“The placebo effect is not about tricking the patient—it’s about tapping into the body’s innate capacity to heal.”
– Dr. Ted Kaptchuk, Harvard Medical School
The Man Who Thought His Way Into Remission… and Then Out Again
In 1957, a remarkable case emerged involving a man named Mr. Wright, who was diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal cancer—lymphosarcoma. Tumors the size of oranges filled his chest and neck. Doctors gave him weeks to live.
But Mr. Wright maintained high hope.
He’d heard about a new experimental drug called Krebiozen and asked his physician to administer it. Though the drug was still under trial. Mr. Wright believed it would cure him. His doctor, with no approved treatments left to offer, reluctantly agreed to a single injection.
Within days, the tumors shrank dramatically. Mr. Wright’s energy surged. He returned to daily life, vibrant and symptom-free.
Two months later, headlines announced the drug was a failure. Krebiozen, researchers claimed, was ineffective.
Within days, Mr. Wright’s cancer returned.
In a bold move and what today may be considered unethical, his physician injected him with a saline solution—claiming it was a newer, more purified and potent version of Krebiozen. Again, Wright improved. Again, his tumors disappeared. Again, he returned to health.
But when the American Medical Association published a definitive report stating Krebiozen was entirely worthless, Mr. Wright lost faith.
He died two days later.
What the Placebo Effect Is Really Pointing To
When people hear “placebo,” they often think of deception—sugar pills, sham treatments. But the real story is much deeper.
The last issue of Gratefully Well explored the hidden power of general mindset and beliefs. This issue focuses specifically on the placebo effect—the phenomenon where an inactive treatment triggers a real, therapeutic response, simply through belief.
How is that even possible?
Let’s explore the mechanism of the placebo effect, starting with three powerful studies that reveal how belief alone can alter biology:
Dopamine Release in Parkinson’s Patients 1
In a study by the University of British Columbia, Parkinson’s patients received placebo injections, believing they were active treatments. Their brains released dopamine—despite their disease—and their symptoms improved.
Reduced Fatigue in Cancer Survivors 2
In a 2018 open-label study by the University of Alabama and Harvard Medical School, cancer survivors knowingly took placebo pills for fatigue. Despite knowing they were inert, they experienced a 39% reduction in fatigue.
Chronic Back Pain Relief 3
A 2016 study in Portugal gave patients placebo pills for chronic low back pain. Within weeks, pain decreased by 30%, and daily function improved. The act of taking a pill—paired with expectation—engaged the body’s own healing mechanisms.
The placebo effect activates complex brain networks related to expectation, learning, and context. These pathways influence pain, mood, motivation, and more.
When the brain perceives healing, the body responds.
It’s not trickery—it’s physiology.
Belief, when paired with ritual, triggers biological responses.
How Belief Changes The Body
Expectation and Learning: The brain uses past experience and context to construct a predicted response—often leading to actual relief.
Neurotransmitter Release: Belief can release endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin—directly improving mood, motivation, and pain.
Top-Down Modulation: Belief changes how the brain interprets symptoms from the body.
Immune System Shifts: Feelings of safety and trust can enhance immune function and reduce inflammation.
Placebo doesn’t mean fake. It means your mind is powerful enough to shape your biology.
The Hidden Curriculum of Belief
These studies show something bigger: Belief is the starting point of biology.
If you believe…
• The world is dangerous
• You’re unworthy
• Nothing ever works out
Your physiology adapts. Your nervous system tightens. Inflammatory response increases. Your posture changes. Your life reshapes to match your internal story.
Your beliefs are not passive. They’re instructions.
Be Careful What You Believe
If belief in an inert drug can shrink tumors… what are your beliefs doing to your body right now?
Ask yourself:
• What stress stories do I repeat daily?
• What limits have I internalized as fact?
• What beliefs about my worth or future are silently writing my biology?
This isn’t about pretending. It’s about awareness.
Your mindset is not invisible. It’s instructional. Your brain and body are always listening.
Try This Reflection
Think of a current challenge.
Then ask:
• What do I believe about this situation?
• Where did that belief come from?
• How has it shaped my choices or reactions?
• What would shift if I believed something else?
• Most importantly - What belief do I want my body to live by?
Key Takeaways
The placebo effect is real—it’s mindset, triggering physiology.
Beliefs shape not only healing but daily functioning.
The unconscious stories you tell yourself become scripts for your nervous system.
The invitation isn’t to fake positivity—it’s to choose beliefs consciously.
Next Time in the Series…
We’ll explore your beliefs about stress and how reframing your relationship with stress can regulate your nervous system.
Until then, remember:
Your beliefs aren’t just thoughts. They’re tools. Use them wisely.
P.S. How do you feel about this topic? Please share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear your perspective.
Head over to GratefullyWell.com and join the 7-Day Gratitude Challenge.
I love this article. It is the information human beings need to understand we are far more powerful than we ever imagined - or were ever taught. Please, keep sharing your knowledge, wisdom and insights. They are a light into the darkness of our ignorance.
Great topic. Seems like a perfect episode for Hidden Brain podcast.