A team of GPs from Manchester has launched The Placebo Clinic, the first of its kind in the world, to make use of the so-called honest placebo effect.

The placebo effect is one of the most studied in medicine, and can produce remarkable results. Even more fascinating is the finding by a research team at Harvard Medical School that placebos work even when patients know they are taking a placebo.

Doctors with time to care

The team at The Placebo Clinic offer 30-minute video consultations as standard, which gives them the time they need to build strong therapeutic relationships with their patients, as well as being much more convenient than visiting a GP’s surgery in person.

Real treatment without side-effects

What makes the clinic truly different from other telemedicine services is that the doctors prescribe only placebo treatments. This means there is absolutely no risk of side-effects.

Help for patients with long-term conditions

The clinic’s doctors have a particular interest in treating long-term conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, migraine, chronic fatigue, and insomnia. They can also recommend treatments for use alongside conventional medications for almost any illness.