"Until there is a rational, scientific, empirically tested explanation of the placebo effect, you really need to admit that there are things going on in this reality that are outside the realm of science"
There is explanation of the placebo effect. Your brain is not just the bit in your head, every nerve in your body is composed of the same stuff and you have brain trendrils spread everywhere throughout the body all connected to the brain. Every cell in your body is controlled and regulated via chemical and electromagnetic signalling from your brain. Whether it is signalling the cells of a tumor not to reproduce and therefore die, correcting a pain sensory problem, or other ailment your brain is perfectly capable of healing most anything going wrong in the body. The placebo effect is no more or less than using a mirror to convince a phantom lost fist to unclench by creating the visual illusion of the hand back in place and opening and closing it. Nothing outside the realm of science is required. Fully utilizing the placebo effect IS beyond the current grasp of medical science though. Most medical science works by trying to avoid the placebo effect when it is probably the most powerful medical tool we have.