Hypnosis and Sugar Pills

It is my belief that "placebo" is not necessarily to be written off - what heals heals! If the placebo produces the results that are desired, then it has done the job. I think of it being akin to using a back door route to allow a sick person to heal himself. Certainly not many people in our culture believe that they have the power to heal their own illness without pharmaceuticals. The placebo (or other methods which employ the "placebo effect") seems to create a sort of self-hypnosis that reminds our bodies that we already have chemicals inherently within ourselves that heal and aid in pain relief, including naturally occurring opioids, which you may know as endorphins. So, can I hypnotize myself well again? Franz Mesmer is unfortunately indisposed presently.


Listen to Radio Lab Program on Placebo effects here.:
With new research demonstrating the startling power of the placebo effect, this hour of Radiolab examines the chemical consequences of belief and imagination.