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Experts: Placebo treatments not just psychological, fake treatments can affect the body
Cox News ^ | 2-18-10 | Marcia Cheng

Posted on 02/18/2010 6:04:37 PM PST by cajuncow

When it comes to the placebo effect, it really may be mind over matter, a new analysis suggests.

In a review of recent research, international experts say there is increasing evidence that fake treatments, or placebos, have an actual biological effect in the body.

The doctor-patient relationship, plus the expectation of recovery, may sometimes be enough to change a patient's brain, body and behavior, experts write. The review of previous research on placebos was published online Friday in Lancet, the British medical journal.

(Excerpt) Read more at ww2.cox.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: placeboeffect

1 posted on 02/18/2010 6:04:37 PM PST by cajuncow
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To: cajuncow

There is also measured improvement in some (but not necessarily “all”) patients’ condition if they are religious and pray with others.

It may be “mind over matter” or “metaphysical” but those who say “there is no benefit from religion” need to look into such studies.

If Barack H. Obama gets wind of this report though, he’ll change his tune from “sometimes it’s better to take the pain pill than to get the surgery” to “sometimes it’s better to take the placebo...”


2 posted on 02/18/2010 6:10:09 PM PST by a fool in paradise (DON'T SAY "Happy Valentines' Day". It's Happy Holidays! This is the Holiday Season (Prez Day Feb15))
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To: cajuncow

“In a review of recent research, international experts say there is increasing evidence that fake treatments, or placebos, have an actual biological effect in the body.”

No s**t Sherlock! They paid good money for this research?


3 posted on 02/18/2010 6:10:23 PM PST by Panzerlied ("We shall never surrender!")
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To: a fool in paradise

Apparently, all the depression medications “work” only on the placebo effect. Course the side affects are not too pretty to deal with.


4 posted on 02/18/2010 6:43:09 PM PST by GregoryFul
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To: cajuncow

Doctor/patient relationship? Is there such a thing any more? Whatever you get in a five-minute visit! Most of the doctors in our HMO directory have names I can’t pronounce much less understand what they’re talking about.


5 posted on 02/18/2010 6:50:44 PM PST by ExTexasRedhead (Clean the RAT/RINO Sewer in 2010 and 2012)
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To: cajuncow

I used to be addicted to placebos. I quit but it didn’t make a difference.


6 posted on 02/18/2010 8:12:38 PM PST by goseminoles
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To: goseminoles
Just one more reason I've never tried a "Light/Lite" beer.
If I'm going to get hooked on something I want it to do something.
"Light/Lite" beer = placebo beer.
7 posted on 02/18/2010 8:43:47 PM PST by Tainan (Cogito, ergo conservatus)
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