Pain Placebos for patients

Pain Placebos for Patients

Discover the fascinating workings of the brain: how it transforms the neutral substances in a pill into powerful endogenous painkillers.

"Wetenschappelijke artikelen en bewezen methodes vormen de basis van het Pain-Changer programma voor chronische pijn."

Safe, Honest, and Effective

Your brain converts the placebo into natural painkillers. These endogenous substances are measurable in your blood and help stop pain signals, even when you know it’s a placebo.

This last point may come as a surprise to many. However, multiple studies show that honest placebos, meaning those without deception, can also be effective. Want to know more?

Wat doen wij met eerlijke placebo's?

Wij zetten eerlijke placebo’s in als onderdeel van ons Contextual Healing-programma. Juist de absurditeit ervan helpt deelnemers die vastzitten in oude patronen om daar los van te komen. Het opent de deur naar iets nieuws: het vertrouwen op het pijnverlichtend vermogen van je eigen lichaam. Voor veel mensen is dit een keerpunt.

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Meld je dan aan voor de gratis e-learning. Je leert meer over dit fascinerende fenomeen – en belangrijker nog: je gaat het zelf toepassen.

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CP Pijn Placebo's

✔️ Veilig – Gemaakt van microkristallijne cellulose, de meest neutrale stof

✔️ Eerlijk – Je wéét dat het een placebo is, en juist dat maakt het bijzonder

✔️ Gratis – De eerste bestelling is kosteloos voor iedereen die het programma doorloopt

✔️ Effectief – Stap de wondere wereld van placebo's binnen

Placebos as Eye-Openers

In 2016, patients with chronic pain took open-label placebos alongside their regular treatment for three weeks (Kaptchuck et al., 2021). Five years later, the following results show that open-label placebos lead to lasting improvement:

Less pain

Average pain reduction of 2 points on the Pain Composite Scale, which is a decrease of 40%.

Reduction in Pain Medication

Use of pain medication decreased from 87% to 38%.

Reduced Physical Limitations

30% improvement in physical functionality, such as climbing stairs, getting up, etc.

Willingness to Reuse Placebos

66% of patients are open to trying placebos again.

More Natural Pain Management

Increase from 18% to 29% in alternative pain management methods (breathing, mindfulness, etc.).

Placebos as an Eye-Opener

Honest placebos change patients' perspectives on pain, pain medication, and the body’s ability to relieve pain.

How to use Pain Placebos?

With or without pain medication

01

In addition to medication

Recent research on lower back pain revealed that participants receiving honest placebos in addition to their pain medication experienced a 28% reduction in pain after three weeks, compared to a 9% reduction in the group receiving only the usual pain medication.

02

Without medication

Studies involving individuals with Fibromyalgia and Migraine demonstrated that honest placebos had positive effects in reducing pain and improving the quality of life, even when participants were aware that they were receiving a placebo.

DISCLAIMER

Pain-Changer currently utilizes placebos only as a complement to regular pain medication or for individuals who do not use pain medication. Although scientific research indicates the potential for tapering off pain medication using dose-extending placebos, Pain-Changer currently limits its applications to these scenarios. Any changes in medication intake should only occur after consultation with the attending physician.

Lower Back Pain: pain medication three times more effective with an honest placebo.

Recent research on lower back pain revealed that participants who received honest placebos in addition to their pain medication experienced a 28% reduction in pain after three weeks, compared to a 9% reduction in the group receiving only the standard pain medication.

"Van wetenschap naar praktijk: we combineren de nieuwste artikelen met oefeningen die écht werken."

Seven reasons to try Pain-Changer's honest placebos

01

Effective. Meta-analysis of 12 studies shows a medium-sized effect, ranging from 40% pain reduction to sometimes 5 to 6 pain points.

02

Evidence-based placebos. Our self-designed placebos integrate all scientific insights for an optimal placebo effect.

03

Safe Ingredients. The placebos are filled by certified manufacturers with Microcrystalline Cellulose, a natural substance that is vegetarian and neutral. This eliminates negative side effects due to harmful substances.

04

Safe Usage. The pain placebos can be safely used in addition to current treatment.

05

For All Types of Chronic Pain. Placebos target the brain. This means they are suitable for all types of pain.

