/oss/taxonomy/term/2821/all en /oss/article/quackery-trotter-public-science-symposium/get-ready-trottier-public-science-symposium <p>When John Milton wrote in Paradise Lost that the mind can make a heaven of hell and a hell of heaven, without realizing it, he was talking about the “placebo” and the “nocebo” effect. “Placebo” comes from the Latin “I will please” and refers to a situation whereby a beneficial effect on the body comes about as a result of mental activity. The classic example is relief of pain from a sugar pill when the patient believes that a real medication has been administered.</p> Mon, 16 Oct 2017 15:44:44 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 5358 at /oss