The Placebo Effect

A placebo is a treatment with no active ingredient, such as a sugar pill.

安慰剂是一种不含活性成分的治疗手段，比如糖丸。

Remarkably, patients who take one often report genuine improvements in their symptoms.

值得注意的是，服用安慰剂的患者常常表示症状确实有所改善。

Researchers believe that expectation plays a central role in this phenomenon.

研究人员认为，预期在这一现象中起着核心作用。

When we anticipate relief, the brain can release chemicals that reduce pain.

当我们期待症状缓解时，大脑会释放出减轻疼痛的化学物质。

The effect appears to be strongest for conditions influenced by stress and perception.

这种效应似乎对受压力和感知影响的病症最为明显。

Even the colour and price of a pill can alter how effective people believe it to be.

就连药片的颜色和价格，也会改变人们对其疗效的看法。

Some studies suggest placebos work even when patients know they are taking one.

一些研究表明，即使患者知道自己服用的是安慰剂，它也有效果。

This raises difficult ethical questions about honesty in medical practice.

这引发了关于医疗实践中诚实问题的棘手伦理问题。

Nevertheless, understanding placebos helps scientists design more reliable clinical trials.

尽管如此，了解安慰剂有助于科学家设计出更可靠的临床试验。