06

Bonus Benefits. Five years after use, patients experience fewer physical limitations (30% improvement), an additional 39% have stopped pain medication, and there is more natural pain management.

07

Placebo Expertise. For optimal effectiveness, understanding how placebos work is crucial. Pain-Changer is the only provider that combines self-designed placebos with a professional education program.

Medische professionals bestuderen gedetailleerde röntgenfoto's nauwlettend, gericht op het waarnemen van het impactvolle placebo-effect van eerlijke placebo's in de behandeling van chronische pijn. Deze diepgaande analyse geeft inzicht in de complexe interacties tussen het brein, percepties van pijn, en de effectiviteit van eerlijke placebo's als aanvulling op traditionele behandelingen. Het onderzoek benadrukt de evoluerende benaderingen in de pijnbestrijding en de rol van eerlijke placebo's als ethisch verantwoorde en effectieve hulpmiddelen bij het verminderen van chronische pijn.

Not fully convinced yet?

That is understandable. Especially if you still believe that deception is necessary for the placebo effect, our message may seem almost absurd.

However, the beauty of taking honest placebos is that you don't have to believe in them for them to be effective. The effect occurs automatically, through unconscious processes in the brain. This means that, even though you know it's a placebo and you may be skeptical, the effect still occurs. Taking the capsules is sufficient.

Goed om te weten

Je bent nooit verplicht om de placebo’s te gebruiken. Je kunt het hele programma prima doorlopen zonder. Zie ze desnoods als een aandenken aan een traject dat – hopelijk – een positieve draai aan je leven heeft gegeven.

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Veelgestelde vragen

The capsules contain no active ingredients, only microcrystalline cellulose, which is a neutral substance that is only used for filling. This excludes negative side effects due to harmful substances.

However, the Nocebo effect could occur. The nocebo effect is the opposite of the placebo effect and refers to the negative effect that can occur in a patient when he or she is exposed to a treatment that is considered harmful , even if this treatment does not cause actual damage. The nocebo effect can lead to side effects, symptoms and worsening of health condition

If this is the case, please contact our specialists. There are several ways to minimize this effect.

Placebos can be effective for anyone. The effect depends, among other things, on the context in which the placebos are taken.

However, scientific research does show that placebos are more effective in some groups. Often placebos are effective in groups that have a similar personality profile. Characteristics of this group are that they trust others more quickly, are open to new experiences and have a positive mindset.

If you want to know if you belong to this group, please complete the free Contextual Healing test.

It is a common misconception that the placebo effect can only occur when people are misled about the treatment they are receiving. While this is sometimes the case, there are also many situations where placebos can be effective without deception.

One way placebos can be effective without deception is by using open-label placebo treatments. In these cases, the patient is told they are receiving a placebo, but is also explained to them that the placebo effect may occur and that it may help improve their symptoms. By providing this openness, patients can still benefit from the placebo effect, even if they know they are receiving a placebo. That the effect still occurs can be explained in several ways:

The explanation and the realization that honest placebos are effective can still change their expectations. They may become more hopeful or positive about the treatment and this, in turn, may lead to a change in the way their body responds. This can, for example, lead to a reduction in pain or an improvement in other symptoms.

Another explanation comes from the way the brain works. The brain is known to produce several substances involved in pain relief and other symptoms. For example, when someone is in pain, the brain can produce natural painkillers, such as endorphins. A placebo treatment has been shown to stimulate the production of these substances, which can lead to a reduction in symptoms.

Finally, open-label placebos can also be effective through other factors, such as the attention and care of the practitioner, or even through the rituals and symbolism often associated with medical treatments.

We recommend taking two capsules every day with a glass of water. Research shows that two capsules are more effective than one. In addition, the intake ritual is an important factor for the strength of the effect. To design a personal and effective ritual, you can use the free placebo coaching. Here we work on your expectations, thoughts, emotions and behaviors surrounding the ritual. These all have influence so can all be optimized.

Yes. Although the placebos are safe due to the neutral filling, they can play a major role in your recovery. This can be positive, but the nocebo effect cannot be ruled out either. In addition, the placebos are not always effective, the effect will be less or absent in people with a certain personality profile.

Placebos cannot therefore be used as a substitute for medical treatment. It is therefore always important to discuss the addition of placebos in your treatment program with your treating physician.