Laughter IS the Best Medicine

"Laugh and the world laughs with you." Ella Wheeler Wilcox The Therapeutic Value of Laughter.Laughter is a fascinating phenomena that brings relaxation, a state of Well-Bring, and relief from pain, while exercising our entire body. As early at the 14th century, the medical community was beginning to recognize the healing power of humor. Both scientists and lay persons have done research and performed experiments concerning the effects of laughter on our physical, emotional and mental health. These studies have proven that when we laugh, there is an actual chemical change in our bodies that helps to ease pain and reduce stress. Humor Therapy. Norman Cousins is often described as the man who laughed his way to health. Cousins discovered the healing qualities of humor in the 1960's when he was diagnosed with a collagen illness and his doctors could do nothing more than prescribe pain medication. When his own research revealed that negative thoughts and attitudes can result in illness, he reasoned that a positive attitude, love, faith, hope and laughter can contribute to improved health. With this conclusion, he checked out of the hospital and into a hotel where he watched humorous movies and TV shows, including the Marx Brothers and Candid Camera. Amazingly, within days, he was off of all pain killers and sleeping pills. He discovered that ten minutes of boisterous laughter gave him at least two hours of pain-free sleep. Cousins continued his routine of humor therapy until he recovered, proving that laughter is indeed the best medicine and pointing the way to mind-body medicine. Benefits of a Good Belly Laugh. Laughter has both short term and long term benefits for body, mind and spirit. It enhances respiration and circulation, lowers blood pressure, and boosts the immune system. It increases productivity, reduces stress and enhances sleep. Laughter reduces pain by producing endorphins that are more potent than equivalent amounts of morphine. A hearty bout of laughter induces a state of Well-Being and is a powerful coping mechanism. We simply cannot have a good belly laugh and remain highly tense at the same time. So if laughter is so good, why don't we do more of it? Why don't we add laughing rooms to health clubs? Well, somebody already thought of that. In 1995, the first of the Laughing Clubs International were started in Bombay, India. Some of these laughing clubs incorporate jogging with their laughing. Members of these laughing clubs report feeling better and losing weight too. Whether or not it's the laughter, the physical exercise, or just being with other people, we all know that when we laugh we simply feel better. Yes, laughing and having fun have positive therapeutic value. If you've ever said, "Some day I'll laugh about this," why wait? Go ahead and employ the tranquilizing, energizing medicine of laughter for health, happiness and overall Well-Being today.