Ben Franklin’s Guide to Spotting Pseudoscience

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-12-22/ben-franklin-s-guide-to-spotting-pseudoscience

“In the 20th century, something like mesmerism returned in the form of “therapeutic touch” — a practice that involves no actual touching. Practitioners run their hands through the air, allegedly realigning patients’ energy fields.”

“He discovered something new — what would come to be called the placebo effect. He also discovered the “nocebo” effect — the experience of side effects when people wrongly think they are getting a treatment.”

“The power of suggestion also explains why so many people felt better after bloodletting and other now-discredited mainstream practices of Franklin’s time.”

*Interesting.