In this lecture, Dr. Dave Rakel explores the placebo effect—"the ability to stimulate self-healing without deception"—and reveals how perception, connection, and empathy are among the most powerful healing mechanisms available to practitioners.

Dr. Rakel unpacks the neuroscience of perception, showing how our conditioned minds create physical responses that determine health or disease. He shares groundbreaking research: optimists live six years longer than pessimists, stress perception correlates with fibromyalgia pain severity, and how we view food (guilt vs. celebration) affects cortisol and weight gain.

Through compelling studies, he demonstrates that therapeutic touch activates healing more effectively than pills, that clinician empathy measurably shortens the duration of the common cold and boosts immune markers (IL-8 and neutrophils), and that perceiving a caring connection can equal 8mg of morphine for pain relief. 

This guest speaker Master Class is part of the Kharrazian Institute Functional Medicine Education Program. 

To become a Certified Functional Medicine practitioner, visit https://kharrazianinstitute.com/⁠. Try our 7-day free trial, no credit card required.

0:00 - The Placebo Effect: Self-Healing Without Deception

8:20 - Perception Science: How Beliefs Create Physical Responses

16:15 - Stress Perception & Disease: The Cortisol Cascade

22:50 - Why SSRIs Barely Beat Placebo

26:35 - Psychedelic Placebo Study: 65% Had Spiritual Experiences

34:10 - Why Touch Beats Pills: Manual Therapy vs. Drugs

42:30 - The Clinician Effect: Empathy = 8mg Morphine

46:50 - Common Cold Study: Empathy Reduces Duration & Boosts Immunity

55:40 - Patient 406: The Cost of Disconnection

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