Placebo effect is a seemingly “real” treatment, but it is not. It could be a pill, injection or other “wrong” medicine. What all placebos have in common is that they do not contain any active substances considered to have an impact on health.
How Are Placebo effect Used?
Researchers use Placebo effect during the study to understand the impact of new drugs or other treatments on specific diseases. For example, some study participants may be given a new cholesterol-lowering drug, while other participants may be given a placebo. The people who participated in the study knew whether they received real treatment or a placebo. The researchers then compared the effects of the drug and a placebo in the study population. In this way, they can determine the effectiveness of the new medicine and check for side effects.
What Is the Placebo Effect?
Sometimes, a person will respond to a placebo. The answer can be yes or no. For example, a person’s symptoms may improve. Otherwise, the person may experience side effects due to the treatment. These reactions are called placebo effects.
In some cases, even if people know they are taking a placebo, a placebo can produce results. Research shows that placebo can work under the following conditions:
- Depression
- Pain
- Sleep disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Menopause
In a study on asthma, people who used placebo inhalers did not perform better on breath tests than when they were sitting and doing nothing. However, when the researchers asked people what they thought of how they felt, it was reported that placebo inhalers were as effective as placebo inhalers. Complementary medicine.
In a study on asthma, people who used placebo inhalers did not perform better on breath tests than when they were sitting and doing nothing. However, when researchers asked people about their perceptions of how they felt, it was reported that placebo inhalers were equally effective. And remedial measures. drug.
In an asthma study, people who used a placebo inhaler performed better on a breath test than when they were sitting and doing nothing. But when researchers asked people about their perceptions of how they felt, it was reported that placebo inhalants were as effective as pre-remission therapy. drug.
How Does the Placebo Effect Work?
Research on the effect of placebo focuses on the mind-body relationship. One of the most common theories is that the effect of a placebo depends on one’s expectations. If a person expects the pill to work, then the body’s chemical effects may be similar to drugs.
For example, in a study, people took a placebo and said it was a stimulant. After taking birth control pills, her heart rate, blood pressure, and reaction rate all increased. It was supposed to help them fall asleep, but they encountered the opposite effect.
Experts also said that there is a correlation between how many results a person expects and whether they can be achieved. The stronger the feeling, the more likely the person is to have a positive impact. Due to the interaction between the patient and the doctor, serious consequences may result.
The same is true for negative effects. If people expect side effects, such as headaches, nausea, or drowsiness, these reactions are more likely to occur. The effect is related to expectations and does not make it fictional or wrong. Some studies have shown that real physical changes occur under the action of a placebo. For example, some studies have documented an increase in the production of endorphins, one of the natural painkillers in the human body.
One of the problems with placebo effects is that it may be difficult to distinguish actual effects from actual drugs during the study. Placebo and efficacy can help improve treatment and reduce the cost of drug testing. Further research may also show that the efficacy of the placebo effect can be used in the treatment of diseases.
Does the placebo effect mean failure or success?
For many years, the placebo effect has been regarded as a sign of failure. Placebos are used in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of treatments, and are most commonly used in drug research. For example, people in one group are given a tested drug, while people in the other group are given fake drugs or placebos that they believe are real. This allows researchers to compare the responses of the two groups to determine whether the drug is effective. If the response of the two is equal and whether it improves, it is deemed to have taken the medicine.
Recently, however, experts have concluded that the placebo response is not evidence that a particular therapy is ineffective, but may be a different non-pharmacological mechanism. exist. However, it involves complex neurobiological responses, ranging from increased levels of healthy neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine to increased activity in certain areas of the brain related to emotions, emotional responses, and self-awareness. Which can have a therapeutic effect. Kapchuk said: “The placebo effect is your brain’s way of telling your body what it needs to feel.” But a placebo is not just about revealing mental abilities.Healing rituals are also needed. Kapchuk said: “If you compare these studies comparing drugs and placebos, then all environmental factors and rituals will play a role.”
You have to go to the clinic at a certain time and be checked by an expert in a white coat. You will get each A strange pill and a strange treatment. All of these will have a profound effect on how your body perceives symptoms by making you feel cared and paid attention to.
Give yourself a placebo:
Placebos often work because people don’t know they are taking a placebo, but what if you know they are taking a placebo? A study by Kapchuk published in Science Translational Medicine in 2014 examined how people respond to migraine painkillers. One group took migraine medications, called drugs; the other group took a placebo, called “placebo”, and the third group took any medication. Researchers found that the placebo is 50% more effective than the drug itself in relieving the pain after a migraine attack.
The researchers hypothesized that the driving force behind this response was the simple act of taking medicine. Kapchuk said: “People associate the habit of taking medication with positive therapeutic effects.” “Even if they know it is not a drug, this behavior can make the brain believe that the body is recovering.
How can a placebo be added to a fake drug? Practicing self-help methods is an option.Kapchuk said: “Eat healthy, exercise, yoga, quality communication, meditation and other healthy lifestyle rituals may be one of the main components of the placebo effect.” Although these interventions themselves are positive interventions, the level of care you provide Can increase your income. “The care and emotional support you provide to yourself is usually not easy to measure, but it can help you become more comfortable in the world and can go a long way in terms of recovery.