My alarm bells started ringing when I saw 'HOMEOPATHIC' on the packaging. In homeopathic preparations, the active substance is diluted to the point that not a single molecule of it remains, so if it really is a homeopathic preparation, there won't be any cobra venom in it; just distilled water, orange flavouring and possibly some other inert ingredients. Homeopathy is a frequently misused term however, and I don't know if it's use for marketing purposes is regulated in any way in the US, so it's possible that it does contain cobra venom and isn't really a homeopathic preparation.
I looked for more detailed information on it's composition with Google and didn't find anything, but I did find this.
Well, that was fun. I guess you can always find one nay-sayer who is an idiot. If the brain made opioids just on the basis of anticipation of pain relief, then placebos would be a staple in our society and we all would sit around nodding out. We do make endorphins, but only under specific conditions and usually those already are floating around in your system by the time you take something else.
As someone who has dealt with chronic pain (deteriorating bones) since childhood, I am a skeptic. I also have a high pain tolerance - hence I could break a chip of bone out of my leg and be convinced by my mom's harsh words to shut up and deal with it, it's not really broken. However, I have had some pains for which nothing worked until something was invented - like high strength NSAIDs. Those work better than narcotics for me. And cannabis works better than NSAIDs.
I have been using homeopathic remedies for quite a long time and I agree, in theory, with your argument that not a single molecule is left - but I also know that I live in a world where you can change a particle by looking at it.
If I were to chalk it up to placebo, then all homeopathy should work the same since I believe in it. However, there are some thing that definitely do not work for me.
I have also experimented on others, giving it to them and not telling what it would do - same results.
Arnica worked for me and others
Carbovegetalis worked for me and others - awesome good effects
I used cell salts when I caught cold but I haven't used them in a long time - no access - the results were equivocal anyway.
The stuff for muscle cramps appears not to have worked.
The stuff that was supposed to work for emotional upset (after I left my ex) most decidedly did not work - I felt worse when I was taking it.
The stuff for bug bites might have worked - or I might have got distracted and didn't feel them anymore.
The jury is still out on the snake venom.
