The Remarkable Power of the Placebo

Patients who had FAKE surgery for a broken back recovered just as well, a new BBC documentary reveals.

We’ve all heard of placebos. They’re dummy pills. They can’t do anything real. After all, there’s nothing in them.

At least, that’s what we thought.

But in recent years, evidence has built up to suggest that placebos can be highly effective – particularly in treating pain, depression, and even alleviating some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Read more