Laughter is therapeutic because it brings joy into our hearts and souls. It not only has mentally therapeutic components, it can be physically therapeutic as well. Humans were given the gift of laughter as a natural and contagious medicine.
Healing Power of Laughter
Laughter therapy is the use of humor to achieve optimum health. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America claims laughter therapy uses the natural process of laughter to relieve emotional and physical stress. Humor has been used in medicine for a long time. Surgeons have been using humor to distract their patients from painful procedures for centuries.
Researchers have completed studies that show that periods of laughter help reduce pain, decrease levels of stress, and boost the immune system. Additionally, it improves the quality of life of medical patients. These days, people are turning more and more to laughter therapy to heal their woes.
Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
A huge amount of our health and happiness is directly related to our mental wellbeing. 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Although this figure isn’t rising, everyday worries like money and jobs mean that some people are finding it harder to cope. There are activities that increase mental wellbeing, such as helping others, meditating and exercise, however laughter was also found to play a vital part in reducing the physical symptoms of stress.
For people who are physically ill, it may seem difficult to find humor; yet, laughter has the ability to be extremely helpful. Laughter has the ability to give you a positive outlook on the world. It is a natural distraction from any harm. A good laugh can also keep your spirits high for several hours.
New Meditation
Time magazine calls laughter therapy the new meditation, as it boosts mental health and increases positive brain waves. The more one laughs, the more these perks are noticed, which has a lasting healthy effect.
Research has also shown that laughter acts as an anti-depressant and can be an anti-inflammatory and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Laughter Therapy Sessions
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America actually offer laughter therapy sessions, known as humor groups, to assist cancer patients in enjoying laughing as an additional tool on their road to healing. Humor groups are led by a mentor and take the patients through laugh-related exercises to boost their health. This is a popular and successful treatment that is growing rapidly throughout the US.
All of these health benefits together show that laughter really is the best medicine. It will help to optimize mental and physical health and help people lead long and healthy lives. Laughter is certainly a serious option that people use to benefit their health and add to their current treatments if they are sick.