Laughter: Medicine and Pain Reliever

Laughter is the best medicine and pain reliever around.  It costs nothing and is very beneficial to stress relieving.

“Laughter does good like medicine.”–Proverbs 17:22

In today’s times we have come to the understanding that stress has a negative impact on both our physical and mental health.  However, what is not as commonly understood is that laughter has many positive health benefits, which can counteract the negative affects of the stress related response and any pain involved.

“Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.”–Charlie Chaplin

“Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”–Mark Twain

Laughter increases the functioning of the immune system, which helps the body fight off illness and disease. Some studies have demonstrated that laughter causes the increased production of ‘catecholamines’ ( sympathomimetic “fight-or-flight” hormones that are released by the adrenal glands in response to stress) and ‘endorphin’s’.

These chemicals, when released by the brain into the blood stream during laughter, increase feelings of happiness and well-being.

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”–E E Cummings

Laughter is also known to decrease the secretion of cortisol, as well as, the sedimentation rate, and therefore is beneficial in stimulating the body’s immune system.

The flow of Oxygen in the blood also increases during laughter. Arteries tend to relax, heart rate and blood temperature are lowered, circulation increases and the skin temperature rises.  Each of these physical responses have a beneficial effect on both the cardiovascular and respiratory health.

Laughter has the potential to help speed healing from emotional pain, and increase overall health and well-being,  when it’s benefits are fully realized as a part of a stress management plan.

While the average human being laughs approximately 8 to 10 times daily, a stress management plan which includes laughter as a part of the daily program would
include rigorous “laughing” as an exercise to be performed several times throughout the day.

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”–Victor Hugo

Full belly laughter, which is an involuntary response of the human brain, can be triggered by watching comedies, listening to comedians, telling jokes or just allowing oneself to participate in fun and silly activities.

As a result of all these findings, you can understand why Laughter is considered both medicine and pain reliever.  Have you laughed today?

If you enjoyed this article, please “Like and Share.”

Angela Valadez

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