The placebo effect

The placebo effect is when people report improvement after taking a fake or nonexistent treatment, due to their belief or expectation. It revolves around the psychology of a human which raises one question: does it solely contribute to the health & medical side of things? Well, Harvard Health Publishing states that to give yourself a placebo effect besides taking a fake pill is practising self-help methods such as eating right, exercising, yoga, etc. One such case is pseudocyesis i.e. phantom pregnancy where physical symptoms mimic pregnancy due to belief alone, illustrating the placebo effect's influence on the body's response. Similarly, students experiencing test anxiety finding relief through superstitions or rituals, like a lucky colour, further demonstrates its impact beyond traditional medicine. In conclusion, the placebo effect underscores the powerful connection between mind and body, highlighting how beliefs and expectations can profoundly influence our health and well-being.