Comments on: Nocebo, now available without a prescription http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 13:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: alex4point0 http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1508314 alex4point0 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1508314 I'm reminded of Stay Free!'s Panexa ad, mirrored here.  http://ethicalnag.org/2009/10/18/panexa/ (oh, they guest edited BB once! small world!) I’m reminded of Stay Free!’s Panexa ad, mirrored here. 
http://ethicalnag.org/2009/10/18/panexa/ (oh, they guest edited BB once! small world!)

]]> By: hamishmacdonald http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1508119 hamishmacdonald Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1508119 I'm not trying to be a grammar-dick, but is it an intentional irony that the producers are "Spelling Mistakes Cost Lives" and their product blurb contains an error? "<I>it's</I> potency lies entirely inside the human brain!" I checked out the website, spellingmistakescostlives.com, and there's a lot of giggle-worthy material there, like his most recent stunt: adverts for the "Paranormalympic Games". Hee! I’m not trying to be a grammar-dick, but is it an intentional irony that the producers are “Spelling Mistakes Cost Lives” and their product blurb contains an error?

“it’s potency lies entirely inside the human brain!”

I checked out the website, spellingmistakescostlives.com, and there’s a lot of giggle-worthy material there, like his most recent stunt: adverts for the “Paranormalympic Games”. Hee!

]]> By: Rich Keller http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507937 Rich Keller Wed, 15 Aug 2012 04:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507937 I have some 400X homeopathic placebo. I't nothing reduced to 10^−400. I have some 400X homeopathic placebo. I’t nothing reduced to 10^−400.

]]> By: mortdieu http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507439 mortdieu Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507439  I wonder what they use for the control when you're studying the placebo effect.  I wonder what they use for the control when you’re studying the placebo effect.

]]> By: CRX http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507422 CRX Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507422 I was given a prescription for Cebocap's for pain by my Dr in the 80's. He told me the med  used the power of the body to heal itself.  When the pharmacist told me the medications name it all came clear, my doctor was a complete fraud.  Within a week I was hospitalized for a pancreatic pseudo-cyst,  I couldn't use the power of the human body to heal that.   I was given a prescription for Cebocap’s for pain by my Dr in the 80′s. He told me the med  used the power of the body to heal itself.  When the pharmacist told me the medications name it all came clear, my doctor was a complete fraud.  Within a week I was hospitalized for a pancreatic pseudo-cyst,  I couldn’t use the power of the human body to heal that.  

]]> By: NelC http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507337 NelC Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507337  Not when you're studying the placebo effect, I'd presume.  Not when you’re studying the placebo effect, I’d presume.

]]> By: chris jimson http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507293 chris jimson Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507293 I would really like to see the outcome of a court case where someone claims to have been harmed by Nocebo: it purports to be harmful but also points out the harm is psychologically self-inflicted, so how does a judge rule there? I would really like to see the outcome of a court case where someone claims to have been harmed by Nocebo: it purports to be harmful but also points out the harm is psychologically self-inflicted, so how does a judge rule there?

]]> By: Kimmo http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507271 Kimmo Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507271 Looks like a good birthday present for my boss. Looks like a good birthday present for my boss.

]]> By: Kimmo http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507269 Kimmo Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507269 I was under the inpression the placebo affect had to be accounted for in studies. So that's all a waste of time then? I was under the inpression the placebo affect had to be accounted for in studies. So that’s all a waste of time then?

]]> By: DewiMorgan http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507210 DewiMorgan Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507210 "Food coloring" - it's purple. Most likely Red 40 and some kind of blue. If so, I've friends who would most likely legitimately react to it. “Food coloring” – it’s purple.
Most likely Red 40 and some kind of blue.
If so, I’ve friends who would most likely legitimately react to it.

]]> By: Roy Trumbull http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507194 Roy Trumbull Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507194 In the world of homeopathic meds this might be an overdose. Let's get our Boing Boing brains working on some more placebo names. I'll start with Foolium.. In the world of homeopathic meds this might be an overdose. Let’s get our Boing Boing brains working on some more placebo names. I’ll start with Foolium..

]]> By: Christopher http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507128 Christopher Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507128 As good as Nocebo may be it will still never replace my Aunt Ethel's cough medicine. Active ingredients: honey, lemon juice, and a little Jack Daniel's whiskey. When my mother started giving it to me I started trying to get sore throats on purpose. As good as Nocebo may be it will still never replace my Aunt Ethel’s cough medicine. Active ingredients: honey, lemon juice, and a little Jack Daniel’s whiskey.

When my mother started giving it to me I started trying to get sore throats on purpose.

]]> By: Christopher http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507123 Christopher Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507123 Just remember: you can't put too much water in a nuclear reactor. Just remember: you can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor.

]]> By: William Roentgen http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507096 William Roentgen Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507096 Only if we also acknowledge that medicine is a process and not a product.   Any trained physician (as opposed to people who just read WebMD) will know that different people respond differently to different pharmaceuticals.  Properly administered, different pharmaceuticals will be tried in conjunctions with tests to find what actually works with a given patient's body.  Science.  It works. "By definition, alternative Medicine has either not been proved to work, or been proved not to work.  do you know what they call "alternative medicine" That's been proved to work?  Medicine." - Tim Minchin Only if we also acknowledge that medicine is a process and not a product.   Any trained physician (as opposed to people who just read WebMD) will know that different people respond differently to different pharmaceuticals.  Properly administered, different pharmaceuticals will be tried in conjunctions with tests to find what actually works with a given patient’s body. 

