Laughter The Best Medicine
The Reader’s Digest had introduced a column “Laughter The Best Medicine” that remained popular for many years. A recent report says that “Strength Through Laughter” therapy being offered by medical facilities in the US is proving effective.
Ula Ilnytzky, Associated Press Writer, says: “While the verdict is out on whether laughter plays a role in healing, the American Cancer Society and other medical experts say it reduces stress and promotes relaxation by lowering blood pressure, improves breathing and increases muscle function.
“The setting for the hilarity was the Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center at Montefiore Hospital. The participants were cancer patients, some with advanced stages of the illness.
“The most famous case of laughter’s therapeutic effects on the body was described by Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Review, in his 1979 book, ‘Anatomy of an Illness.’
“He claimed that a combination of laughter and vitamins cured him of a potentially fatal illness. ‘I made the joyous discovery that 10 minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect,’ he wrote.
“The nonprofit Rx Laughter, meanwhile, focuses on managing patient pain and improving mental health through comic entertainment, including films and TV clips. It is a unique collaboration between the entertainment and medical fields that was founded in 1998 by Sherry Dunay Hilber, one-time director of prime time programming for ABC and CBS.
” ‘Comic entertainment is at our fingertips 24/7. … Watching our favorite shows and films can get us through very stressful times — all the more important in light of the cost of psychotherapy that many people cannot afford, and the problematic side effects of too many pain killers,’ said Hilber. More here…
Lee Berk of Loma Linda University says: “It may sound corny but we in the health care medical sciences need to get serious about happiness and the lifestyle that produces it, relative to mind, body and spirit. Why do you think Reader’s Digest has claimed that laughter is the best medicine for so many years?” More here…
So a big smile and laugh until your belly shakes…Enjoy!!! Others may wonder what you are up to!!!
