Laughter as therapy

The virtues of humor and laughter therapy were already rcognized in biblical times, as written in the Old Testament prov.17:22 'A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.'

In more recent times, the therapy can be found in the 1930's when clowns were introduced in hospitals to bring some humor and laughter to children affected with polio.

Norman Cousins, a physician who fell ill with incurable anklyosing spondilitis, in his 1979 book 'Anatomy of an illness' wrote how he eased his pain and ultimately laughed himself to wellness.

Another physician who illustrated the benefits of humor and laughter was Dr, Patch Adams, whose treatment of the sick using humor and laughter was made into a movie titled 'Patch Adams,'portraying well-known actor Robin Williams as DR. Patch Adams.

Although it is difficult to measure the exact benefit of humor and laughter, they appear to improve the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of people. They enhance the immune system, reduce stress and assist in finding body balance.

Increasingly more physicians, nurses and other health care professionals are recognizing the value that they can add to traditional medical treatment.

So what is laughter therapy used for?

It is usually used in long-term (chronic) diseases treatment, and in particular those diseases that are made worse by stress.

Long-term diseases negatively affect the person's mood and attitude, which can aggrevate the disease. Laughter therapy assists in reducing the negative effects of feeling sick with no control, being afraid and helpless.

The therapy is also of great value as a prevenatble measure for caregivers of chronic disease patients, as they are themselves at great risk of becoming sick. Laaghter therapy helps to release the stress associated with being a caregiver.

The therapy is safe and is likely to be approved by physicians eventhough specific benefits are unknown. The reason being that it can be done at no cost, is risk-free and readily available.