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This article explores the history, mechanisms, and ethical implications of placebo treatments. It begins with the origin of the word “placebo” and its historical association with deception, before demonstrating that placebos can produce real effects even when administered transparently—so-called open-label placebos. The first clinical uses of placebos date back to the eighteenth century, notably with Perkins’ metallic tractors. Modern research has since confirmed the efficacy of placebos, especially for pain relief, and has identified biological mechanisms such as endorphin release. The article also examines the ongoing ethical debate surrounding placebo-controlled trials, especially when effective treatments already exist. In the concluding section, it calls for a redefinition of the role of placebos in medicine—viewing them less as a methodological tool in clinical trials and more as an integrated, ethical, and potentially powerful therapeutic lever in everyday medical practice.