| Abstract | Despite their apparently inert properties, placebos have in reality been used by the medical professions for many centuries. Apart from inherent psychological actions, they seem to be capable of inducing physiological or biochemical changes. Clinical responses occur in up to 50 percent of cases in many medical conditions with psychosomatic components. Although placebos are well-known for their beneficial effects, they are not without, albeit transient, side effects. In good hands, they might prove to be valuable tools in the presence of a trusting doctor-patient relationship. |
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