The Power of the Placebo

As they contain no active ingredient, placebo medicines and pills should not really work, but they are now being shown to be effective in helping treat pain and depression and even alleviating some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This programme explores why they work and how everyone could benefit from them.

Other episodes for this season

Monitor Me
Episode 1 - Monitor Me
Defeating the Hackers
Episode 2 - Defeating the Hackers
Dinosaurs: The Hunt for Life
Episode 3 - Dinosaurs: The Hunt for L...
Sugar v Fat
Episode 4 - Sugar v Fat
Swallowed by a Sink Hole
Episode 5 - Swallowed by a Sink Hole
Man on Mars - Mission to the Red Planet
Episode 6 - Man on Mars - Mission to...
The Power of the Placebo
Episode 7 - The Power of the Placebo
How You Really Make Decisions
Episode 8 - How You Really Make Decis...
Living with Autism
Episode 9 - Living with Autism
Where is Flight MH370?
Episode 10 - Where is Flight MH370?
What's Wrong with Our Weather?
Episode 12 - What's Wrong with Our Wea...