under the microscope

The case against the placebo effect.

This one cut me deep. My foundational belief in the placebo effect’s efficacy is shaken. It’ll take some more time and reading for me to fully come around to this point of view, but I am no longer going to […]

better doing

Belief is contagious.

“You can surround yourself with people who are sure that birds aren’t real, or find a community to reinforce that the patent medicine you’re taking works. And that will increase its positive placebo effect.” ~ learn more

under the microscope

Placebo beats opioid for acute back and neck pain.

I just finished a book about expectations and their potent effects (including the placebo effect) so this is timely reinforcement for me. With 347 study participants, “The study found that, at six weeks, participants who received opioids didn’t have better […]