Laughing Medicine

by Suzanne B. Stryker November 25, 2018

Laughing is good for your physical and mental health. When you laugh, it tells your body you are happy and your nervous system smiles in cooperation.

Even if something isn't really funny, laughing is beneficial. It's good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.

Experiment

Try an experiment for the next week: smile and laugh a lot every day. You don't need a reason to laugh, just do it. You will probably feel lighter and more joyful. There is an added benefit when you wear a smile, you will look more attractive and people will be drawn to you. It's free and there are no side effects!

What the Mayo Clinic Says about Laughing

Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke! When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered. Here's why. Whether you're guffawing at a sitcom on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that's no joke.

Stress Relief from Laughter

A good sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data is mounting about the positive things laughter can do.

Short-term Benefits

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term Effects

Laughter isn't just a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long term. Laughter may:

Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier.

Tips and Tools

Do you think you have a sense of humor that is underdeveloped or even nonexistent? No problem. Humor can be learned. In fact, developing or refining your sense of humor may be easier than you think.

Put humor on your horizon. Find a few simple items, such as photos, greeting cards or comic strips, that make you chuckle. Then hang them up at home or in your office. Keep funny movies, books or comedy albums on hand for when you need an added humor boost. Look online at joke websites. Go to a comedy club.
Laugh and the world laughs with you. Find a way to laugh about your own situations and watch your stress begin to fade away. Even if it feels forced at first, practice laughing. It does your body good.
Consider trying laughter yoga. In laughter yoga, people practice laughter as a group. Laughter is forced at first, but it can soon turn into spontaneous laughter.
Share a laugh. Make it a habit to spend time with friends who make you laugh. And then return the favor by sharing funny stories or jokes with those around you.
Knock, knock. Browse through your local bookstore or library's selection of joke books and get a few rib ticklers in your repertoire that you can share with friends.
Know what isn't funny. Don't laugh at the expense of others. Some forms of humor aren't appropriate. Use your best judgment to discern a good joke from a bad, or hurtful one.

Laughter Is the Best Medicine

Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your chuckle, take stock of how you're feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That's the natural wonder of laughing at work.

Enjoy some of the funny jokes people have submitted below. Feel free to share jokes in the "Leave a comment" section near the bottom of this page. Please do not submit anything that is offensive, profane or hurtful.

Inspiration

"Thank you for the Recurring Distance Healings. I feel that I am back on track again. I am doing a better job of accepting people as they are and being compassionate rather than getting upset at them. I also feel like I am more aware of habits that are not serving me and am letting them go for other more balanced healthy ways of being."
Robert Colangeli

"It was so good! Thanks for taking care of us and so delicately."
Frank Jacobs

"Thanks. It was a great Distance Healing. I was blown away by the energy. Wow!"
Janet Evertson

"Increased clarity helped me to identify and correct the physical basis of a longstanding sleep problem. I have been waking up early feeling properly rested after years of needing to sleep really late and not being able to do anything to change it. Clear insights led me to make another major change with far-reaching beneficial repercussions."
Michael Koren