It's All in Your Head

I recently read an article about scientific myths and the number one on the list was placebos.

Ever since first hearing about placebos in science class I have been intrigued by them.

In this article it talks about how the mind actually alters your bodies biochemistry. 

What they did was:

1)induce pain in subjects

2)supply morphine

Then they later:

3)induced pain

4) supplied a saline solution (ie sugar/salt water)

They found that the subjects reacted as if they had been given morphine.

They then:

5)induced pain

6)supplied solution which contained a drug that BLOCKED the affects of morphine.

They found that subjects continued to feel pain.

They concluded that the mind/brain was actually affecting the biochemistry of the body. Afterall you can find biochemicals within the body which are same/similar to morphine (I forget what they are called... opioids that are something else... I'll maybe look it up later).

Other studies have shown that the placebo effect can decrease the size of tumors, reduced stiffness in parkinsons, cure depression and a vast array of other affects.

Cool, no?

For more details click here to read the article.