Woo-Woo

I am interested in the books and writings of David R. Hamilton.  His book called "Why Woo-Woo Works" is about his working as a pharmaceutical chemist but becoming interested in aspects of modern life that did not seem to stand up to modern methods of scrutiny.  His interests can be said to relate to the subject of placebos and nocebos, instances where positive or negative words and beliefs are held by humans who are, or seem, able to affect their own or others' lives with ideas that aren't supported by modern methods of testing, experimentation and evidence collecting.  

The novel by recently deceased author Tom Robbins called "Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates" features an explorer who gets cursed by a tribal medicine man.  The explorer is told that he will die if his feet touch the ground.  The man remains in a wheelchair from then on.