Tongue in cheek or fact

[d0ug]

There was an attempt to sell placebos {sugar pills} by a group. This group was going to use scientific proof that the placebos worked. For example 50% of the time on head pain. 25% of the times on back pain etc. Only using scientific documented facts. For example a small red placebo was proven it worked better than a larger white pill. They where going to market the red pill as extra strength. When they contacted the FDA. The FDA refused to approve it claming it was too dangerous. It is interesting that scientific fact is too dangerous. [Fact]

[Rich_in_Tampa]

In most rigorously controlled studies where pain is one of the variables being measured, placebo has about a 30% benefit. Theories abound, and it may well be that the psychological reassurance of taking a medication increases endorphins and other pain mediators.

As to licensing, I defer to the FDA. Since the above "therapy" by definition has no benefit other than that of placebo, and since there is always a small risk of product contamination, dispensing error and other tiny risk of any product distributed through pharmaceutical channels, I am happy the FDA does not allow it.

OTOH, there are plenty of placebos masquerading as medicine out there in the OTC market.

[d0ug]

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

In most rigorously controlled studies where pain is one of the variables being measured, placebo has about a 30% benefit. Theories abound, and it may well be that the psychological reassurance of taking a medication increases endorphins and other pain mediators.

As to licensing, I defer to the FDA. Since the above "therapy" by definition has no benefit other than that of placebo, and since there is always a small risk of product contamination, dispensing error and other tiny risk of any product distributed through pharmaceutical channels, I am happy the FDA does not allow it.

OTOH, there are plenty of placebos masquerading as medicine out there in the OTC market.

The group that was applying to the FDA explained that all information would be on the label. For example as you said for pain it worked 30% of the time. Recommended dose would be 3 1/2 pills. This is being honest. I read in nurse’s drug handbook the side effects of the drugs on the market and it is scary. Placebos have none. Placebos work with the belief system. In all the people that have been cured of cancer using all the different means they all believed that it would work.

[yakers]

This is counter intuitive, for a placebo to work you have to believe in it, if you KNOW it is a placebo you will not believe in it, therefor it will not work. To KNOW it will not work and believe in it, well there is an investor h%$us who does that, but I don'tt recommend it.

[Rich_in_Tampa]

Originally Posted by yakers

This is counter intuitive, for a placebo to work you have to believe in it, if you KNOW it is a placebo you will not believe in it, therefor it will not work. To KNOW it will not work and believe in it, well there is an investor h%$us who does that, but I don'tt recommend it.

Right. In studies the patients did not know whether they were taking placebo or "real" medicine. They are manufactured to look and taste identical.

I'd add that placebos also carry side-effects in that context which cannot plausibly be explained by the contents of the capsule.

[laurence]

Right, I've heard it in ads, "side effects may include nausea, vomiting, ulcers, cancer, exploding heart, spontaneous combustion....similar to sugar pill/placebo". Huh

[JohnEyles]

It's odd to me that the placebo effect is considered a bad thing, when
we seem to be continuously learning about the relationship of mind
to body - specifically how the mind can control the sickness or health
of the body. In other words, the placebo effect is potentially a very
therapeutic thing.

On the other hand, consciously making use of the placebo effect is
essentially trickery. Hmm ...

[haha]

Originally Posted by RustyShackleford

On the other hand, consciously making use of the placebo effect is
essentially trickery. Hmm ...

Much of interpersonal success is based on placebo effect. I kind of like that notion.

Ha