" GIVE FALSE CONTROL
Ever pressed an "elevator button" or "crosswalk signal" and felt like it
actually worked? Many of these "triggers" do not actually do anything, however they give people a "sense of control", which is a "placebo
effect".
FAKE ALCOHOL MAKES PEOPLE ACT DRUNK
In experiments, people who thought they were drinking alcohol started
slurring words and acting "tipsy" ... even though their drinks had no alcohol.
This shows how strong "expectations" can be in "changing behavior".
"OPEN LABEL" PLACEBOS STILL WORK
The weirdest part? Placebos can still work even when people know they are
fake. Some studies gave patients "sugar pills" and told them they were placebos ... but they still
felt better (just from taking them).
This suggests deception is not always needed for the placebo effect to
happen.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The placebo effect is not just a "trick" ... it has big implications for medicine. It shows how important
belief is in healing and how doctors might use this in treatment.
KEY POINTS:
- **Belief is powerful** - Trust in treatment or a doctor can actually change outcomes.
- **Mind-body connection** - Thoughts can influence physical health in measurable ways.
- **Future uses** - Placebos might help with pain, mental health, and chronic illnesses ... even
without "tricking" patients.
CONCLUSION
The placebo effect proves how much our minds shape our health. These examples show that sometimes,
feeling better is not about the treatment itself, but about what we "expect" it to do.
Science still does not fully understand how it works, but one thing is clear:
Our thoughts and beliefs
play a huge role in our "well being".
1Science Daily.com/releases/2002/07/020712075415.htm
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