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Letter: IBS may also respond to the placebo effect

Published 20 August 2025

From Mark Inwood, Reigate, Surrey, UK

You report that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) could be a nocebo effect for some people. I have for several decades relied on the opposite effect from what I call my “placebo tablets”. They keep me IBS symptom-free despite having only a few Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, along with minerals and vitamins(2 August, p 17).

Issue no. 3557 published 23 August 2025

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