Laughter therapy: The use of laughter as therapy

The Greek word for laughter is “gelio”. The root word for gèlio is ’hele’ which means ’health.’ – The use of laughter as therapy

Laughter or Humor Therapy is a type of therapy that uses laughter to help alleviate pain and stress and improve a sense of one’s well-being. Variations of laughter therapy aren’t new, but a new focus on this inexpensive and very accessible form of healing is being brought to light yet again.

With depression rates in the United States nearly tripling in 2020 and continuing to climb according to this Boston University article, this is more relevant than ever.

Oh, and let’s not forget the millions affected by chronic diseases! It’s no wonder that people are seeking out more natural and simple ways to improve their health.

To quote Cristina Lorefice, a Laughter Yoga Coach,

“Depression comes from being stuck in the past, anxiety- from being worried about the future, and laughter helps us be present and focused on the moment.”

When it comes to healing from surgeries, coping with chronic pain, or just overcoming bouts or even severe struggles of depression, we are discovering that laughter has both mental and physical benefits. It’s not just in our head, pun intended!

Where did the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine” come from? – Laughter therapy: The use of laughter as therapy

It’s hard to say, but many people reference the Proverb in the Bible that says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…” It’s easy to see that the concept of humor improving our health has lasted for centuries. Laughter therapy: The use of laughter as therapy

Even Shakespeare referred to the health benefits of laughter in his play, The Taming of the Shrew:

“Your honour’s players, hearing your amendment,

Are come to play a pleasant comedy,

For so your doctors hold it very meet,

Seeing too much sadness hath congealed your blood, and melancholy is the nurse of frenzy.

Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play,

And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.

A Dr. Miletus of the 4th century highlighted that the word “laughter” in Greek is “gélio”. The root word for gélio is “hele” which means “health”. So, to him, laughter and health go hand in hand.

In the 1300s, a French surgeon named Henri de Mondeville felt that his patients who felt hopeful about their outcomes would have better recoveries. He pushed to have his patients’ recoveries filled with happiness, laughter, and hope from music and jokes shared by friends and family. There are even claims that Mondeville considered providing his patients with forged letters of the death of their enemies, just to cheer them up!

More recently, in the 1960-70s, an American Journalist, Norman Cousins, having suffered some significant health issues himself, publicized the idea of laughter healing the body. He wrote the book “Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient”.

In coping with the pain he had from various illnesses, he was well known for helping to heal himself through laughter. And, thanks to his personal research, he was invited to participate in creating more research to really discover the effect laughter and humor have on our health. Cousins’ personal research has inspired hundreds of those involved in various forms of laughter therapy today.

Laughter and its Not-So-Laughable Benefits

As stated already, one of the best benefits of Laughter Therapy is that the techniques are free and easily applicable. What a great chance to improve the world in such a small and seen as an insignificant way.

What researcher JongEun Yim discovered about the physical & mental benefits of laughter, is far from insignificant though. He reviewed much of the research that has been put into laughter therapy in the last decade (“Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter in Mental Health”) and a summary of his review includes the following benefits:

Physical Benefits:

• Reduces the level of stress hormones.
• Reduces blood pressure.
• Increases endorphins.
• Increases immunity.
• Positively impacts heart function.

Mental Benefits:

• Reduces negative feelings like anxiety, tension, hatred, and anger.
• Alleviates stressful situations.
• Mitigates symptoms of depression
• Reduces memory failure.
• Can even improve insomnia.

The Health Benefits of Laughter and Humor

Laughter may not be exactly like the medicine that we consume by mouth and quickly see improvements to specific ailments. I sure wish a spoonful of laughter could cure everything, but because it is affordable and easily accessible, Laughter Therapy is a great alternative to help alleviate symptoms of both physical and mental illnesses.

And, let’s be honest, we can all use more laughter and smiles to get us through the ups and downs of life. As Reba McIntire has said, “To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funnybone.”