The healing power of laughter

Almost anytime is the right time to lighten up and allow ourselves to laugh. In fact, once we’re aware of the benefits laughter can bring to our relationships, as well as our health, we may want to make its deliberate inducement a daily habit.

Victor Borge, the comic classical pianist, once said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”  (See finestquotes.com.)  Laughter is the universal language, transcending all barriers.  It’s known to be an instinctual survival tool, which reduces interpersonal stress, even more than an intellectual response to a joke. (See nytimes.com.)

But laughter does more than help us bond. It’s been shown to have a positive effect on physical and mental health. It’s pointed out on personal-development.com that laughter is a cardiac workout, causing a reduction in blood pressure and blood sugar, and brings six times more oxygen to the brain. Further, “it’s affordable”…”it energizes”…[and] … “it’s undeniably enjoyable.” (Also see webmd.com.)

On the other hand, it’s been shown that “anger, depression, and pessimism impair the immune response, increase surgical recovery and wound-healing times, and can even contribute to higher death rates.” (See archives.cnn.com.)

Laughter stimulates the release of endorphins: “As the level of endorphins in the brain increases, the perception of pain decreases.” (See myhyena.com.) Endorphins have actually been known to produce euphoria. (See yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com.) Other experts agree that laughter pumps endorphins—our natural painkillers—into the bloodstream. (For more, see holistic-online.com.)

Myhyena.com lists these health advantages of humor and laughter:

• Pain Reduction
• Stress Reduction
• Anti-Depressant
• Enhances Your Immunity
• Cardiovascular Workout

Laughtergood.com, a division of Dearshrink.com, hosted by Ron Sterling, M.D., displays a comprehensive list of resources on the topic of “The Healing Power of Humor,” and features links to relevant cartoons, including the J.S. Duffy Go Fish series from The New Yorker, which are laugh-out-loud amusing.

Therese J. Borchard, author of the emotional health blog on Beliefnet.com, quotes Charlie Chaplin on pcychcentral.com, who said, “To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it.”

Beyond Blue is a national depression initiative, which supports National Mens’ Health Week this week, June 15-21, the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. (For more, see beyondblue.org.au and menshealthmonth.org.)

The cancerblog.com points out “…there are numerous studies that show laughter initiates a powerful biological process of feel-good healing chemicals that support and strengthen the immune system.” Cancercenter.com discusses laughter therapy and says. “A growing body of research supports the theory that laughter may have therapeutic value.” A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She told me she was planning to “rent plenty of comedies to watch between chemo treatments.” Especially after researching this article, I think she’s made a wise decision. Harold H. Benjamin, Ph.D., founder of the Wellness Community, has said, “ …laughter is a sure way of alleviating fear.” (See journals.lww.com.) In another famous quote, he said, “Laughter in and of itself cannot cure cancer nor prevent cancer, but laughter is a part of the full range of positive emotions including hope, love, faith, strong will to live, and determination and purpose…a significant and indispensable aspect of the total fight for recovery.” (See laughsupportsystem.com, ezinearticles.com, and laughterremedy.com.)

Healingcancernaturally.com quotes Groucho Marx, who said, “A clown is like aspirin, only he works twice as fast.”