Lol
this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2023
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Placebo effect is one of the greatest mysteries of all time. I believe figuring it out will greatly affect our lives for the better.
"Wait, we had the ability to alter reality with our minds alone? Since when?!"
"Since always"
"GOD DAMMIT!"
placebo pill, the true "ignorant is bliss" suggestive medicine
So fucking true, the brain can be a real bitch sometimes
I'm quite enjoying the sugarless candies I have in my drawer at the office.
SPA ce bo
Not how it works though. It might alleviate pain and improve your perception of your well-being, but it won't heal you
Nope, the placebo effect can have physical effects and be genuinely curative. The level to which this is the case is highly variable from patient to patient, but it is inaccurate to say that is limited to improving sensation and perception of illness. Not to mention, in many cases the malady being treated is one of perception, for example, in pain management. And alleviating pain in itself has downstream positive effects on disease progression and patient QOL.
Actual chronic pain sufferer here. If I had a dollar every time placebo and positive thinking was prescribed to me, I would have enough to maybe hire a doctor who won't systemically downplay or dismiss my pain because of my age and gender.
I think he's saying that although it's a treatment, it is not a cure.
It seems to me you are actually agreeing with him.
The thing here is that some medicine doesn't really heal either. Paracetamol is just a pain suppressant, and ibuprofen partially suppresses it while accelerating blood flow and thus reducing inflammation, which is why it's used for sore throat, to avoid more friction and let the throat heal by itself.
Aleviating pain is sometimes what your body needs to start focusing on healing itself. It's not a miracle but it works when it does.
Say8ng that placebo effect doesn't heal you isn't really that revealing, plenty medicine doesn't either and that's okay, that's not their objective.
You're right, those thing are treatments, not cures.
It's nice that we all agree.
My random conjure if anyone cares:
I see it like many 'real' medicines that alleviate symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms are the ones causing the issues, EX. a fever to kill germs can kill braincells. But like any medicine that alleviates symptoms, it can also hide problems. So I see it as a case by case thing.
What if the malady is mere pain and inadequate well-being perception?
Semantics, I guess, but it says "disease" in the meme, does that really constitute a disease?
The disease of a corrupted mind, burn the heretic.