--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A placebo is a phony cure that works…" description: "\"A placebo is a phony cure that works. This is very hard for the medical profession to get their teeth around because they hate placebos, but scientific..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/charles-jencks-18110_about_a-placebo-is-a-phony-cure-that-works-thi_1710554.jpg" --- # A placebo is a phony cure that works. This is very hard… ![“A placebo is a phony cure that works. This is very hard for the medical profession to get their teeth around because they hate placebos, but scientifically, placebos work in about 30% of cases that are psychogenic diseases.” quote by Charles Jencks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/charles-jencks-18110_about_a-placebo-is-a-phony-cure-that-works-thi_1710554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/charles-jencks-18110_about_a-placebo-is-a-phony-cure-that-works-thi_1710554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/charles-jencks-18110_about_a-placebo-is-a-phony-cure-that-works-thi_1710554.jpg) > “A placebo is a phony cure that works. This is very hard for the medical profession to get their teeth around because they hate placebos, but scientifically, placebos work in about 30% of cases that are psychogenic diseases.” [Charles Jencks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-jencks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Placebos, despite being inert, can trigger healing in a significant minority of psychogenic illnesses. **In simple terms:** Placebos can cause real effects in some mental‑origin illnesses. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of expectation in treatment. Themes medicine psychology placebo effect Mood thoughtful critical Type practical ethical When to use this quote - patient counseling - clinical trials - psychogenic disorders Key Concepts expectation mind‑body interaction clinical practice Questions to Reflect On - How can clinicians ethically harness placebo effects? - What limits exist for placebo efficacy? A Different Perspective Placebo effectiveness varies and may be ethically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [Medical profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical-profession/) [Placebo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/placebo/) [Placebos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/placebos/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I find placebos uplifting and exhilarating. It means that taking action--no matter what the action is--might help you feel better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-find-placebos-uplifting-and-exhilarating-it-means-that-taking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“For people who are depressed, and especially for those who do not receive enough benefit from medication of for whom the side effects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/for-people-who-are-depressed-and-especially-for-those-who-do-not/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [“When people think about a placebo such as the royal touch, they usually dismiss it as "just psychology." But, there is nothing "just" about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/when-people-think-about-a-placebo-such-as-the-royal-touch-they/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Placebos are like the lollipop of optimism, but we can do much better by dealing directly with the mind... And it works!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/placebos-are-like-the-lollipop-of-optimism-but-we-can-do-much-better/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [It's known that stress gives rise to disease. It's also known that many diseases, especially stress-related diseases, can be cured by placebos - pills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-known-that-stress-gives-rise-to-disease-it-s-also-known-that/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“When conventional medicine fails, when we must confront pain and death, of course we are open to other prospects for hope. And, after all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/when-conventional-medicine-fails-when-we-must-confront-pain-and-death/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Can placebos cause side effects? 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