[The physician as medication. Relationship effects in pharmaceutical medicine as exemplified by the placebo].

The healing effect of relationships within the complex system of medicine was elucidated on the example of the placebo effect. A comparison with an archaic healing system shows that these effects are ubiquitous and are probably valid for all healing systems. The placebo effect occurs not only within sugar pills but is a constant phenomenon with every allopathic drug. Today's research into the endorphin system gives evidence of the psychosomatic pattern of the anodyne effect of placebo. A patients contemporary relationships as well as his culture-related self understanding have both an impact on coping mechanisms. In this context the importance of religious belief in coping with illness is emphasised.