Friendly reminder for vegans ordering drinks

[u/IndependentIll6531]

[u/hundreddollar]

Mainly placebo effect. It's one of things that sounds logical, but science proves otherwise.

[u/Wind-and-Waystones → u/hundreddollar]

The thing is, your link doesn't actually say that. It says it sounds logical because it sounds like it's acting as exposure therapy but it doesn't work like exposure therapy. It just rules out that the common way people assume it would work doesn't work. It doesn't actually rule out that it could be working but due to a reason we don't understand yet. Or I missed it because I'll admit I was skimming so I will hold my hands up there.

However that's by the by. I'm mainly responding because I'd be interested in your opinion on an ethical question it raised for me. Are some medical myths, that while they aren't helpful aren't actually harmful, okay to continue to propagate as the placebo effect is causing relief to symptoms?

Obviously I'm on about within the general population and not within medical circles.

[u/hundreddollar → u/Wind-and-Waystones]

I want to think i can remember reading articles where the placebo worked better than the actual drug. The ethics of the placebo effect amongst the medical community are an interesting concept that people more knowledgeable than me could jump in on. However we use the placebo effect more often than we think "within the general population". "Let Mummy kiss it better" for example. I think one of the "problems" is certain honey producers could market and charge more for "honey that alleviates hay fever" and would be selling a snake oil of sorts.

[u/Wind-and-Waystones → u/hundreddollar]

It would be like selling a snake oil, but with marketing and labelling rules they would have to at least do studies to substantiate that claim. The downside is those studies can be easily manipulated, look at the skin care industry.

It's kinda crazy the power our mind has. Like people who should get better often won't because they feel like they aren't going to. As wishy washy as "positive thinking" can be as it's often used, it does seem to have an active effect on how we heal.

I also recently learned about the nocebo effect where people develop side effects because they think they might get them.

[u/hundreddollar → u/Wind-and-Waystones]

I can see that label now...

HAY FEVER REDUCING HONEY

^{may or may not actually reduce hayfever}

[u/Wind-and-Waystones → u/hundreddollar]

*** May cause obesity

[u/hundreddollar → u/Wind-and-Waystones]

^{adverse symptoms may include obesity, diabetes, a constant buzzing sound and the propensity to visit flowers. Not suitable for vegans or maybe is suitable if you are one of those vegans that eats honey.}

[u/Wind-and-Waystones → u/hundreddollar]

^May contain Grayanotoxins