In today’s episode, we’re talking about placebo. The word originally comes from one that means “I shall please”

However, fast forward to today, it’s an intervention that has no true physiological effect but has such an effect on your psychology. Back in 2004, a study was done with two groups of people with advanced Parkinson's disease, which Miguel makes sure to discuss in more depth

Moving forward, let’s go into the topic of supplements and placebo

More than 95% of the supplements on the market are placebo benefited, which means that people taking a certain supplement thinks it is doing more than it’s actually doing. CBD being a prime example

because of the conditions you have to keep in mind that are susceptible to placebo. Those conditions include things that are chronic, highly subjective, lack physiological symptoms, and have fluctuations - anxiety, digestives, and headache to name a few

Going off of these conditions, Miguel explains that it is the expectation that an individual has from a certain treatment that induces the placebo effect

as well as having a diagnosis of the condition you have. For example, if you have gut problems or a sleep disorder, a strong diagnosis will significantly improve your symptoms, even if it’s the wrong diagnosis

If you’re in pain and you’re given a solution, you want it to work, even if it doesn’t. Previously, a study around chronic pain

was done where people were told they were getting a placebo effect, yet those people still felt reductions in their pain levels. This study just goes to show that a sense of hope and a vision of better times are so powerful. To wrap up this episode, Miguel dives into a final animals vs human study - taking placebo out of the equation

the effect on the outcome of the treatment based on the individual giving it to you

and the complexity of/your adherence to the treatment itself