Placebos Work -- Even Without Deception 430
An anonymous reader writes "For most of us, the 'placebo effect' is synonymous with the power of positive thinking; it works because you believe you're taking a real drug. But a new study rattles this assumption. Researchers at Harvard Medical School's Osher Research Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have found that placebos work even when administered without the seemingly requisite deception. The study was published on December 22 in PLoS ONE."
Re:I await ... (Score:2, Funny)
I feel better already! (Score:5, Funny)
I'm cured by just reading about these amazing placebos!
Did you hear about (Score:5, Funny)
the guy who died from homeopathic medicine?
Yeah, he forgot to take it and overdosed!
Butseriouslyfolks... I'd like to see someone argue that homeopathy DOES work if you do a placebo-controlled trial. A homeopathic placebo-controlled trial, which means the placebo is actually undiluted. Hey, 100% of the patients given placebo arsenic died, and only 50% of the patients who took the diluted version! Whaddayaknow: a diluted dose of arsenic cures arsenic poisoning.
Re:Homeopathic Medicine (Score:5, Funny)
Obligatory hilarity:
Homeopathic Accident & Emergency [youtube.com]
Re:Homeopathic Medicine (Score:5, Funny)
Well, sure, you say that now, but just you wait until we get placebo-resistant strains of bacteria! What'll you do then?!? ;)
Re:Homeopathic Medicine (Score:5, Funny)
I'm glad the internet can prove me wrong. But try it. It's shocking how much energy you have.
Ironic you should cite your anecedotal claims, based on personal, subjective perception, in an article about the placebo effect...
Re:Homeopathic Medicine (Score:5, Funny)
Well, sure, you say that now, but just you wait until we get placebo-resistant strains of bacteria! What'll you do then?!? ;)
I'm waiting for placebo-based biological weapons. Some guy blows up a box full of flour on a bus and fifty people die of Anthrax. How would the court case play out on that?