Recognize the placebo effect and its benefits in the medical world: function, dosage, side effects, how to use it

You may not be familiar with the term placebo effect, but don't be confused with the British band Placebo, huh! In the medical world, the true meaning of a placebo is anything that appears to be "real" medical treatment - but it is not. Then, what is the use of a placebo?

A placebo is a method of testing a drug before it is released on the market

Placebo is a method for testing the effectiveness of a drug or a particular medical treatment before it is used en masse. Placebos can be in the form of pills, injections, or other methods of treatment.

Placebos are also often referred to as empty drugs because placebo "drugs" do not contain active ingredients intended to improve or improve health. People who receive the placebo do not know they are using the empty drug, so they believe that they are taking the original drug and are making progress from the drug or medical treatment they are taking. In fact, there really is no effect at all.

For example: a researcher wants to test a pain reliever drug. Several people were selected as research subjects. Half of the people were given painkillers that actually contained medicinal substances, while the other half were given empty drugs. The placebo will help researchers find out whether the drug is really effective or just suggest that patients feel better because they know they have taken painkillers. The response shown can be positive or negative.

Scientists also frequently use placebos during research to help them understand the kinds of drug effects that may differ from person to person. In addition, the results of the study also found that the form and type of placebo effect given would have an effect on its effectiveness. For example, a large drug will be better than a small drug.

The placebo effect can also be used to find out the effectiveness of mental illness medications

The placebo effect can also be applied to test for similar drugs whose progress cannot be observed directly, such as drugs for sleep disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and various other mental problems.

Although controversial, the use of the placebo effect to treat mild mental disorders has been shown to be effective. This is actually related to the psychological impact of the placebo effect itself. This means that the effectiveness of the placebo effect may be due to the expectations that arise when patients are prescribed certain drugs.

How does the placebo effect work?

Although there is no medical effect at all, the psychological effects arising from the placebo drug have been shown to be effective in some cases.

This is because basically our bodies and minds are connected to each other by a complex system. The placebo effect works by stimulating thoughts with positive things so that it will provide an increase in psychological mood. Therefore, the placebo effect can help patients suffering from mental disorders.

In addition, the placebo effect has also been shown to be effective in dealing with pain. Stimulating the pain control centers in the brain with a placebo effect can help reduce pain.

While the placebo effect is difficult to understand scientifically, its therapeutic effect can be of great benefit.

Placebo drugs are often abused

Placebos are an effective method of drug testing and medical treatment. However, because it works using "counterfeit drugs" this method is often misused to deceive the public for marketing purposes.

Another negative effect of the placebo is its boomerang effect. For example, when someone who is depressed uses a placebo drug, of course he will have expectations of the effect of the drug to cure his illness. However, because the psychological effects of a placebo are only temporary, this method could eventually backfire when depressive symptoms return.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.