By Jess Raffaele – Naturopathy Student, Torrens University Australia, Brisbane

*Winner of the 2025 Integria Practitioner Student Blog Competition

In 1957, a man named Mr. Wright lay dying of advanced lymphosarcoma. He was given an experimental drug called Krebiozen and, against all odds, his tumours reportedly melted away within days. But here’s the twist: the drug didn’t work, not just for him, but for anyone - it was proven ineffective. His belief in it, however, appeared to trigger a remarkable remission. When media reports later exposed Krebiozen as ineffective, Mr. Wright’s cancer returned. A second remission occurred after he received a placebo injection described as a “new, purified version of Krebiozen.” But when his hope collapsed after finding out he was given a placebo, so did his health. He died shortly after.

This true case, published by Dr Bruno Klopfer in 1957, remains one of the most extraordinary demonstrations of the placebo effect in medical literature.^1,2 And it forces us to ask: Can the body really heal when it believes it can?

The placebo effect is more than just a psychological trick. It is a measurable process where expectations, trust, and context trigger real physiological responses.^3,4 Placebo interventions can stimulate the release of natural painkillers, influence mood pathways in the brain, and even change how we experience symptoms.^2,5

Even more fascinating are open-label placebos, where patients know they are taking an inert substance but still experience improvements. This has been shown in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, and depression. The act of receiving care, being listened to, and feeling supported seemingly activates the body’s internal regulatory systems.^6-8

As a naturopathy student and in my work at a health food store, I see this in practice often. Some clients and customers begin to feel better even before herbs or nutrients could have plausibly taken effect. It might not be the Withania working overnight. Sometimes, it is the feeling of finally being seen and heard, offered hope, and given an environment to heal.

The therapeutic relationship, the ritual of care, and the meaning a person assigns to their healing journey all signal to the nervous system that it is safe to relax and repair.⁷ This is not just placebo, it is the body remembering how to heal.

Understanding the placebo effect as a tool rather than a trick allows us to honour the body’s intelligence. It reminds us that presence, compassion, and trust are not soft skills in practice, rather they are clinical tools with real impact.

Herbal medicine is powerful. Nutritional support does matter. Lifestyle change is essential. But sometimes, the most profound healing begins with belief. The feeling of being supported. A spark of hope. And the reminder that the body is not broken. It just needs to be reminded how to begin.

References

1. Klopfer B. Psychological Variables In Human Cancer. J Proj Tech. 1957 Dec;21(4):331-40. DOI:10.1080/08853126.1957.10380794
2. Niemi, M.-B. Placebo Effect: A Cure in the Mind [Internet]. New York: Scientific American (Springer Nature); 2009. Available from: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/placebo-effect-a-cure-in-the-mind/
3. Ballou S, Beath A, Kaptchuk TJ, Hirsch W, Sommers T, Nee J, et al. Factors Associated With Response to Placebo in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Constipation. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2018 Nov;16(11):1738-1744.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2018.04.009
4. Hall, NRS, Kvarnes R. Behavioral Intervention and Disease. In: Carlson JG, Seifert AR, editors. International Perspectives on Self-Regulation and Health. The Springer Series in Behavioral Psychophysiology and Medicine [Internet]. Boston, MA: Springer;1991. pp 183-95. Available from https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2596-1_10
5. Zhang W. The powerful placebo effect in osteoarthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2019 Jan 1;37(Suppl 120):118-23.
6. Klinger R, Stuhlreyer J, Schwartz M, Schmitz J, Colloca L. Clinical use of placebo effects in patients with pain disorders. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2018 Jan 1;139:107-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2018.07.015
7. Stub T, Foss N, Liodden I. "Placebo effect is probably what we refer to as patient healing power": A qualitative pilot study examining how Norwegian complementary therapists reflect on their practice. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Dec;17(1):262. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1770-8
8. von Wernsdorff M, Loef M, Tuschen-Caffier B, Schmidt S. Effects of open-label placebos in clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 16;11(1):3855. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83148-6