Speaker - Mike Dow - Sugar Pills and Snake Oil: The Power of Placebos

Tue, Dec 19th 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm


With Christmas approaching, the Rotary Club of Kilrymont St Andrews once again took to the streets of the town to provide an evening of carol singing in a variety of establishments.

They also provided a carol singing event at a very well-attended Balgove Larder evening.

Later in the week, this musically-enhanced group of members regaled many surprised revellers around the Town. In doing so the Club raised the worthwhile sum of £300, which will be distributed amongst various local charitable groups.

Earlier in the week at the Club’s final meeting of 2017, member Mike Dow gave an interestingly different presentation entitled “The Power of the Placebo”.

As a practising clinical psychologist (with a less-than-hidden talent as a folk singer) Mike related that the “placebo effect” is real and well-established as an effective treatment for many medical conditions, particularly those which are based on forms of pain relief.

Placebos- either as tablets, pills or potions but normally something like a sugar pill – when prescribed instead of traditional drugs without a patient’s knowledge can still induce the expectation of benefit. This can actually stimulate progress such as pain relief.

Mike illustrated many instances of trials and surveys which have shown beyond doubt that placebo treatment can give as effective a response as more complicated and expensive procedures.

It seemed strange to the audience that simple factors, such as the colour of a pill, can provoke better outcomes. A pink tablet is considered more stimulating than a blue tablet, which has been shown to be more of a cool and calming influence.

Other studies have shown that patients can feel better having paid more for a treatment. In fact a £2.50 pill will have a greater effect than a 10p pill, although they may in fact be the same pill.

It may be, said Mike, that homeopathic treatments, while in many cases expensive, may have no greater benefit than the “Placebo Effect”.

In giving a vote of thanks, Ewen Allan expressed the view of all of those present that Mike’s talk had been something of a revelation. So keep taking the pills!

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