Healing benefits of laughter have gained much interest since Norman Cousins wrote his bestselling book, Anatomy of an Illness.
In the book he describes how he conquered a degenerative disease through laughter.
Disbelief and derision of such therapy are yielding to acceptance because of the incontrovertible evidence accumulated via recent research in this matter.
Learn the amazing ways in which laughter can help you create total health.
At a Georgia hospital, a "humor-room" has been established with no medical equipment at all.
Discouraged patients are ordered by their doctors to spend time in this room regularly as part of their treatment.
The room has a large library comic videos with the objective of helping patients laugh as much as possible.
In most cases, the results of this therapy have been encouraging and positive; and, in some cases, they have been truly remarkable.
Patients who spend a few hours in this room have been noticed to become revitalized and demonstrate a genuine desire to become healthy and go back home.
Patients in other hospitals around the country are also getting the opportunity to add laughter therapy to their treatments.
Some medical professions have found that funny sessions as part of a group made up telling jokes, funny stories about their lives, reading funny plays together, etc.
are even more effective than individual exposure to humor because of the positive vibrations generated in and by the group.
The lighthearted interchange among the members of these groups has a long lasting effect that engenders an increased desire to return to society with an energetic and enthusiastic outlook.
Besides the mental benefits, studies are showing that these laughter-inducing sessions also generate many benefits in their physiology.
For example, there is a definite reduction in blood-pressure, muscular tension is lowered, and the respiratory system is benefited by an increased intake of oxygen.
The positive power of humor makes people feel good about themselves which in turn induces stress-reduction.
The physiological benefits of humor should not be overlooked.
Laughter is good exercise, and the chemistry involving laughter has recently become the subject of serious scientific research.
Laughter affects the entire body.
It increases respiratory activity, stimulates the cardiovascular system, and activated endorphin-production.
Humans have approximately 80 facial muscles, which we use to express our range of emotions.
During laughter the facial muscles affect the blood-flow to the cranium and change the temperature of the brain; this, in turn, influences creation of endorphins - the body's natural painkillers - in the brain.
The thymus gland, which helps the body to withstand disease, might be stimulated by laughter.
Studies have concluded that the brain secretes 34 substances, some of which alleviate pain, while others combat infections, and still others fortify the immune system.
These substances can be recombined into an almost infinite number of substances.
These are just a small sampling of the recent discoveries about the amazing benefits of laughter as part of a total health program.
And it is so simple to implement: just hang around funny, happy people, and do funny happy things.