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.
View More Free Articles
Doctor-Approved Method to Ditch Blood Pressure Meds
In a world where drug solutions dominate healthcare, it’s refreshing to discover that best remedies sometimes don’t involve a single pill. A groundbreaking study shows simple relaxation techniques could be your secret weapon against one of America’s deadliest health conditions. Best of all? It’s free, easy to start right away—and your results are bound to...
Trouble Hearing? Your Heart Could Be at Risk
With research exploding and data pouring in, scientists are uncovering some weird (and surprisingly helpful) health connections. Today’s odd couple? Hearing loss and heart failure. Turns out your ears and your ticker are more connected than you ever imagined. A major study published in the journal Heart looked at over 164,000 people for nearly a...
Stay Up Late? It Could Destroy Your Mental Health
If you dread mornings but come alive at night, there’s concerning new research you need to know about. A recent study found that “night owls” are at higher risk for depression. But before you rush to set your alarm to get up with the sun tomorrow, there’s more to the story… Chronotypes are essentially your...
Go from Flabby to Fit with this Common Vitamin
If you’re like many of us, you woke up one day, looked in the mirror, and realized you’re no spring chicken anymore. Even worse—when you weren’t paying attention—it seems you somehow misplaced the muscles of your youth and have gone from fit to flabby. Aging has a way of humbling us like that. But scientists...
Seasonal Allergy “Off Switch” Discovered in the GUT
“Doc, why am I suddenly suffering from seasonal allergies when I’ve never had them before?” It’s a question I get all the time—and my answer might surprise you. Stop looking up at the trees—and start looking down at your gut… Your sneezing fits, itchy eyes, and runny nose might have more to do with what’s...
“Canary in the Coal Mine” Test Sniffs Out Brain Issues Early
One of the most common questions I get is how to tell if you’re starting to experience cognitive decline. I get it—losing your memory is scary, especially when it sneaks up on you. But here’s some exciting news that might put your mind at ease. A fascinating new study suggests that your nose might be...
BEAT Stubborn Leg Swelling Without Dangerous Diuretics
“I need help with edema.” —Swollen Hi Swollen, When patients complain of edema—fluid retention that causes feet, ankles, and legs to swell—I explain that, while conventional medicine immediately prescribes diuretic drugs, nature offers us effective solutions we can try first. I’ll share those in just a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at...
Mental Health Linked to 30% FASTER Aging [6-Step FIX]
Your mind and body are more connected than you might realize—and a groundbreaking new study proves just how profound that connection really is. In fact, it’s this mind-body link that helps explain why battling depression can put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve...
The Air You Breathe Is Silently Stealing Your Memory
You already know that air pollution damages your lungs. Chances are you’ve heard it can also harm your heart. And I bet you won’t be surprised when I tell you it claims millions of lives annually. But now, alarming new research suggests polluted air might also damage your brain. This study found that long-term exposure...
Get Intermittent Fasting Benefits Without Going Hungry
Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, is effective. There’s plenty of evidence for that. It’s not just weight loss, either. Intermittent fasting has significant benefits for metabolic health. However, many people find fasting difficult to stick to—and others can’t do it at all due to medical issues—so they miss out on...