A placebo is a drug, substance or any other type of treatment that resembles a normal treatment but has no active effect, i.e. it does not produce any changes in the body.
This type of medication or treatment is very important in testing to discover a new drug, because in the test groups some people are treated with the new drug, while others do so with a placebo.So, at the end of the test, if the results are the same for both groups, it is a sign that the new drug has no effect.
- However.
- The effect of placebo also plays an important role in the treatment of certain diseases because.
- Although it does not cause any changes in the body.
- It can change the way the person feels.
- Helping to improve symptoms and even increasing the success of treatment.
- It had already been done.
The exact functioning of the placebo effect in the treatment of diseases is not yet known, however, the most accepted theory indicates that the use of this type of treatment is based on the expectations of the person, that is, when taking a drug, In the hope that it will have some effect, the chemical processes of the body try to mimic the effect and produce changes in the body , improving symptoms, for example.
Therefore, the placebo effect is already successfully used in the treatment of various problems such as:
However, the placebo effect can also have the opposite effect, causing the person to experience some of the side effects they would experience when taking a normal medication, such as headaches, restlessness, nausea or constipation, for example.
For it to work properly, placebo should be used without the person waiting for the effect knowing that he or she is taking it.A good example is to give a vitamin C pill instead of an anxiety pill, for example.
Using placebos doesn’t help cure diseases, it can only alleviate certain symptoms, especially those related to mental health, so although placebos can be used in more serious diseases, such as cancer, they can’t replace treatments indicated by your doctor..
The placebo effect is useful in helping to reduce the amount of medications or treatments used to relieve symptoms, leaving the body less intoxicated.
In addition, when used correctly, placebos can give people with chronic diseases a new sense of hope, improving their quality of life.