Nocebo Effect

The nocebo effect is a phenomenon where a person experiences negative symptoms or adverse reactions after believing they are taking a harmful substance, even if it's actually harmless. Unlike the placebo effect, where positive expectations lead to improvements, the nocebo effect arises from negative expectations. For example, if someone is told a sugar pill may cause headaches, they may feel headaches as a result of their belief, not from any chemical action. This highlights the powerful role of the mind in influencing our physical experiences and reactions to treatments.