Sometimes it doesn't even take sugar pills. There was a study once that showed that stroke patients recover faster and more fully if their hospital room has a window, and further, if outside that window stands a tree. The problem with the skeptic types is that they confuse science and dogma, forgetting that science doesn't mean "let's find out the 'truth' about X, Y and Z," but rather, "Can we measure the effect of such and such on X, Y and Z?" Biochemically speaking, we have no idea wtf hope, love and positivity are, but fuck if they don't help people. Edit: And I hope we never do find out wtf they are, because you know Pfizer and the boys will all try to monetize it even though the real thing is free. But look up studies on oxytocin; people are already trying to tell you that the love you feel is purely biochemical.