For years (decades, actually), I've been a believer in the idea that deliberately and systematically harnessing the placebo effect will be the biggest medical development of the first half of the 21st century.
However, I've become aware of studies and claims that actually the placebo effect itself is an illusion caused by poor statistical understanding and poor study design (sometimes necessitated by the study matter).
At this point I am deeply unsure what to make of things.
Warts are an immune system that hasn't identified an intruder yet. There are plenty of folk remedies that are basically about tricking the brain into telling the body to get on with it. One involves tracing it and burning the paper.
The last wart I had (when I was younger) I got mad (and angrier) at it one day and started trying to cut it out. I'm certain there were bits of it I missed, but it was gone in a week. I decided I had finally had enough and my body got the message.
However, I've become aware of studies and claims that actually the placebo effect itself is an illusion caused by poor statistical understanding and poor study design (sometimes necessitated by the study matter).
At this point I am deeply unsure what to make of things.