Are placebos effective in reducing pain? Several studies found a link between the consumption of placebo pills and reducing lower back pain. And it’s more interesting than you might think. Whether or not the people know they’re taking a placebo, the pill still has the same effect.
The human body is amazing – it consists of trillions of cells combined to execute any function the brain commands to. There are 200 different cells clustered into four basic classes: epithelial tissues, muscle tissues, nerve tissues, and connective tissues. All of these complex parts make up the physical substance of the human organism and all of them function in a synergic manner. The muscles, for example, protect the internal organs and bones by absorbing shock and decreasing friction in the joints.
But as astonishing as it is, the human body is also fragile. This is a result of our evolution as species and our ancestors who walked on all fours and arched their spines to hold the weight of their bodies, tools, and foods. As we evolved, our spine became straight which put a lot of stress on the lower vertebrae. Today, 80% of adults in the USA suffer from back pain. The causes can be numerous – an injury, a medical condition, problems with the ligaments, muscles or nerves in the lower body, and so on. Luckily this condition is curable, and not only by classic medical methods but also by placebo pills.
Symptoms and causes
Back pain is defined as a physical discomfort occurring in the lower back or spine. It is one of the most common injuries today, with 23% of the adult population worldwide suffering from this condition. The symptoms include muscle ache, pain radiating in the legs, or pain that worsens when bending or lifting.
Numerous activities can cause this condition, but most of them are associated with the heavy lifting of falling. It is not unusual to get back pain even without a cause, but as long as it is acute, it is generally easily curable. Our bodies age with time and the fluid content between the vertebrae in the spine gets reduced. Individuals between 30 and 50 years old are most likely to develop back pain.
Many other factors contribute to this: excess weight, diseases such as arthritis, psychological conditions, and even smoking which reduces the blood flow in the lower back. Even though it’s better to try and prevent back pain through exercise and good posture, there are numerous possible medical treatments. Some of these are physical therapy, medical appliances, and medications. One of the most effective treatments which causes no side effects is the placebo pills.
How does a placebo help reduce lower back pain?
In 2018, researcher A. Vania Apkarian led a study about the effect of placebo pills on chronic back pain. Around 60 chronic back pain patients were divided into two groups. The first group of subjects didn’t know if they got the drug or the placebo. The second group was the control group and it included people who didn’t get any drug. The study lasted eight weeks.
The subjects whose pain decreased as a result of the placebo pill shared similar brain anatomy and psychological traits. The right hemisphere of their emotional brain was bigger than the left, and they had a larger cortical sensory area than people who were not responsive to the placebo. These subjects had a pain relief of about 30%, which is even superior to many drugs on the market.
Pain relief was not the only success: the subjects were also emotionally self-aware and mindful of their surroundings. Therefore, they could either focus or distract themselves from the back pain sensations.
Another study conducted by Ted Kaptchuk and his colleagues showed that even knowingly taking placebo pills helps reduce back pain. They studied 97 patients with chronic lower back pain, randomly divided into two groups – the treatment-as-usual group and the-open-label placebo group. After their three-week course of pills, the open-label placebo group reported a 30% reduction in their usual pain levels and a 30% reduction in maximum pain, compared to a way lower 9% and 16% for the treatment-as-usual group.
Conclusion? Placebo pills successfully relieved symptoms!
Placebo effect: Welcome to the feel-good chemicals!
Placebo pills can’t heal all serious illnesses, but it is undeniable that they can treat many conditions and make patients feel better. Taking a placebo pill releases endorphins, the “feel-good” chemicals, which can dampen pain and help people feel better in general.
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