We know that two sugar pills are a more effective treatment than one sugar pill, for example, and we know that saltwater injections are a more effective treatment for pain than sugar pills, not because saltwater injections have any biological action on the body, but because an injection feels like a more dramatic intervention. We know that the color of pills, their packaging, how much you pay for them, and even the beliefs of the people handing the pills over are all important factors. We know that placebo operations can be effective for knee pain and even for chest pain. The placebo effect
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