Nope, the placebo effect can have physical effects and be genuinely curative. The level to which this is the case is highly variable from patient to patient, but it is inaccurate to say that is limited to improving sensation and perception of illness. Not to mention, in many cases the malady being treated is one of perception, for example, in pain management. And alleviating pain in itself has downstream positive effects on disease progression and patient QOL.
Actual chronic pain sufferer here. If I had a dollar every time placebo and positive thinking was prescribed to me, I would have enough to maybe hire a doctor who won’t systemically downplay or dismiss my pain because of my age and gender.
The thing here is that some medicine doesn’t really heal either. Paracetamol is just a pain suppressant, and ibuprofen partially suppresses it while accelerating blood flow and thus reducing inflammation, which is why it’s used for sore throat, to avoid more friction and let the throat heal by itself.
Aleviating pain is sometimes what your body needs to start focusing on healing itself. It’s not a miracle but it works when it does.
Say8ng that placebo effect doesn’t heal you isn’t really that revealing, plenty medicine doesn’t either and that’s okay, that’s not their objective.
Not how it works though. It might alleviate pain and improve your perception of your well-being, but it won’t heal you
Nope, the placebo effect can have physical effects and be genuinely curative. The level to which this is the case is highly variable from patient to patient, but it is inaccurate to say that is limited to improving sensation and perception of illness. Not to mention, in many cases the malady being treated is one of perception, for example, in pain management. And alleviating pain in itself has downstream positive effects on disease progression and patient QOL.
Actual chronic pain sufferer here. If I had a dollar every time placebo and positive thinking was prescribed to me, I would have enough to maybe hire a doctor who won’t systemically downplay or dismiss my pain because of my age and gender.
I think he’s saying that although it’s a treatment, it is not a cure.
It seems to me you are actually agreeing with him.
The thing here is that some medicine doesn’t really heal either. Paracetamol is just a pain suppressant, and ibuprofen partially suppresses it while accelerating blood flow and thus reducing inflammation, which is why it’s used for sore throat, to avoid more friction and let the throat heal by itself.
Aleviating pain is sometimes what your body needs to start focusing on healing itself. It’s not a miracle but it works when it does.
Say8ng that placebo effect doesn’t heal you isn’t really that revealing, plenty medicine doesn’t either and that’s okay, that’s not their objective.
You’re right, those thing are treatments, not cures.
It’s nice that we all agree.
What if the malady is mere pain and inadequate well-being perception?
Semantics, I guess, but it says “disease” in the meme, does that really constitute a disease?
The disease of a corrupted mind, burn the heretic.