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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.
Kate Corbin is a Law of Attraction Life Coach and the creator of
Gold Star Coaching. Both her coaching practice and her books - Dining
at the Cosmic Café: How to Be and Do and Have Whatever You
Desire as well as Think and Grow Thin with the Law of Attraction
- http://www.goldstarcoaching.com/ebook.html
are designed to empower you to truly live the life of your dreams.
To contact Coach Kate, check out her books, and subscribe to her
free ezine, Magical Musings, visit http://www.goldstarcoaching.com/
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