The Magic Feather and the Placebo Effect

The Magic Feather and the Placebo Effect

November 3, 2023

Joy Stepinski, MSN, RN-BC

Recently I finished reading a book called The Magic Feather Effect: The Science of Alternative Medicine and the Surprising Power of Belief by Melanie Warner. The book was titled in reference to the magic feather given to Dumbo by Timothy Q. Mouse. In the scene of the movie, a crow friend makes a reference that if Timothy really wants Dumbo to fly, he has to use “psychology.” Timothy presents Dumbo with a “magic feather” and the elephant proceeds to fly because he believed he could.

The power of belief is very real. In terms of humans, the literature often describes this as the placebo effect. If there is an innate belief that something can help you, this conviction often plays a role in healing. Controlling the mind and thoughts can be a powerful tool.

In modern times, the placebo effect came to light during World War II. The story goes that an American anesthesiologist treated soldiers with gruesome wounds, yet approximately 32% reported no pain and 44% reported mild discomfort. He believed that simply being rescued from the battlefield created a euphoric feeling that overshadowed the pain [1].

Eventually, the placebo-controlled clinical trial was developed. In research, participants are divided into control and drug treatment groups. The control receives the “placebo,” which is a form of drug without the active ingredient. The subject believes they are taking the real medication. In order for the drug to be approved, the medication must work better than the placebo.

According to studies [2], the placebo has profound effects on cancer-related fatigue, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety, depression, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and more. Although historically dismissed as a factor in healing, studies have emerged more recently with open-label placebos. I’m looking forward to seeing how use of the placebo use unfolds. The mind is truly a profound influence over health.

References:

1. Robson, D. (2023). The expectation effect: How your mindset can change your world. Holt Paperbacks.

2. Kisaalita, N., Staud, R., Hurley, R., & Robinson, M. (2014). Placebo use in pain management: the role of medical context, treatment efficacy, and deception in determining placebo acceptability. Pain, 155(12), 2638-2645.