Category: placebo

German Scientists Uncover Evidence That EU Pfizer-BioNTech Batches Included Placebos

Commentary German scientists have uncovered startling evidence that a substantial portion of the batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine deployed in the European Union may in fact have consisted of placebos—and hence were not even subjected to quality-control testing by the German agency which was in principle responsible for approving their release. The scientists, Dr….


The Nocebo Effect

Most people are probably familiar with the placebo effect, but may not be aware of its less popular cousin, and opposite, the nocebo effect. According to the latest research, this mysterious phenomenon is perhaps more prevalent than many people realize, even medical professionals. Let’s define them both. The placebo effect occurs when someone is receiving…


You Can Train Your Body to Think It’s Had Medicine

  Marette Flies was 11 when her immune system turned against her. A cheerful student from Minneapolis, Minnesota, she had curly brown hair and a pale, moon-shaped face, and she loved playing trumpet in her high-school band. But in 1983, she was diagnosed with lupus, a condition in which the immune system destroys the body’s…


Placebos Have a Powerful Healing Effect on the Mind and Body

Did you ever feel your own shoulders relax when you saw a friend receive a shoulder massage? For those of you who said yes, congratulations, your brain is using its power to create a “placebo effect.” For those who said no, you’re not alone, but thankfully, the brain is trainable. Since the 1800s, the word placebo has…


‘Significantly More’ Adverse Events in COVID-19 Trials Are From Vaccine Recipients Compared to Placebo: Study

Many reported adverse events in COVID-19 vaccine trials come from those who received the placebo shots, with nearly a third of placebo recipients involved having reported at least one adverse event, but “significantly more” adverse events were reported by those in the vaccine groups, according to researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard…


Many Adverse Events in COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Are From Placebo Recipients: Analysis

Many reported adverse events in COVID-19 vaccine trials come from those who received the placebo shots, with nearly a third of placebo recipients involved having reported at least one adverse event, according to findings by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Adverse events (AEs) that appear to be induced…


Many Adverse Events in COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Are From Placebo Recipients, but ‘Significantly More’ Are From Vaccine Recipients: Analysis

Many reported adverse events in COVID-19 vaccine trials come from those who received the placebo shots, with nearly a third of placebo recipients involved having reported at least one adverse event, but “significantly more” adverse events were reported by those in the vaccine groups, according to researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard…


The Power of Placebo

L.B. was a 42-year-old who had suffered from chronic headaches for years. Some medications worked for her, some not so much. She related a very interesting story about her “headaches” and something that worked for her. L.B. took several medications for other conditions, but nothing serious. She also took several supplements. Her headaches were constant,…


The Fascinating Story of Placebos

According to “Plato in Twelve Volumes” published by Harvard University Press, for headaches, Plato prescribed “a certain leaf, but there was a charm to go with the remedy; and if one uttered the charm at the moment of its application, the remedy made one perfectly well; but without the charm, there was no efficacy in…