What is the Placebo Effect?

What is the Placebo Effect?

Your mind can be a powerful healing tool. In 1996, 56 volunteers took part in a study to test a painkiller. On each subject, one index finger was covered with a new painkiller while the other was open. Then both fingers were squeezed to generate pain.

The subjects reported that the finger with the painkiller. But, that new painkiller was fake. it didn't have any property of a painkiller. It was a mind which made them feel that the painkiller is working hence reducing the pain.

The placebo effect was used to test whether a new medicine is effective or not. For this, Half the patients in a trial were given fake medicine, which looked and felt like real medicine, and half the patients were given a real one, they didn't know whether they received the real one or a fake one.

If the real medicine showed a significant benefit compared to the fake one, it was proved effective. But nowadays it's not preferred to use this effect, as it simply means not giving treatment at all. It can cause serious problems especially if a patient has a serious issue.

But still, it works, "The Placebo Effect is the single greatest indicator that your capacity to heal starts in your mind". The idea that your brain can convince your body that you received real treatment and starts healing itself but it was fake is called the placebo effect.

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