The New Placebo Effect

Taking sugar pills works even when the patient knows they're fake: study

The interaction doctors have with patients is an active medical treatment that has a notable effect on patient outcomes—independent of any other treatment. CandyBoxImages/iStock

Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain—and that’s just for the easily identified costs, according to the American Chiropractic Association.

Add lost income and lost productivity and the cost doubles—to $100 billion—according to estimates by the American Academy of Pain Medicine.