By Jessica Hamzelou

Westend61 GmbH / Alamy

The proteins in your blood could reveal whether or not you will experience the placebo effect. People who show a placebo response appear to have certain blood proteins – some of which are linked to inflammation, which could explain the healing powers of the placebo effect.

A sugar pill or sham treatment can often make people feel better, but the reasons why have long been a mystery. Research over the past 20 years has focused on how specific brain regions might play a role …