‘Bad Faith,’ by Paul A. Offit

In fact, the reason for the continued and enormous popularity of faith healing is that, to some extent at least, it works. New research suggests that placebo response generates measurable endorphin release in the brain: “Believing you are being healed causes the body to undergo physiological changes that promote healing.” Still, diseases like meningitis or leukemia are unlikely to be reversed by a placebo response. - Abraham Verghese

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