When Belief Becomes Medicine: How Emotions Heal or Harm Your Body

Our emotions have a powerful effect on our physiology, leading to wellness or even death

Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

Join Sina McCullough, Ph.D. in nutrition, on her quest to uncover truths about food and health. A scientist by training and journalist by nature, Sina offers facts and insights about how to live healthy, happy, and free.

Emotions affect our biology—our cheeks turn red when we’re embarrassed, palms sweat when we’re nervous, and hearts race in moments of intense emotion. But can your feelings actually kill you?

I didn’t fully grasp how emotions can dictate our physical health until I witnessed my mother heal from a dozen chronic diseases, only to die a few months later.

From Near Death to Miraculous Recovery 

For decades, my mother carried the heavy burden of chronic illness. What began as kidney disease in her early twenties morphed into a daunting array of conditions: heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis, skin cancer, pancreatitis, seizures, and colon polyps.

At one point, 15 prescription medications dictated her daily life, and hospital visits were routine. Our family lived under a constant cloud of anxiety, always bracing for the next crisis.

Then, tragedy struck—my stepfather, her longtime companion, passed away. Overwhelmed by grief, my mother moved in with me. By that time, her transplanted kidney had already been declared a lost cause, and her doctors had written off any hope of recovery. I couldn’t let that be the final chapter.

Determined to rewrite her story, I introduced a holistic approach to her care. I overhauled her diet, addressed nutrient deficiencies, incorporated gentle movement, and supported her through her grief.

Within seven months, all the conditions that had plagued her for decades reversed, except high blood pressure, and she was down to just three medications. Though she still took two blood pressure medications, the dosage was significantly reduced.

Even though she was in her early 70s, she was physically the healthiest she had been in 50 years. Her doctors were astonished—every test came back normal. There were no signs of disease or inflammation in her body.

Yet, a few months later, she died.

When Heartbreak Becomes Literal

On the anniversary of her husband’s death, my mother was struck by searing chest pain that sent her to the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed her with stress-induced cardiomyopathy—more commonly called a broken heart.

Even though she was free from nearly all medications, her blood pressure remained high—a silent testament to grief driving her biology.

After she returned home from the hospital, I worked even harder to support her emotional well-being—hiring a grief counselor, an energy healer, and even finding her a friend. But, in the end, her heart succumbed to the overwhelming sorrow she could not escape.

Lessons From a Broken Heart

My mother’s story is both a beacon of hope and a cautionary tale.

In her final days, she confessed that she longed for death—to be reunited with her husband in heaven. Yet, even as her spirit yearned to depart, her body demonstrated a remarkable capacity to heal when given the right support.

Her story teaches us that it’s not enough to mend the body—we must also nurture our hearts and minds–embracing the entirety of our human experience.

The Science of Belief: Placebo and Nocebo Effects

Your beliefs alter your emotional landscape and, in doing so, change your biology.

Imagine recovering from an illness after taking a sugar pill. It isn’t magic—it’s the power of belief—known as the placebo effect. When we trust that a treatment will work, our bodies can activate innate healing processes. All you have to do is believe.

A Stanford study demonstrated in 2018 that our beliefs literally shape our biology—in real-time. After participants had eaten a meal, their blood was measured for leptin, a hormone that signals fullness. One week later, researchers told some of the participants they had a gene that protects them from becoming obese–even if they didn’t. The participants were then given the same meal and their leptin measured again. The people who thought they had the protective gene produced two and a half times more of the fullness hormone—even though some of them didn’t have it.

Simply believing they were genetically protected triggered a measurable physiological change. The participants’ beliefs overrode their genes.

On the flip side, negative beliefs can be just as powerful—this is known as the nocebo effect. The Framingham Heart Study—one of the most influential studies on heart disease—reported that among women with similar risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes, those who believed they were prone to heart disease were nearly four times more likely to die from it than those who did not harbor that belief.

When our minds fixate on illness, we may unwittingly invite it.

Are You Listening to Your Heart’s Wisdom? 

My mother’s story reminds us that in the delicate balance of life, the heart’s whispers matter as much as diet, exercise, and any supplement or medication. Sometimes, the most potent drug comes from within—how we process grief and frame our beliefs about our own health.

As you navigate your path—whether you’re fighting a chronic illness, coping with loss, or striving for a more vibrant life—remember that your thoughts and emotions are powerful allies.

Every day, we have the opportunity to harness this inner power. A kind word to yourself, a brief pause to acknowledge your emotions or even a deliberate shift in perspective can spark a cascade of healing throughout your body.

Shortly before she passed, my mother shared a piece of advice that continues to echo in my heart. At a time when I was overwhelmed by the challenges of balancing family and work, she looked me in the eyes and said, “Don’t spend your life worrying because, in the end, it doesn’t matter. Enjoy your kids, enjoy your husband, that’s what truly matters. Give them the gift of love every day, because, in the end, all that matters is if you felt loved.”

Her words cut through the noise of daily stress and remind us that the deepest healing comes from nurturing our emotional lives.

In our fast-paced world, where stress and endless productivity often rule, her simple truth urges us to honor the heart—the very essence of who we are. Let her words inspire you to invite more love and laughter into your daily life. You may find, like I did, that the deepest healing resides within your own heart.

Join the Conversation

This week’s community question:

How do you nurture your emotional well-being in the face of life’s challenges? Have you ever experienced a moment when a change in your mindset led to a noticeable change in your physical health? Please share your stories and thoughts with our community in the comment section!

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.