After taking the pill, their pulse rate sped up, their blood pressure increased, and their reaction speeds improved. If a person expects a pill to do something, then it's possible that the body's own chemistry can cause effects similar to what a medication might have caused.įor instance, in one study, people were given a placebo and told it was a stimulant. One of the most common theories is that the placebo effect is due to a person's expectations. Research on the placebo effect has focused on the relationship of mind and body. But when researchers asked for people's perception of how they felt, the placebo inhaler was reported as being as effective as medicine in providing relief. In one study involving asthma, people using a placebo inhaler did no better on breathing tests than sitting and doing nothing. Studies show that placebos can have an effect on conditions such as:

There are some conditions in which a placebo can produce results even when people know they are taking a placebo. These responses are known as the 'placebo effect.' Or the person may have what appears to be side effects from the treatment. For instance, the person's symptoms may improve. The response can be positive or negative. Sometimes a person can have a response to a placebo. That way, they can determine the effectiveness of the new drug and check for side effects. Researchers then compare the effects of the drug and the placebo on the people in the study.

None of the people in the study will know if they got the real treatment or the placebo. Researchers use placebos during studies to help them understand what effect a new drug or some other treatment might have on a particular condition.įor instance, some people in a study might be given a new drug to lower cholesterol.

I have that effect on you