Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Laughter - a serious matter

Are you in pain? Get sick too often? Depressed? Laughter therapy may help you, and it certainly can't harm you. Scientists have found that even if laughter is faked, it has the same good effects as natural laughter. Google 'laughter therapy' and you will find lots of info. This is a good place to start: http://www.back-exercise-and-pain-relief.com/laughter-therapy.html

I will post a few more links, and I recommend you do some research into it. It seems the Bible was right when it said in Proverbs 17 verse 22 "A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones." Other translations put it this way: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones or A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones and A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.

What can Laughter do?

  1. 1.   Increase vascular blood flow and oxygenation of the blood.

    2.   Give a workout to the diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles.

    3.   Reduce certain stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.

    4.   Increase the response of tumor- and disease-killing cells such as Gamma interferon and T-cells.

    5.   Defend against respiratory infections–even reducing the frequency of colds–by immunoglobulon in saliva.

    6.   Increase memory and learning; in a study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, humor during instruction led to increased test scores.

It has been scientifically proven that laughter is both preventive and therapeutic. People practicing Laughter Yoga regularly report amazing improvement in their health. There are daily reports of partial or total cure of most stress-related illnesses like hypertension, heart disease, depression, asthma, arthritis, allergies, stiff muscles and more. While this sounds fantastic, it all makes perfect sense, as laughter is nature’s best cure for stress.   
The healing effects of Laughter Yoga come from following reasons. The immune system is the master key of health and if it weakens one is exposed to constant infection and sickness. Scientific research by Dr. Lee Berk from Loma Linda University, California proved that laughter strengthens the immune system by increasing the number of natural killer cells and increase in the antibodies.  
The disease process has two components according to Dr. Kataria – one is the organic disease itself; and the second is the mental component in the form of anxiety, fear and depression. Why people get therapeutic benefits from Laughter Yoga so quickly is because it removes the mental factor immediately and one finds an improvement in symptoms. Rest of the healing effects comes from increasing oxygen supply to the body cells, strengthening the immune system, increasing blood circulation and creating positive mental state.


Dr. William Fry, well-known research scientist from Stanford University scientifically proved that 10 minutes of healthy laughter is equal to 30 minutes on the rowing machine. Laughter is the best cardio workout. As an exercise it has similar benefits as compared to any other aerobic activities like jogging, dining swimming and cycling.

Laughter Yoga is ideally suitable for people who cannot walk; have no time to exercise like business professionals and those who are bedridden.


See http://tinyurl.com/39syg8y 

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