The Invisible Drug - Feeling the Effects of Placebos

Placebo drugs are used widely throughout the world to test the effectiveness of actual drugs. By that, I mean that studies are performed by pharmaceutical companies before a drug is marketed called "double-blind" studies where neither the patient nor the doctor know which pill is the placebo and which pill is the actual medication.

The purpose of a placebo, or "sugar pill" as it is sometimes called, is to serve as a standard upon which effects of the actual drug are measured against. One group of patients are administered the actual drug, but neither they nor their doctor know whether that drug is the medication or the placebo. Another group of patients is administered the placebo, and neither they nor their doctor are aware of which pill was given to them.

Over a certain set period of time, the patients are examined by the physicians and the data is recorded as to how well their medical conditions have improved. Patients with the true medication are compared to those who were given the placebo. Statistical analyses are performed to determine if the difference between the two groups is significant.

While the whole basis of the placebo experimentation rests on the fact that there should be little to no "cure" found in placebo groups, scientists must take into consideration that some part of the population will experience a "placebo effect". This is merely a psychological, mind-over-matter effect of the placebo itself - a well-documented situation that can and very well does occur. Certain people will experience improvement with the placebo alone.
Why?

The explanation of why this situation occurs in the first place lies in the power of suggestion. If a person believes something, they have the mental power to actually make it so. It is not too far different than the power of hypnosis or bio-feedback.

The mind is a powerful tool that in some situations can be used to cure the body of its ills even without the help of medication. Whether it is the power of a placebo or the power of our thoughts, we can often control our inner environment to "balance itself" when it goes out of whack. And, the placebo effect is just one part of that power!