In order to test the placebo effect on asthma patients, researchers had 39 patients cycle through four treatment options. They either got the inhaler treatment albuterol, an inhaler with no medicine, a fake acupuncture treatment, (they were told it was real), or no treatment.
Patients receiving no treatment said their symptoms improved 21%, but patients receiving a placebo treatment improved by much more – 45% when they received the placebo inhaler and 46% with the fake acupuncture. Patients who received albuterol improved 50%.
Read more at: http://www.thirdage.com/news/asthma-study-shows-strong-placebo-effect_07-14-2011
