The world is littered in anecdotal reports of cures.

I've read translations of Chinese texts on acupuncture. I read them when I knew nothing about the procedure. They seemed to me to be reiterations of ancient lore based on poor understanding of how the human body actually functions. I will concede that there are those who insist it works.

I find the deliberate false use of the term placebo unfair at the least. A placebo is not a cure, it is simply something given a patient to humour them. Sometimes -- not often at all -- just sometimes, temporary relief of symptoms occurs.

My sincere best wishes to your mum.