I owe my explanation of the placebo theory to its author, Nicholas Humphrey. To me, his theory seems to be among the most significant theories in the field of psychology. Indeed, given its potential value to human health, it is inexplicable to me that more use has not been made of it, or at the very least that it has not been more widely investigated. It could potentially change the whole practice of medicine, but I suspect that the reason people seem less than eager to pursue the implications of Humphrey’s ideas is because it contains a whiff of alchemy.
