Opinion: Laughter, healing and personal empowerment – The Daily Progress

Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.

Laughter has a long history in human culture. Ancient Greek physicians prescribed their patients visits to the hall of comedians and the theater as part of the healing process. Early Native Americans had clowns who worked in conjunction with witch doctors. The 14th century surgeon Henri de Mondeville told jokes to his patients in the recovery room. In the 16th century, Martin Luther used humor therapy as part of pastoral counseling of depressed people. President Abraham Lincoln was adept at using humor to ease his pain and stress.

Through the ages, laughter has been recognized for delivering joy as therapy. It speeds recovery from surgery. As therapy and counseling of the depressed it also relieves one of excess stress and tension. It is a vital factor in the treatment of the sick and dying. Laughter helps regain ones emotional equilibrium after trauma and crises.

The most significant recording of the benefits of laughter come from Norman Cousins in his book Anatomy of an Illness. In 1964, Cousins, Senior Editor of the Saturday Review, was diagnosed with a crippling and extremely painful inflammation of his body, Ankylosing Spondylitis. Doctors gave him little hope of survival. He refused to accept the diagnosis as a death sentence, checked himself out of the hospital, hired a full-time nurse and moved into a hotel suite. Along with mega doses of vitamin C, he watched Candid Camera, the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and laughed constantly. Soon observing, I made the joyous discovery that 10 minutes of belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.

Digging deeper, Cousins discovered a surprising number of recorded incidents in which patients have laughed themselves back to health, or at least used laughter as a positive response to their illness. His anecdotal account of his self-styled healing became the bestselling book. He was hired by the University of California medical school where he taught and researched for twenty years the merits of laughter in healing.

In a study of mid-life wellness factors by Harvards eminent physician, George Valliant, laughter was singled out as a major stress-coping mechanism among healthy men. Laughter diffuses anxiety and anger, while acting as a blocking agent against the ravages of panic.

There is anesthetic effect of laughter lessening pain with the release of endorphins and easing anxiety and depression for those in chronic pain. Laughter charges our energy, provides relief from our problems and even helps us find solutions to them. Laughter radiates through us, helps us feel happy and provides us with a joyful illumination as we deal with the disharmonies of life.

World Laughter Day, this year, May 7, originated in 1998 with Madan Kataria, a physician in India, who founded the worldwide Laughter Yoga Movement now operating in 105 countries through over 6000 Laughter Clubs. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for world peace and intended to build up a global consciousness of brother/sister hood and friendship through laughter.

How can you use the power you have been born with laughter to increase your quality of life? The first thing to do is get a laughter buddy. Typically, someone you already joke with and who also wants to have a better lifestyle incorporating the power of laughter. Then simply commit to meeting regularly to laugh.

Bill Baker is co-founder of the Roanoke Laughter Lab, which meets monthly at the South County Library.

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Opinion: Laughter, healing and personal empowerment - The Daily Progress