Hayfever

Well yes and people say that generic ibuprofen does not work compared to the most expensive tablets on the market when they are exactly the same.

It should not be surprising that brand image brings with it a placebo effect, that is the very point of branding a product.

So what are we trying to prove or see in the placebo effect? That our NHS medecine works and the rest is bullshit? Or does it demonstrate that the mind is a powerful tool?

The mind certainly is a powerful tool. The body can also do fairly good job at self-repair, pain mitigation and so on without intervention.

Telling people that waving leaves over their head, or sticking burning sticks in their ears or drinking water will cure them of their ailments - often helps them, but of course only with the kinds of issues that we know are subject to placebo - you cannot of course cure tangible illnesses with magic, only the types of issues that have a history of self mitigation.