Episode #282: The Placebo and Nocebo Effects

Placebo (“I shall please”)

In the 14th century sham mourners were hired to wail and sob for the deceased at funerals. In 1785 the term appeared in New Medical Dictionary, and it first appears in English in 1832. One of the earliest placebo effects was discovered in 1794 by the Italian physician Gerbi, who rubbed worm secretions on an aching tooth, relieving pain for one year. The first clinical trials were done in 1832, in Russia.

The placebo effect has been documented to have 15% - 72% efficacy effect, documenting the power of suggestion.

David Wooten, author of Bad Medicine, estimates that one-third of the good done by modern medicine is the placebo effect. He adds, too bad bloodletting, purging, and emetics weren’t tested against the placebo effect, would have resulted in less harm.See Episode #178 for our show on Bad Medicine.

Nocebo (“I will harm”)

The Nocebo effect are the unpleasant symptoms patients may suffer as a result of being made aware of potential side effects of a treatment they are to receive or a procedure they are to undergo. Doctors hide their ignorance with impressive-sounding Latin terminology, such as idiopathic—the cause of the disease is unknown. We discussed this article from Cosmic Core, Article 241: Human Life—Health & Illness—Part 3—Placebo Effect & Health Studies, which discusses Dr. Lewis Thomas, among others. Dr. Lewis Thomas (1913-1993) was an American physician, poet, etymologist, essayist and researcher who became Dean of Yale Medical School and New York University School of Medicine and President at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Thomas tells of one physician who regularly rid his patients of warts simply by painting a harmless purple dye on them. He feels that explaining this small miracle by saying it’s just the unconscious mind at work doesn’t begin to do the placebo effect justice.

The placebo effect is one of the most striking examples of idealism – that is, mind or consciousness creates reality; or physical reality is created by consciousness. We also discussed the article “The weird power of the placebo effect, explained,” from Vox, by Brian Resnick (July 7, 2017), documenting six placebo effects. In Dan Ariely’s book, Predictability Irrational, chapter 10 is: “The Power of Price: Why a 50-cent aspirin can do what a penny aspirin can’t.” See Episode #43 for our interview with Dan Ariely. Another book that contains information on the placebo and nocebo effects is A Pinch of Salt, by Theodore Dalrymple (real name: Anthony Malcolm Daniels). He has written many books on medical issues, and his time as a doctor working in a UK prison. The ethical dilemma for doctors of the nocebo effect: should the need for honesty trump the ethical injunction to do no harm? Rabbi Lapin points out that the 4-minute mile run by Roger Bannister in 1954, and the successful climb to the top of Mt. Everest in 1953 were both an example of how a lot of barriers are mental, not physical. He says: “We are predominantly spiritual creatures with a physical outfit—souls with a body.” Leading us to ask…

Are expensive consultants just a placebo?

Bonus Content is Available As Well

Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.

Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits. 

Here are some of the topics and links Ron and Ed discussed during the bonus episode this past week: