Laugh to health in 2007
Jan 02, 2007
LAUGHTER is one of the best medicines; it boosts the immune system, mental condition, blood circulation, muscle tone, beauty and overall well-being. It also lessens pain and reduces stress.
By Hilary Bainemigisha
LAUGHTER is one of the best medicines; it boosts the immune system, mental condition, blood circulation, muscle tone, beauty and overall well-being. It also lessens pain and reduces stress.
Laughter therapy is recognised in the branch of alternative medicine. It was pioneered by Dr Madan Kataria who started The School of Laughter Yoga in India.
The immune system
Our capacity to resist infection, fight disease and promote general body development depends on our immune system. And while all negative emotions weaken the immune system, laughter reverses this. In a study on laughter, Dr Lee S. Berk from Loma Linda University, California, US says it increases the antibody levels especially of natural killer cells (NK cells – a type of white blood cell) that defend us.
“Genuine laughter causes an increase in the number and activity of NK cells which attack viral infected cells and some type of cancers and tumours,†he said.
“Laughter (also) increases activated T cells, another type of white blood cells, which turns on components of the immune system.†These include natural pain killers (endorphins), IgB, (immunoglobulin) and Complement 3, which helps antibodies to pierce dysfunctional or infected cells.
Dr Eric Mugaddu, an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in Kampala, says laughter is associated with an increase in antibodies (immunoglobulin A) in the mucous of the nose and respiratory passages, which protects against some viruses, bacteria and other micro- organisms. “This decreases the frequency of common colds, sore throats and chest infections. Laughter also tones up the normal mucous clearing system of the bronchial tubes bringing out mucous (phlegm) from the respiratory passages,†Mugaddu explains.
Blood and the heart
In experiments carried out by The American Association for Therapeutic Humour and reported in the America Medical Journal, March 2003, it was discovered that 10 minutes of laughter causes a drop of 10-20mm in blood pressure.
And the University of Maryland Medical Centre, US, found that less humourous people suffer from heart diseases. “40% of heart patients were less likely to laugh in a variety of situations.â€
“Laughter improves blood circulation and oxygen supply to the heart reducing the chances of clot formation,†they wrote.
In a study reported in the Mind/Body Health Newsletter (Vol 8, No. 2, 1999), researchers found that heart attack survivors who experience 30 minutes of humour daily are less likely to experience second heart attacks, required lower doses of medication and had lower blood pressure. “Not only is laughter one of the best muscle relaxants, it also expands blood vessels and sends more blood and nutrients to other muscles of the body,†the article concluded.
Looks
Emmy Namukasa in Kamwokya, says there is no regular exercise for all facial muscles like laughter. “It tones up facial muscles,†she said. “When you laugh, blood surges into your face, nourishing the facial skin and making it glow. Laughter squeezes the tear glands, moistens the eyes, adding a little sparkle to them. Laughing people look more cheerful and attractive.â€
Psychosomatic disorders
According to Dr James Lwanga, stress, depression and anxiety can be fought with laughter. The counsellor at Makerere University Guidance and Counselling Centre says: “Laughter reduces levels of stress hormones and boosts the production of ‘feel-good’ endorphin hormones, mitigating physical effects of distressing emotions.â€
Kataria, who handles mental patients, said laughter has returned several hours of sleep to people with mind-related diseases. It reduces over reliance on anti-depressants and tranquillisers. People with suicidal tendencies have started living with more hope.â€
Aerobic exercise
Dr William Fry from Standford University, US, was quoted in the Stanford Hospital Journal as saying 15 minutes of laughter in the morning keeps a person fresh throughout the day. “In laughter, you inhale more oxygen, stimulate heart and blood circulation and boost your sense of well-being. One minute of laughter is equal to six minutes on the rowing machine.â€
Another study by Dr Maciej Buchowski, of Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, US, discovered that laughing out loud for 10-15 minutes a day burns 10-40 calories. “We found that during laughter, the basic metabolism rate increases by about 20%,†Buchowski told an Obesity Conference in Athens last month.
Robert Holden, who founded the Happiness Project in Oxford, adds: “Laughter can be a great workout for your diaphragm, abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg and back muscles. It also benefits digestion and absorption functioning.â€
When you laugh heartily, every organ is being massaged, including your heart, lungs and digestive system. Headaches can go away.
“As a person laughs, carbondioxide is driven out of the body, providing physical and mental freshness as well as encouraging muscles, all over the body to relax.
LAUGHTER is one of the best medicines; it boosts the immune system, mental condition, blood circulation, muscle tone, beauty and overall well-being. It also lessens pain and reduces stress.
Laughter therapy is recognised in the branch of alternative medicine. It was pioneered by Dr Madan Kataria who started The School of Laughter Yoga in India.
The immune system
Our capacity to resist infection, fight disease and promote general body development depends on our immune system. And while all negative emotions weaken the immune system, laughter reverses this. In a study on laughter, Dr Lee S. Berk from Loma Linda University, California, US says it increases the antibody levels especially of natural killer cells (NK cells – a type of white blood cell) that defend us.
“Genuine laughter causes an increase in the number and activity of NK cells which attack viral infected cells and some type of cancers and tumours,†he said.
“Laughter (also) increases activated T cells, another type of white blood cells, which turns on components of the immune system.†These include natural pain killers (endorphins), IgB, (immunoglobulin) and Complement 3, which helps antibodies to pierce dysfunctional or infected cells.
Dr Eric Mugaddu, an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in Kampala, says laughter is associated with an increase in antibodies (immunoglobulin A) in the mucous of the nose and respiratory passages, which protects against some viruses, bacteria and other micro- organisms. “This decreases the frequency of common colds, sore throats and chest infections. Laughter also tones up the normal mucous clearing system of the bronchial tubes bringing out mucous (phlegm) from the respiratory passages,†Mugaddu explains.
Blood and the heart
In experiments carried out by The American Association for Therapeutic Humour and reported in the America Medical Journal, March 2003, it was discovered that 10 minutes of laughter causes a drop of 10-20mm in blood pressure.
And the University of Maryland Medical Centre, US, found that less humourous people suffer from heart diseases. “40% of heart patients were less likely to laugh in a variety of situations.â€
“Laughter improves blood circulation and oxygen supply to the heart reducing the chances of clot formation,†they wrote.
In a study reported in the Mind/Body Health Newsletter (Vol 8, No. 2, 1999), researchers found that heart attack survivors who experience 30 minutes of humour daily are less likely to experience second heart attacks, required lower doses of medication and had lower blood pressure. “Not only is laughter one of the best muscle relaxants, it also expands blood vessels and sends more blood and nutrients to other muscles of the body,†the article concluded.
Looks
Emmy Namukasa in Kamwokya, says there is no regular exercise for all facial muscles like laughter. “It tones up facial muscles,†she said. “When you laugh, blood surges into your face, nourishing the facial skin and making it glow. Laughter squeezes the tear glands, moistens the eyes, adding a little sparkle to them. Laughing people look more cheerful and attractive.â€
Psychosomatic disorders
According to Dr James Lwanga, stress, depression and anxiety can be fought with laughter. The counsellor at Makerere University Guidance and Counselling Centre says: “Laughter reduces levels of stress hormones and boosts the production of ‘feel-good’ endorphin hormones, mitigating physical effects of distressing emotions.â€
Kataria, who handles mental patients, said laughter has returned several hours of sleep to people with mind-related diseases. It reduces over reliance on anti-depressants and tranquillisers. People with suicidal tendencies have started living with more hope.â€
Aerobic exercise
Dr William Fry from Standford University, US, was quoted in the Stanford Hospital Journal as saying 15 minutes of laughter in the morning keeps a person fresh throughout the day. “In laughter, you inhale more oxygen, stimulate heart and blood circulation and boost your sense of well-being. One minute of laughter is equal to six minutes on the rowing machine.â€
Another study by Dr Maciej Buchowski, of Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, US, discovered that laughing out loud for 10-15 minutes a day burns 10-40 calories. “We found that during laughter, the basic metabolism rate increases by about 20%,†Buchowski told an Obesity Conference in Athens last month.
Robert Holden, who founded the Happiness Project in Oxford, adds: “Laughter can be a great workout for your diaphragm, abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg and back muscles. It also benefits digestion and absorption functioning.â€
When you laugh heartily, every organ is being massaged, including your heart, lungs and digestive system. Headaches can go away.
“As a person laughs, carbondioxide is driven out of the body, providing physical and mental freshness as well as encouraging muscles, all over the body to relax.