[Placebo action and alternative medicine]

Abstract

Experimental and clinical data concerning placebo effects on pain states and other subjective symptoms are summarized, and show that placebo treatment and psychotherapy are identical. The drugs used by anthroposophical physicians, homeopaths, phytotherapists and therapists attempting to "normalize" the intestinal bacterial flora are in fact pure or impure placebos. Since official medicine is well aware of the scientific basis and favourable results of placebo treatment in psychosomatic and self-limiting diseases, it does not appear necessary to integrate varieties of alternative medicine into graduate and postgraduate medical training.