It is not a joke that humor can ease pain and help healing. More and more doctors, nurses, and health workersbelieve in the healing power of humor. Medical research hasshown that laughter can improve physical and mental health as well as cure various disease. Don't worry if you think you are not into humor because both spontaneous and stimulated laughter have equal healing powers. read on to find out more abiut what the therapeutic benefits of humor are and how it can heal illness.
A lot of medical studies have shown the healing power of humor. Lee Berk, M.D.'s years of study has prove that laughter has a significant role in fighting viruses, bacteria, cancer, and heart disease. In his book, Health, Healing and the Amuse System, Dr. Paul E. McGheewrote that laughter lowers blood pressure and stress hormones in the blood. "it also reduces pain and strengtens the immune system. The natural killer cells in the body increase in number and become active. They seek and destroy tumor cell," added McGhee. Lisa T. Wessan, acertified social worker, stated that laughter increases oxygen supply to the brain and improves memory and cognition. In addition, it relaxes muscles, releases toxins and stress, and helps people to cope. laugter can also provide cardiovascular benefits. William Fry Jr,. M.D,. a psychiatrist from Stanford University, found that 15 minutes of laughter equals 10 minutes on a rowing machine and 15 minutes on a stationary bike in reaching the same heart pulse rate. Laughter is as good as excercise.
Considering the benefits of laughter to our health, we needto learn to laugh at ourselves-or at least to see humor in difficult situations. Unfortunately, our daily life does not always give us enough to reasons to laugh. Continuous stress also seems to make some people forget how to laugh. Some others just do not have a sense of humor.
Most of us do not know that the healing power of humor originates not only from this is exactly the reason why some people join laughter of comedy clubs. There are about 1,300 of them all over the world. these clubs aim at helping people to learn how to stimulate laughter anytime they need to. "Laughing together without reason for a healthy life" is a concept promoted by the followers of laughter therapy. A typical laughter session does not even involve jokes. it requires people to simply to laugh, strecth their body, and do various breathing exercises. in this session the participants do not have to laugh their heads off, a simple giggle or chuckle will do. Even mere anticipation of laughing could help. In one of his researches, Berk tested 16 healthy men. Only half of the men were told that in three day's time they would see a comedy video. The members of this group experienced a drop in stress hormones and an increase in chemicals that benefit the immune system. These changes became even more noticeable as it got closer to show time.
so, are you in need of a spirit and health boost without prescription/ then laugh more because laughter is as important to your well-being as frequent exercise, good nutrition, and enough rest. And remember what William James, a spiritula psychologist, once said, "we don't laugh because we're happy, but we're happy because we laugh."
from: intermediate book 3
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