'The Power of Placebo' Podcast

Discover the incredible power of the placebo effect in this episode, hearing from experts across science, medicine, psychology, dance and music. This episode was created as part of 2018’s ‘The Power of Placebo’ - a national programme of events by performance company Clod Ensemble, that brought together scientists, artists, architects, ethicists, writers and anthropologists, to explore how our attitudes, beliefs, relationships, rituals and environments can affect our health for better or for worse. The ‘placebo response’ describes an effect which occurs when a person is given a ‘fake’ or ‘inactive’ treatment but experiences an improvement in health regardless. Scientific research has shown that the colour or size of pills can impact on their effectiveness, that sham surgery can create lasting pain relief, and that the ‘performance’ of the doctor can impact on medical outcomes. Some placebo treatments have now been shown to create measurable physiological change in the brain and the immune system. What are the ramifications of this research for the way we think about and practice healthcare? Is modern medicine making the most of the power of placebo? Through real-world examples and research insights, learn how our expectations can shape our reality and how elements such as ritual and ceremony can have a clear and demonstrable effect on patient health. Clod Ensemble is a performance company working at the intersection of different forms and disciplines. Our work is presented in London, across the UK and internationally in theatres, dance houses, galleries and public spaces.