My last post had a lot of great comments that were, in some cases, even more interesting than the post itself. I actually love that and it's very cool to me that this is something that happens at times. We learn a lot by sharing with others while they share with us as well.
I think that this is Steemit at its best:a huge community of such diverse and interesting people that we all can do nothing BUT learn because we are exposed to various cool stuff, willingly or not!
It also got me thinking about what people believe based on such a little evidence, something I noticed in my own life. I tend to give a lot more credit to things I WANT to work and enjoy vs things that might work better. I also reject the evidence easier when it contradicts my worldview. All in all, we are all biased and humane. No news here.
Magnesium is one of my favorite examples because everyone seems to LOVE magnesium. I like to talk about supplements and nootropics with people and many say they take magnesium and it helps them to feel calmer, sleep better, enjoy life, focus. These are actually! all the benefits the ads list when they sell their magnesium pill in various forms [ with B6, with calcium, with zinc].
Here's the funny thing. MOST magnesium supplement use a form of magnesium called oxide. Why is this bad?
It's not bad-bad as in it will harm you, but it is bad in that it's the least effective form of Mg based on absorption rate. [ |"his type of magnesium shows high levels of concentration, but poor levels of bioavailability (only 4%). ]. So sure, you take more but still only 4%!! gets to you really. It's just never a high enough dose to matter yet people LOVE IT!
This was interesting to me. It turns out most people have no clue this is the case, and think that all magnesium is the same and etc etc. But IT WORKS a lot more than it should. Well, this should not surprise me, after all I know how powerful placebo can be.
PLACEBO Effect
a beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment
From latin "placere" --> "to please"
You all head about it, I'm sure, that it's a way to feel better and get treatment by literally ingesting sugar pills. Medicine has been confused by this for a long time and to some extent, placebo effect is still so bizzare. It's mind over matter, the power of belief over your own sickness. It's kind of amazing.
According to WebMd,"one of the most common theories is that the placebo effect is due to a person's expectations. 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." The stronger you believe a drug or treatment will work, the better it will...independent of the actual treatment! That's pretty insane and maybe signals that our minds are more powerful then we give them credit for.
Of course, placebo works in reverse too. That's why doctors recommend to be optimist about your chances and try to have a sunny disposition, because it will make you feel better, quicker!
I don't believe though that this is a reason to give up modern medicine and fix yourself by "believing you will be healthy". No way, no how, and we have seen, over and over and over, again that people who go to the extreme using just holistic and alternative medicines usually do a lot of harm. What's worst, is that they usually harm other people.
I was browsing amazon and seen the medicine. This is where we are? Selling placeboes for 25$?! I hope all reviews are fake or else those ppl got scammed big time!!
Still, it's again a weird thing but we believe the placebo works best if it's packed nicely. So who knows, maybe just taking a teaspoon and sugar to cure depression won't work. Pack the same sugar in a nice bottle and sell it for 30$ and voilaaaa.
Wow, human mind, am I right?!?!
How to apply all this to Steemit!
Coming back to the title!
If every time you click on "razvanleulmarin" <-- that's me!--> posts you feel a rush of good feelings, serotonine, love, amazement and contentment.
IF when you upvote, you feel like you did the RIGHT thing.
Then, in time, you'll expect and get that feeling even before you even read it. Placebo effect! Expectations trump quality! BOOM!
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Well, if the post is shit, it might not last but then, is it ever? :D
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Everyone encounters placebo effect. A great example is coffee. Most people feel energy from coffee while drinking it, but the caffeine should take at least 20 minutes to take effect.
I agree that business and medicine is a complicated subject. People fear the pharmaceutical industry because of this very conflict. However, these supplement industries are making millions too!! People need to remember that.
That is why evidence based medicine from the most nonbiased sources is always the best.
As a doctor, I will make decesions in that manner. Some supplements work, others do not. However, no one should hide behind always saying "big pharmaceutical companies are the problem.....so I will only take supplements" Just be evidence based. Just because something is big pharm does not mean I will prescribe it... but if a study shows it saves many lives from multiple sources, then that is the scientific way of going about it.
As it was once said in the big bang theory, and it is very true, all of the money spent in these supplements just makes your urine yellow and very expensive.
@indepthstory
yeah but my urine is more expensive than yours!! :))
[ truth :( ]
You are right!!!
Amazing posts from you @razvanelulmarin
Lolz, Raz the feel good placebo; I like it... I've never heard of magnesium as a supplement. I take Modafinil to help me focus, and that is definitely not placebo :-)
Cg
modafinil is a comment for the nootrpics post i think :)
definitely not :) i read a lot of comments about it, it really DOES work
I just put it here because magnesium sounds like a nootropic, although what you say about absorption sounds pretty conclusive for it being placebo. I think the problem with a lot of these drugs is clinical trials are few and far between. Mainly because they would be classed as unethical.
Cg
imgo magnesium is really a nootropic and definitely NOT placebo.
but these "smart drugs" ARE coming and soon will be very popular....imho, they will be so used that ppl won't see them as unethical but necessary.
Give me some Zeebo's. Need 'em to feel better! Great article.
pls order :)))))
nice....you deserve resteem and upvote...
If you read and vote on this comment, emotions of happiness will flow through you body as reading this comment signals your brain to release endorphins!
Placebo effect: happy thoughts trigger could feelings ;-)
LOL, I do hear a lot about magnesium healing effects. And you are right it's more of placebo effect than actual healing. Homeopathy is a branch of medical science, that is usually known to give these sweet tiny balls for healing. And it actually works! By the way these selling these Placebo pills is really an innovative idea!! Although I wonder how much good would it do, when you already know it is just sugar balls!!!!
magnesium is the real deal to me! just get the good one!!
no idea..but it seems placebo works even when you know it is placebo...
Great "buyer" experience (placebo) is a typical goal in marketing which works to move emotions and product. Thought provoking post. Thank you.
Wow, it works! I upvoted you and instantly feel content!
Strangely, my toes also tingle. Is this a side effect? Not sure I like this 🙃
damn it.
i think you need some..
zeebo
Are you sure this is how the placebo affect works? I think you're using some mind tricks :-)
The craziest thing about placebo shit is there's a study where they TOLD THE PARTICIPANTS that it was a placebo. They said, "this pill is a placebo. it is just sugar. there's no medicine in it."
After 12 weeks, the people who took the placebo STILL had good benefits... how bizarre.
Exactly! that's the thing with those pills...but mind tricks are my placebo :P
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New Zeebo's from the makers of Damitall!
They can who believe they can
And those that say that can't are probably right.
Awesome post @razvanelulmarin I will follow you
First things first .... the post is amazing ! And I also enjoy the band placebo ever now and then
:)))))))
protect me from what i want?
Pure morning skins crawling
I create a placebo effect everytime i come across omething that makes me feel uneasy. Its not an easy thing to do but its the ultimate attitude adjustment technique
When I have tried taking Mag supplements my anxiety levels would go crazy, so I stopped and trying to just eat healthier. For some people it just dosn't work. For some people placebo is probably doing all the work.