A placebo is anything that seems to be a ‘real’ medical treatment -- but isn't. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like saline), sham surgery and other procedures. What all placebos have in common is that they do not contain an active substance meant to affect health.
Researchers use placebos during studies to help understand effect a new drug or some other treatment. People in the study are not aware if they got the real treatment or the placebo. Researchers compare the effects of drug and the placebo and determine the effectiveness of the new drug and check for side effects.
Sometimes a person can have a response to a placebo. The response can be positive or negative. For instance, the person's symptoms may improve. Or the person may have what appears to be side effects from the treatment. These responses are known as the ‘placebo effect.’
Research on the placebo effect has focused on the relationship of mind and body. One of the common theories is that the placebo effect is due to a person's expectations. If a person expects a pill to do something, then it's possible that the body's own chemistry can cause effects similar to what a medication
Escape the deceit when it’s a sham
But placebo can
carry belief stamp!
- Pravin K Sabnis
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