Among doctors of various specialties, placebo is of particular interest - what it is and how it can be used. This term was introduced more than two hundred years ago, but until now the effect of placebo to the end can not be explained. This is the name of a substance without useful properties, which is used as a medicinal substance.
The placebo effect - what is it in psychology?
When studying the reactions of patients to their medications, it was observed that if a person is confident in the action of the drug, for example, to improve sleep, even after taking vitamins (placebo), it will get better. A placebo effect is a manifestation of the action of the drug itself rather than the belief in the cure. Not all people are equally suggestible. A certain psychological type is described, on which dummy drugs act:
- Extroverts.
- Have mild mental disorders.
- Hinged.
- Suffer from insomnia.
- Hypochondriacs.
- Depressed.
During the experiments, where patients participated, who knew that the drug was placebo, positive effects were obtained. In such patients, when taking the usual chalk, but in appearance similar to their usual medication, the body experienced the same changes as the real medicine. The placebo method showed better results in the treatment of insomnia , Parkinson's disease, depression.
The placebo effect can be and not only from medicines. It can be obtained from various procedures, ritual actions, sessions conducted by people far from medicine. On the patient's belief, therefore, the effect of such treatment is influenced by the prices of such services, advertising procedures, the appearance and credibility of the doctor and even the interior of the room.
Placebo drugs - what is it?
Some doctors so often prescribe to their patients a placebo that such treatment can be considered a whole direction in pharmacology. For patients who take such medications, there are certain expectations that pharmaceutical manufacturers use:
- The larger the tablet, the stronger it is.
- The injections are stronger than the pills, and the droppers are more effective than the injections.
- Bitter tablets are stronger than sweet or tasteless.
- Tablets are weaker than capsules.
- Blue calms, orange improves mood, psychotropic should be purple.
In addition, than the drug is more expensive, the better. If the drug is rare and can not be bought in every pharmacy, it means it is effective. If the composition has some incomprehensible ingredient, it is better than vegetable origin, then the medicine can cure all diseases. This is also used by traditional healers, preparing mixtures and collections of unknown content. It is suggested that the effect of homeopathy is based on a placebo, that it is the same direction, not proven by medicine.
Placebo - composition
Placebo preparations can contain both ordinary chalk, but in appearance they are similar to the present ones. This is used in pharmacological studies in the study of two groups of patients in order to study the clinical effect of new drugs. There is a group of biologically active additives widely advertised in the media. These medicines are attributed to medicinal properties, but no scientific studies have been conducted with them. According to some scientists, currently half the drugs on the shelves in the pharmacies - placebo.
The placebo effect and nocebo
Manifestations of placebo and nocebo are two opposite actions on the psyche and human health. If you can induce the benefit of a drug or procedure (placebo), you can just as well convince the patient that when taking the medicine, he will have side effects (nocebo). There are cases when a person was told the date of the alleged death, and he really died on that day. If you suggest that the touch of the object will be painful, the skin turns red and the pain arises. When waiting, an anxious reaction develops, which increases the production of cholecystokinin, which causes pain.
How does the placebo work?
Not only psychological factors explain the effect of the placebo theory. The study of how the placebo works revealed a change in the cerebral cortex in the centers responsible for the sense of pleasure. Activation of the production of hormones (endorphins), which can reduce pain like opium. Recent studies have found that pain impulses can be blocked at the level of the spinal cord. All this leads to the fact that the person has the ability to self-repair, and belief in the drug, in a doctor or advertising is just an impetus to launch these reactions.
The effect of placebo in losing weight
Since excess body weight is becoming more prevalent, and weight loss is of great interest, different paid methods are developed and introduced into consciousness for weight loss without diets and physical exertion. The demand for such services and goods is growing, and the market for various biological additives, belts, earrings and the like for this purpose is also increasing accordingly. When taking such drugs, there really can be an initial weight loss, but at best a placebo for weight loss does not hurt.
Placebo in sports
The placebo principle is successfully used by trainers before responsible competitions. The athlete's confidence in success gives a tangible result. Studies were conducted when athletes were told that they were taking anabolic steroids. The same actions for endurance and growth of muscle mass were noted, as well as with the intake of hormonal drugs. There were also side effects, characteristic for anabolics. Many drugs used by athletes as energy, in the composition have substances with unproven efficacy.
Placebo in business
The correct use of a placebo produces a tangible commercial effect. This builds PR-companies, advertising, promising miraculous properties, sales strategies that make successful only those sellers who can convince in the need to buy goods or services. The widespread trainings of personal growth, the promise of wealth and prosperity from guru feng shui and esotericism use persuasion as the main method of attracting customers. It is interesting that, like with the reception of chalk tablets, after trainings and seminars, a person who believes in himself can succeed.