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He warned a pineal cyst should only be removed in extremely rare circumstances, and believes the operations' successful results could be explained by the "placebo effect".

But he wonders how often the treatment might cause a placebo effect.

Despite anecdotal evidence from some of the world’s best athletes, it’s natural to wonder if it’s just a placebo effect or if there’s real science to support this wellness.

The power of a psychological placebo effect, especially as it relates to sports — and on a global stage like the Olympics — cannot be underestimated.

However, these anecdotal accounts can often be influenced by the placebo effect.