Your brain can make its own painkillers

Health
Your brain can make its own painkillers

The placebo effect shows that expecting relief can activate your brain's natural opioid system, proving your beliefs have a powerful impact on pain.

Even fake pills can ease pain by triggering your brain to release natural opioids, its built-in painkillers. This amazing placebo effect happens when you expect relief, changing your brain chemistry in measurable ways. Brain scans show these responses activate key areas involved in pain and emotions.

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