Table of Contents
What’s this
The placebo effect is defined as thetherapeutic action of a substance capable of curing a disorder without possessing any pharmacological activity. A drug, in fact, has therapeutic properties because it is formulated with active ingredients that bind to receptors present on the membrane or inside our cells. In a placebo, on the other hand, there is no active ingredient capable of generating a physiological response, or it is present in irrelevant quantities. Substances with a placebo function they are for example inert substances, such as physiological solutions, and partially inert substances, ie those which, although containing an active principle, cannot have pharmacological activity since they are administered in small quantities. This is the case of homeopathic medicines, in which the active compounds are so diluted that they cannot perform a pharmacological action.
The placebo effect is a fairly common phenomenon that seems to work not only on adults, but also on children and animals. Although the placebo effect is often perceived as useless or even harmful, it is a positive event that has several advantages. In fact, the term placebo means “pleasure” and indicates “doing good” to the patient.
How does it work
The mechanism how the placebo effect works has not yet been fully understood. Among the hypotheses, there is the one that the simple fact of taking care of oneself or that someone takes care of us, accelerates the recovery. The placebo effect would therefore be linked to a process of self belief: If you are being treated by taking a remedy, the expectation that that remedy will work makes you feel really better. This theory is likely, as it has been noted that the placebo acts more when its intake includes a pharmaceutical form similar to the drug (for example capsules, tablets or drops) a specific dosage and multiple administrations. In addition, the flavor, color and size of the pharmaceutical form also affect the effectiveness. The placebo effect also works when taking real drugs, improving the success of a therapy, for example, if you have confidence in the doctor who prescribes the drug or in the therapy itself, perhaps because a friend or family member has followed successfully.
Another possibility is that some substances now considered inert actually have a pharmacological action. For example, many plants have been used for centuries to treat various diseases and, although they have shown their therapeutic properties on thousands of people, to date their efficacy has not yet been demonstrated. In any case, the placebo effect seems to work differently between individuals and even in the same subject depending on the circumstances.
It is interesting to know that in addition to the placebo effect there is also its opposite, known as walnut. The nocebo effect is the appearance of side effects after taking an inert substance, simply because there is a fear that such effects will occur. The nocebo generally affects people who are easily suggestible and works with a mechanism very similar to the placebo.
What it heals
The placebo effect seems to work in a particular way in psychosomatic disorders, that is, in manifestations influenced by the psyche and emotion. The administration of inert or semi inert substances is therefore more effective in disorders related to anxiety. Stress and anxiety can be at the root of many problems: for example, you can suffer from insomnia, mood disorders, problems related to the gastrointestinal system, such as digestion slow and difficult, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Emotional states can also affect the respiratory tract by causing asthma and cough or skeletal muscle, leading to muscle tension e pains also chronic. Our mind can therefore influence the appearance of numerous symptoms and the success or failure of a therapy, playing a very important role in the appearance of diseases and in the healing processes.
Advantages and disadvantages
The placebo effect, often described as a negative phenomenon, actually has several advantages. For various disorders, especially those of psychosomatic origin, the use of drugs is not necessary. However, many people need to take a remedy to feel like they are doing something to get better. In these cases, taking an inert substance is an excellent solution since it has no side effects, contraindications or interactions and is therefore, in a nutshell, harmless and risk-free for health. It should also be taken into account that in subjects where the placebo works, its effectiveness is added to that of the medicines, enhancing their effect. The use of placebo can therefore avoid taking drugs when it is not necessary and also increase the effectiveness of ongoing therapies, reducing the dosage and consequently the undesirable effects of drugs. Furthermore, a placebo drug has a significantly lower cost than a traditional drug. On the other hand, in the case of serious pathologies, resorting to placebo instead of the drugs prescribed by the doctor can have very serious consequences and is absolutely to be avoided.
Read also
