It just comes down to mind of matter... The placebo is just a tool to help those with a not so strong mind, a little crutch if you will to help trick themselves into recovery

This worked so well on my kids! I used to give them a teaspoon of blueberry syrup as medicine.
Works!

It completely works. I've seen it in the hospital. For legal reasons I can't give specifics, but it works amazingly well. The mind doesn't need to be weak, the person just needs to believe they are getting something that will help them. Given a opiate induces pain relief. If a person receives something other accidentally, but believes they are getting the opiate, they will have the relaxation effect knowing pain relief is coming soon, producing some endogenous opioid like chemicals that function to relieve pain in much the same way.
Granted, it doesn't always work, but it happens often enough. Our body is very connected to our mind. That is why some people can go through biofeedback therapy to learn to manage their own painful conditions without resorting to medication.

I think it is more effective on some than others & in certain situations. I also think Dr's overuse the idea at times thinking someone is having a placebo effect when in fact they may just be having a reduction in symptoms that is coincidence or in fact it worked...as in the case with homeopathy. Many Dr's will tell it' s a placebo, but I used that stuff with my babies & as far as I know babies aren't prone to placebo effects. And I didn't try that first, first I tried the stuff the Dr said would work - it did not. Then I tried stuff like Hyland's colic calm (MUCH better than gas drops) and teething tablets (far better for us that tylenol, motrin or orajel). So I think it depends. I certainly think that believing you are well or getting well helps - but I am not sure that is enough often. There are plenty of times I've taken something thinking it would work when it did not - like with my migraines.

Saves me money on the real stuff..

Placebo effect? Bah!!

I rely on 100% genuine homeopathic remedies for my ailments!

wingedsurfgirl wrote:It completely works. I've seen it in the hospital.

Not always. I was once enrolled in a double-blind study where I was completely convinced I was receiving the real medication. When it was over, I learned I had been on the placebo, and low and behold, my bloodwork and symptoms remained unchanged.