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Originally Posted by David (I presume - how do you do a fake shaman ceremony?) |
Simple: You perform a ceremony that is similar to a real shaman ceremony, but leaves out the bits that actually effect the cure. We do know what those bits are, right?
The placebo acupuncture trials use a device that looks like an acupuncture needle, delivers a pinch, but does not actually pierce the skin. This is presumed to be a placebo because we know that piercing the skin and irritating a qi channel is what effects the cure. Or something like that. Maybe.
The easiest thing to test with placebo trials is, of course, homeopathy. The homeopathic preparation is its own placebo.
The hardest thing to test with placebo trials is prayer. It's tough to set up a controlled environment.
~~ Paul