“Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drugmakers Are Desperate to Know Why.”
This is an interesting Wired article on how placebos (sugar pills) are becoming as effective as pharmaceuticals in some cases. The pill’s size, shape, branding, and price all can influence its effect on the body, as well as whether or not it is disbursed by a sympathetic and attentive authority figure who expresses confidence in the patient’s future. Thought-provoking--especially this line: "[As placebo began to be used to test the effectiveness of a drug,] the fact that dummy capsules can kick-start the body's recovery engine became a problem for drug developers to overcome, rather than a phenomenon that could guide doctors toward a better understanding of the healing process and how to drive it most effectively."
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