Science.  It works.
“By definition, alternative Medicine has either not been proved to work, or been proved not to work.  do you know what they call “alternative medicine” That’s been proved to work?  Medicine.” – Tim Minchin

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507067 Boundegar Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507067 Ah, but can it be cooked into meth?  I think not! Ah, but can it be cooked into meth?  I think not!

]]> By: mr_subjunctive http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507021 mr_subjunctive Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507021 Yes, because you don't have to drink "too much" of something with no active ingredients in order to experience negative effects. Yes, because you don’t have to drink “too much” of something with no active ingredients in order to experience negative effects.

]]> By: blearghhh http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1507001 blearghhh Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1507001 My son often asks for Medicine when he doesn't want to go to bed and complains of various ailments to support that request. I regularly give him what he calls bear medicine because of the bear on the bottle, which is some Boiron Homeopathic stuff that my wife got years ago, active ingredient: happiness and sunshine. Anyway, there's no issue giving it to him, because it's just water with some honey in it, and it makes him go to bed. Also, when it's done, I can just re-fill it with stuff that's just as effective. I may do some special stuff for when he's super sick which includes food colouring. So, yay placebo effect My son often asks for Medicine when he doesn’t want to go to bed and complains of various ailments to support that request.

I regularly give him what he calls bear medicine because of the bear on the bottle, which is some Boiron Homeopathic stuff that my wife got years ago, active ingredient: happiness and sunshine. Anyway, there’s no issue giving it to him, because it’s just water with some honey in it, and it makes him go to bed. Also, when it’s done, I can just re-fill it with stuff that’s just as effective. I may do some special stuff for when he’s super sick which includes food colouring.

So, yay placebo effect

]]> By: hungryjoe http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1506999 hungryjoe Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1506999 But just so we're clear, the "Placebo Effect" describes a patient's perception that his/her SYMPTOMS are diminished.  It does not describe an actual effective clinical treatment. What we're missing in all this discussion of the amazing placebo effect is a study where placebo effect is compared with no treatment at all...Oh wait, here is that thing: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12535498  And for those who can't be bothered to click, here's the conclusion of that study: "There was no evidence that placebo interventions in general have clinically important effects. A possible moderate effect on subjective continuous outcomes, especially pain, could not be clearly distinguished from bias." But obviously Big Pharma must have influenced this study...? But just so we’re clear, the “Placebo Effect” describes a patient’s perception that his/her SYMPTOMS are diminished.  It does not describe an actual effective clinical treatment.

What we’re missing in all this discussion of the amazing placebo effect is a study where placebo effect is compared with no treatment at all…Oh wait, here is that thing:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12535498

 And for those who can’t be bothered to click, here’s the conclusion of that study:

“There was no evidence that placebo interventions in general have clinically important effects. A possible moderate effect on subjective continuous outcomes, especially pain, could not be clearly distinguished from bias.”

But obviously Big Pharma must have influenced this study…?

]]> By: Michael Walsh http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1506993 Michael Walsh Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1506993 At last, the logic of homeopathy reaches its omega point. At last, the logic of homeopathy reaches its omega point.

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1506977 awjt Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1506977 You know what's even weirder?  It's been proven in trials that Placebo effect works JUST AS WELL when the person even KNOWS it's placebo.  Can you freakin believe that?  We are strange creatures. You know what’s even weirder?  It’s been proven in trials that Placebo effect works JUST AS WELL when the person even KNOWS it’s placebo.  Can you freakin believe that?  We are strange creatures.

]]> By: sweetcraspy http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1506972 sweetcraspy Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1506972 I absolutely love the "NON-CORROSIVE" label.  "Drip it on the table, no problem!  Drip it on your hand, you're fine!" I absolutely love the “NON-CORROSIVE” label.  “Drip it on the table, no problem!  Drip it on your hand, you’re fine!”

]]> By: Soopercali http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1506958 Soopercali Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1506958 Could we acknowledge that the vast majority of pharmaceuticals only have the promised results for roughly 30% of users (as the president of GSK once told a reporter)? There are enough placebo effects out there to call into question the "science" behind most prescription drugs.  Could we acknowledge that the vast majority of pharmaceuticals only have the promised results for roughly 30% of users (as the president of GSK once told a reporter)? There are enough placebo effects out there to call into question the “science” behind most prescription drugs. 

]]> By: Christopher http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1506957 Christopher Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1506957 Thank goodness. My prescription was just about to run out.  Thank goodness. My prescription was just about to run out. 

]]> By: Nylund http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1506956 Nylund Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1506956 Everyone knows that drinking too much water can actually kill you.  Given that, is it really fair to say that any negative effect from something with no active ingredients is really just all in your head? Everyone knows that drinking too much water can actually kill you.  Given that, is it really fair to say that any negative effect from something with no active ingredients is really just all in your head?

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2012/08/14/nocebo-now-available-without.html#comment-1506943 awjt Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=176361#comment-1506943 I feel better just looking at it. I feel better just looking at it.

]]>