Laugh For Life: A Priceless Therapy For All

Is a priceless, fun and free medicine available today? Some will probably say ‘No’ a second after this question would be asked. Nowadays, people suffer a lot, not only because of the risk of diseases, but also with the high value of the medicine required to take the pain away. Well, if asked with the same question, a percentage would also answer ‘Yes’, but what might prompt them to say so? Is it recommendable?

It is an extraordinary belief that humor and laughter strengthen one’s immune system and increase energy levels.  Some therapy sites recommend laughter as a priceless medicine, labeling it as something that can trigger healthy physical changes in a human body and relieves stress that damages one’s output in any facet of life. Who else hasn’t heard of the famous line, “Laughter is the best medicine”?

What is with humor and laughter that it is commonly thought to be the best medicine? Humor is very infectious, and yes, everybody would agree on that.  It is even more contagious than the not-so-liked cough, sneeze and sniffle. Humor takes the burden away, increases alertness, attention and ignites hope. Laughter works the same way, too, and indeed, it is a physiological response of humor. When somebody laughs, it is easily shared and is highly contagious, too. Laughter increases the bind between people and heightens happiness as well as intimacy.  The laughter of one person can initiate laughter from others, and that is seen as a positive feedback. To add to that, as what psychologist websites recommend, the innate and inborn part of life, laughter, is a great antidote to the sickening stress and conflict that human face every day. Really, the list goes on for the healthy benefits of laughter to the human body.

On the other side, humor and laughter is being studied and varied research has been conducted to see if this “free medicine” is worth recommending. Researchers admit that laughter is a hard case to study, and that most of the assertions about the health benefits of laughter are grounded to limited scientific basis. Interestingly, therapy websites assert that the greatest benefit that laughter has to bring is its potential to reduce stress, even if only temporarily, which is the root cause of the different adversities in life. It is true that laughter may not bring a total loss of a physical ailment, but observing the psychological and physiological effects that humor and laughter bring are all worth trying.