I think that's incorrect. A placebo is something that is known NOT to have any (physical) effect, so that whatever effect it does have is psychological. At least that is what my dictionary says. There must be also a name for something that does have a physical effect but we don't know why, but I don't know what it is. Anyhow, if the honey is helping, go for it! Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago [log in to unmask]