placebo effect

Paradoxical kinesia is a phenomenon familiar to Peter Strick, chair of neurobiology and scientific director of the University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute. He and a team of other scientists hypothesize that there is a brain circuit that remains intact in

A brain circuit tied to emotion may lead to better treatments for Parkinson's disease

11:24am February 07, 2022

by Jon Hamilton

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease can vanish briefly in the face of stress or a strong emotion. Now scientists are searching for a treatment based on this phenomenon, a form of the placebo effect.

Health & Safety

The Placebo Effect Works And You Can Catch It From Your Doctor

6:59pm October 21, 2019

by Emily Vaughn

Doctor-patient interactions can make a big difference to the effectiveness of treatments. In a new study, even a fake pain treatment helped when doctors believed it was real.

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.

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.

Yana Shapiro relaxes while taking an intravenous vitamin treatment at RestoreIV in Philadelphia.

Skeptics Question The Value Of Hydration Therapy For The Healthy

10:51am October 17, 2016

by Taunya English

Some spa-like clinics will inject an expensive mix of water and vitamins into your bloodstream, ostensibly to ward off illness and boost energy. But can't drinking fluids offer the same benefit?

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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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