It is not a joke that humor can ease-pain and help healing . More and more doctors , nurses , and health care workers believe in the healing power of humor . Medical research has shown that laughter can improve physical and mental health as well as cure various diseases . Don't worry if you think you are not into humor because both spontaneous and stimulated laughter have equal healing powers . Read on to find out more abut what the therapeutic benefits of humor are and how it can heal illness .
A lot of medical studies have shown the healing power of humor . Lee Berk , M.D.'s years of study has proven that laughter has a significant role in fighting viruses , bacteria , cancer , and heart diseases . In his book , Health , Healing and the Amuse System , Dr.Paul E.Mc.Ghee wrote that laughter lowers blood pressure and stress hormones in the blood . " It also reduces pain and strengthens the immune system . The natural killer cells in the body increase in number and become active . They seek and destroy tumor cells " added Mc.Ghee . Lisa T.Wessan , a certified social worker , stated that laughter increases oxygen supply to the brain and improves memory and cognition . In addition , it relaxes muscles , releases toxins and stress , and helps people to cope . Laughter can also provide cardiovascular benefits . William Fry Jr,M.D.,a psychiatrist from Stanford University , found that 15 minutes of laughter equals 10 minutes on a rowing machines and 15 minutes on a stationary bike in reaching the same heart pulse rate . Laughter is a good as exercises .
Considering the benefits of laughter to our health , we need to learn to laugh at ourselves or at least to see humor in difficult situations . Unfortunately , our daily life does not always give us enough reasons to laugh . Continous stress also seems to make some people forget how to laugh . Some others just do not have a sense of humor .
Most of us do not know that healing power of humor originates not only from spontaneous but also from stimulated laughter . Both kinds of laughter are always effective . This is exactly the reason why some people join laughter or comedy clubs . There are about 1,300 of them all over the world . These are clubs aim at helping people learn how to stimulate laughter anytime they need to . " Laughing together without reason for a healthy life " is a concept promoted by the followers of laughter therapy . A typical laughter session does not even involve jokes . It requires people simply to laugh , stretch their body , and do various breathing exercises . In this session the participants do not have to laugh their heads off , a simple giggle or chuckle will do . Even mere anticipation of laughing could help . In one of his researches , Berk tested 16 healthy men . Only half of the men were told that in three day's time they increase in chemicals that benefit the Immune System . These changes became even more noticeable as it got closer to show time .
So , are you in need of a spirit and health boost without a prescription ? Then laugh more because laughter is as important to your well-being as frequent exercise , good nutrition , and enough rest . And remember what William James , a spiritual psychologist , once said , " We don't laugh because we're happy , but we're happy because we laugh "
Adapted from
Lorilyn Rackl , " But Seriously Folks ... " , Reader's Digest
Rusty Wright , Laugh a Little : It's good for Your Health , http://www.nydailynews.com
and some other articles
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