We present a faux commercial for "Placebo" — a drug that does nothing and makes no claims at all. This is in reaction to a story that placebos can be effective in medical treatments — even if the patients taking them know that they're not actual medications. The news comes from researchers at Harvard Medical School's Osher Research Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
AUDIE CORNISH, Host: Unidentified Man #1: Do you suffer from erectile dysfunction or high blood pressure or poison ivy, rickets, itchy scalp, attention deficit disorder? Get the one drug that doctors recommend most for everything - placebo. It's painless, delicious and inert. Ask your doctor if placebo is right for you. If he says no, find another doctor.</s>P: Placebo may result in the absence of side effects. Preexisting conditions may result from underuse. Pregnant women may have babies. Persons over 105, consider yourselves lucky. Placebo - for everything.</s>AUDIE CORNISH, Host: That medical satire brought to you by the staff of ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.