I have a feeling that after reading these responses, some folks out there are gonna feel ripped off…

But hey, what are you gonna do, right?

I’m sure we’ve all bought things at one point or another that are sold just because of the placebo effect.

Let’s see what AskReddit users had to say about all of this.

1. Uh uh.

“”Cleanses”.

If your liver and kidneys aren’t doing it, some random powder from WholeFoods isn’t gonna help.”

2. Crystals.

“I used to work in a crystal healing shop (it’s a loooong story how I got there, I’m not into it at all) and I was shocked at how gullible people were in buying crystals to ‘heal them’.

For aesthetics I don’t mind, they are rather pretty, but being asked to prescribe a crystal remedy was a huge stretch.

The owner was also bat s**t crazy and made up a fake story that I was bringing negative energy to her after she spent the entire day every single week complaining about her hairdresser.”

3. Sure, they do…

“Those little electric stimulator miracle exercise ab machines.

They give you washboard abs, right?”

4. Gotcha!

“Pacifiers.

My two-month-old thinks he has my b**b in his mouth, but I’m actually browsing email 10 feet away.”

5. Pick your poison.

“Choice in vodka brands.

I challenge any vodka drinker to discern the difference between brands (excluding cheapo rotgut that comes in a plastic bottle, that stuff is truly foul). Vodka is by definition a neutral, odorless, flavorless spirit. The difference between Ketel One and Grey Goose and Stoli and Tito’s and Belvedere, etc. is incredibly subtle and consumer preference is largely driven by marketing.

To be clear, I’m a bartender, i’ll make anything, and l never argue with any guest about their brand call — but I always laugh to myself when I make three vodka sodas with three different brands for the same group.

Tito’s drinkers in particular seem especially dedicated to the brand. Don’t even get me started on the top shelf call in a bloody mary, a drink which completely overwhelms any nuance of the base spirit.

Again, I’ll take anyone’s money if that’s how they choose to spend it, but godd**n, some folks have more money than sense…”

6. Avoid at all costs.

“Anything homeopathic. It’s all bulls**t.

In fact, in one study, a homeopathic “medicine” was shown to be WORSE than placebo.”

7. Sounds about right.

“Anything on Goop.

Essential oils.”

8. Little did they know…

“A few years ago I decided to get healhier and ended up losing 105 lbs during my health kick. I met my ex at the gym I went to and all of the gym rats there were all selling MLM Vitamins and “Nutrition” shakes like thrive and herbalife.

Waste of money, I tried a few and all they do is make you pee all the time and give you runny poops. I saw results after i quit using them. My ex and all her crossfit buddies were going broke buying and selling each other the nutritional supplements and shakes they need for thier “healthy” lifestyle.

Meanwhile I was losing weight, getting toned, and showing results faster then they were and all I did was stop drinking soda and beer, drank more water, and lowered my carb intake; but they swore up and down I was using my Ex’s thive products and were constantly telling everyone they were trying to sell to that it was what I used to lose the weight.

Few of them even used my Facebook pictures for their before and after photos in Facebook posts selling their products. What a bunch of scumbags.”

9. Don’t do it!

“Diet pills/powder or whatever.

They will give you kidney or liver failure before you see any effects.”

10. No!

“Shampoos that promise to make your hair grow faster.

Preventing breakage during growth is believable; but no shampoo can truly GROW your hair faster.

It’s creative wording. Most hair products have creative wording making them basically placebos.”

11. Am I getting smarter?

“SMART Water.

I forget which comedian said this, but “If you pay $3.00 for a bottle of Smart Water, clearly it’s not working.””

12. Bummer.

“Ear candles. Seriously.

They do nothing, the principle on which they are supposed to work is easily debunked by a middle school science class, and they present serious risks of injury to the users.

The ‘evidence’ that they work is the nasty looking brownish junk the leave behind…which is nothing more than oxidized and heat discolored wax from the candle itself.”

What products do you think are sold only because of the placebo effect?

Tell us what think in the comments.

Thanks a lot!