I really don't understand why rational people misunderstand the significance of the placebo effect. It is a point of dismissal, when in fact it is the cheapest and most widely effective cure-all ever known.

Say the placebo effect accounts for 10% of all cures. Therefore any rational chronically sick person should go and try at least 10 alternative therapies. Swim with dolphins, stick a magic crystal up your *$&% whatever -if you are on a 10 to 1 shot to be cured, go for it.