Thursday 10 April 2008

Placebo

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Patients do get better with homoeopathy. Its sceptics site the placebo effect as the reason for its favourable response.

So…

What is it about the placebo effect that means that patients get better when they have homoeopathic treatment but haven’t via a conventional route?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hey hope you don't mind me commenting! Perhaps the difference is that homeopathy is MUCH more focused on the psychological processes of "getting better" - I can tell this just from reading your blog - and that homeopaths have considerably more time to pay attention to a "patient", to listen to their problems, and as we know extensive research has demonstrated that this alone can make someone feel better. The power of not only talking to a perceived professional but, more important, having that professional "listen" should never be underestimated. Unfortunately this is something GPs and other medical professionals in conventional spheres do not have the time or opportunity to do.

The placebo effect has been demonstrated with regards to conventional medicine; perhaps some individuals are just simply more susceptible to the idea of "natural" "alternative" remedies and so have more success visiting a homeopath after a doctor. It might be they are able to build more of a rapport/trusting relationship with the homeopath from the offset due to less time constraints etc. as I mentioned earlier; it might be that they perceive the homeopath to offer some extra solution that conventional medicine can't offer; they might have a friend or relative or know someone (an individual that has a strong influence in their life, who they respect greatly) who has had a positive experience with homeopathic remedies that then influences the individual's own experience, etc.