Harness the Healing Power of...Laughter?
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted July 30, 2023
It turns out it’s not just a saying, after all.
Laughter really IS the best medicine.
In a world that sometimes seems full of seriousness and worry, humor is a surprisingly potent and entirely free “medicine” capable of transforming our lives.
We’ve all been there. Laughing uncontrollably at some silly situation and setting off a chain reaction of laughter, joy, and connection with the folks around you.
Laughter literally has the power to heal. In fact, new research confirms it.
Laughing is FAR more than simply a short break from the seriousness of life.
It has social value, of course. Allowing folks to connect, improving relationships, and fostering a sense of community.
But laughing also swaps out the stress hormone cortisol in our bloodstream with dopamine, oxytocin, and morphine-like endorphins.
These chemicals not only trigger “positive” feelings, they also ease pain, boost immune function, and more.
And now a group of researchers has put laughter under the microscope once again.
The new review published in the journal Brain and Behavior CONFIRMED that laughter eases anxiety and depression.
The researchers concluded that humor significantly influences perception, attitude, judgment, and mood. And as a result, laughter can directly (or indirectly) affect our physical and mental well-being.
The researchers focused on specific therapies such as clown therapy (often used in hospitals to ease pain and anxiety) and laughter yoga (a combination of breathing exercises, meditation, and laughter).
But you don’t need to be in the hospital to use humor to increase healing laughter in your own life. In fact, I have a few ideas to help get you started on exercising your funny bone more often:
- Let’s start with the obvious. Watch a funny movie or TV show or read a funny book.
- Spend more time with the people you care about. Laughter is contagious, and hanging out with friends and family often leads to shared laughter.
- Check out comedy clubs or plays in your area for a night of laughter-filled fun.
- Follow social media accounts or visit websites that post funny memes, videos, or jokes.
- Laughter works best with an audience, so start collecting jokes and funny stories you can share with friends and coworkers when the time is right.
- Playing party games, board games, or video games with friends encourages silliness and laughter.
- A pet’s antics are a surefire way to trigger laughter. Play with yours more.
- Spend more time with kids who laugh freely and make us laugh right along with them.
- Look for the humor in tense situations or when something isn’t going your way. There’s often a funny side to even the most troubling circumstances. Laugh at yourself and accept your flaws.
Like most things, learning to let go and truly laugh takes practice. But when you get it right, a genuine belly laugh can literally improve your physical and mental health.
P.S. An Ohio State University focused on 43 couples to determine how marital interactions health. To the researcher’s surprise, not getting enough of this ONE thing caused folks to lose humor, understanding, and compassion. CLICK HERE for the whole story.
Source:
“The impact of humor therapy on people suffering from depression or anxiety: An integrative literature review,” Brain and Behavior, Early View e3108, First published: 21 June 2023, doi. org/10.1002/brb3.3108
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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