Are “miracles” unjustly crucified?
Defining “Miracles”
“Miracle” versus Placebo
A placebo is a treatment that has no therapeutic value. Placebo’s are used in research studies to eliminate the placebo effect. The placebo effect is defined as a phenomena where some people have a positive health outcome as a result of the anticipation that a specific treatment will help. In a research study, the placebo effect might mean that some people responded favorably to a medication solely on the basis of the placebo effect and NOT because the treatment was effective. That being said, scientists will often include a placebo group in their study design. This group of test subjects receives a medication that has no therapeutic value. (Ie: a sugar pill, saline….etc). If a large percentage of the subjects in the placebo group have a net benefit from the treatment (despite receiving a treatment that has no therapeutic value), This would weaken the study results.
So, does this mean the Placebo effect is the equivalent of a “miracle”?
Can YOU Be A Placebo?
Final thoughts
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