I have a theory why placebo works: It may be caused by the "Selfish Gene".
When my sub-conscious believes the body is dying it decides it's for the best of the whole gene-population that the individual in question stops fighting for resources and for reproductive opportunities in the world. It would be wasteful to use scarce resources for me, not from the viewpoint of me the individual, but from the viewpoint of the gene-population.
But if I do believe the doctor's pill will cure me soon, then the sub-conscious "thinks" that it must be more true than not, because who can we believe more than the experts? So it's time for it to NOT give up my fight for the survival of the fittest, but to help me do it.
In other words if my subconscious believes I am dying soon, it would not make sense (from the viewpoint of the gene-population) to take away scarce resources from other individuals who are NOT dying soon.
The "Selfish Gene" is in fact the most unselfish thing there is, it is guided by what is best for all of us.
i should note if one lives with someone with BPD or manic depressive disorder it can be impossible to tease out a manic breakthrough from pre-bedridden viral infection. Fun!
also the most famous example of this "feature" of infections (not viral though) is Toxoplasmosis Gondii, where infected rodents will just go wander around in the open against their instinct when there are cats around.
When my sub-conscious believes the body is dying it decides it's for the best of the whole gene-population that the individual in question stops fighting for resources and for reproductive opportunities in the world. It would be wasteful to use scarce resources for me, not from the viewpoint of me the individual, but from the viewpoint of the gene-population.
But if I do believe the doctor's pill will cure me soon, then the sub-conscious "thinks" that it must be more true than not, because who can we believe more than the experts? So it's time for it to NOT give up my fight for the survival of the fittest, but to help me do it.
In other words if my subconscious believes I am dying soon, it would not make sense (from the viewpoint of the gene-population) to take away scarce resources from other individuals who are NOT dying soon.
The "Selfish Gene" is in fact the most unselfish thing there is, it is guided by what is best for all of us.