Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it

The placebo effect is more than just mental – it’s a biological system that can measurably improve a patient’s symptoms. But someone else needs to activate it – creating a risk of manipulation.

By: Phil Starks, Tufts University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 21, 2026

Words: 1,590

Last Updated: 3 months, 1 week ago

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By Phil Starks, Tufts University

The first time the placebo effect really got under my skin was when I read that roughly one-third of people with irritable bowel syndrome improve on placebo treatments alone. Usually this statistic is presented as a fascinating quirk of medicine. My reaction was anger.

Humanity possesses an extremely effective treatment, with essentially zero side effects – and patients need someone else’s permission to use it.

The placebo effect …

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