Think you’re not easily swayed by the opinions of others? A new study might change how you feel about that—and about how well your pain medicine works.
The “placebo effect” works by the power of belief. Experiments are often conducted to compare treatments against placebo—sugar pills or fake treatments without healing compounds or mechanisms. Because in some cases, simply believing is enough to yield results. Placebos have been effective in easing several conditions, including pain.
