Pain Killer or placebo effect?

I was searching for painkillers on the Internet and I found one testimony that stated Biogesic or Paracetamol plus caffeine combined is very effective for headaches and body pains. And so, I tried it to believe it and it works (^_^) here are my research for biogesic + caffeine:

Biogesic or Paracetamol = For the relief of minor aches and pains such as headache, backache, menstrual cramps, muscular aches, minor arthritis pain, toothache, and pain associated with the common cold and flu; and fever reduction.
source: http://www.unilab.com.ph/consumer/products_details.asp?eee=650

Caffeine = Restoring mental alertness or wakefulness if you are experiencing fatigue or drowsiness. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It works by stimulating the brain.
source: http://www.drugs.com/cdi/caffeine.html

But, my officemate couldn't believe it and she said that it was placebo effect, hmmm what is placebo effect really?

"The physician's belief in the treatment and the patient's faith in the physician exert a mutually reinforcing effect; the result is a powerful remedy that is almost guaranteed to produce an improvement and sometimes a cure." -- Petr Skrabanek and James McCormick, Follies and Fallacies in Medicine, p. 13.

Now, “placebo effect” is the infinite, visible, or felt improvement in health not because to a medication treatment that has been given.

A placebo (Latin for "I shall please") is a pharmacologically inert substance (such as saline solution or a starch tablet) that produces an effect similar to what would be expected of a pharmacologically active substance (such as an antibiotic).
By extension, "fake" surgery and "fake" therapies are considered placebos.

Well as I said, tried it yourself to believe it too (^_^)

Related Post
Caffeine and Paracetamol Combination



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