Why do placebos work?

http://www.abnormalpsy.org
Christopher Shaw
wizkid007@rogers.com

This is a question that has plagued scientists for some time now. Well let’s break this down. It’s obviously neurological. And the psychology of feeling good about something comes into play. I personally believe there are two kinds of stimuli. Positive which comes from within, and negative stimuli which comes from both external and internal sources. Both play a factor in determining why placebos work.

When somebody anticipates pain they actually put empathise on the feeling associated with the ailment intensifying the overall feeling. Only recognizing the consequence of having that ailment. However when a placebo is put into effect there is a release in the patient, a sigh of relief that this external substance is in fact going to make a difference. The neurological empathize is then de-empathized in favor of positive stimuli. Very much the same way a laugh releases anxiety. The effects of the ailment are then perceived as not as severe. And therefore the placebo effect works.

This can very much be compared to the loss of a gf. Somebody who doesn’t have the opportunity to be with very many women will value the company more then somebody who sleeps around quite often. But when that someone loses her for whatever reason. It hurts twice as worse. Only after it happens once or twice will it not hurt so badly. The psychological factor really makes a difference because of the stress it puts on the body driving it out of sync and breaking down the immune system in the process.

Overall I don’t think there is any difference in what the placebo does; it is really the neurological aspect as positive stimuli boosts everything from healing to metabolism. The mind is so dynamic and is really responsive to stimuli overall. In the end its really comes down to mind over matter.