placebo

Study Questions Mainstay Treatment For Mild Asthma

6:25am August 26, 2019

by April Dembosky

Many of the 26 million Americans with asthma use a low-dose steroid inhaler daily to prevent symptoms. But a recent study raises questions about this strategy for people with mild, persistent asthma.

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The Mystery And The Magic Of Giving Thanks

12:35pm November 22, 2017

by George Mwinnyaa

This Thanksgiving, George Mwinnyaa thinks back to his boyhood in Ghana — when a failure to give thanks was thought to have dire consequences.

Erik Vance holds his son while a pediatrician administers vaccinations.

A Dad Takes His Son To The Doctor And Discovers Fear Of Vaccines

3:09pm June 10, 2017

by Erik Vance

As a science journalist, I know vaccines are safe. But when it was time to take my son to get his shots, I suddenly found myself overwhelmed by fear. Does science stand a chance against emotion?

Our unconscious brains can have a big effect on pain and healing.

How The Brain Powers Placebos, False Memories And Healing

5:12pm November 08, 2016

by Nancy Shute

Erik Vance didn't see a doctor until he was 18 years old; he grew up in a Christian Science family. As a science journalist, he explores how the mind affects the body's response to pain and disease.

Placebos are commonly thought of as fake treatments that people think are real. But they may be helpful even if you know they're fake.

Is A Placebo A Sham, If You Know It's A Fake And It Still Works?

3:35pm October 27, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

Most research on placebos involves people who think they're getting an active treatment, but aren't. But they may also work when people know full well they're getting a sham treatment.

Alexander Naddour, of the U.S. men's gymnastics team, bears the circular mark of cupping on his right arm as he prepares to compete on the pommel horse at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on August 6.

How The Placebo Effect Could Boost An Olympic Performance

6:00am August 14, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

One athlete's "psych-up" ritual may psych out an opponent. And even treatments that lack hard evidence of benefit, scientists say, might provide a competitive edge if the athletes believe they work.

Science writer Jo Marchant investigated the healing power of the mind for her new book, Cure.

How Meditation, Placebos And Virtual Reality Help Power 'Mind Over Body'

4:37pm January 26, 2016

Science writer Jo Marchant says that the mind can play an important role in dealing with a variety of health concerns, including pain, heart disease and depression. Marchant's new book is Cure.

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When people see charts like this, they think the drug is more effective than if they just read about the data, a study finds.

Just Seeing Charts And Graphs Makes Drug Claims More Credible

8:24am October 20, 2014

by Katherine Hobson

Graphs look so impressive. Even graphs that include no new information made people more likely to think that a drug is effective, a study finds. Can you inoculate yourself against that bias?