Laughter Therapy has the potential to cure the incurable. Like all other
theoretical approaches, it is not a guarantee, but provides hope. Unlike
other desperate measures, it leaves the patient feeling good, regardless
of the consequences.
The benefits of laughter were significantly propelled forward by the
Norman Cousins memoir, "Anatomy of an Illness." Diagnosed with
ankylosing spondylitis, a debilitating spinal condition, Cousins
discovered that sessions of laughter could give him hours of pain-free
sleep. Assisted by massive doses of Vitamin C, the disabled man turned his
life around and overcame the negative prospects for a normal life. In
1984, veteran actors Ed Asner and Eli Wallach teamed with Millie Perkins
(Diary of Anne Frank) and David Ogden Stiers, to perform in a television
movie based on the book: "An Anatomy of an Illness." Directed by Richard
T. Heffron, the story was released on DVD in 2002. The effort is far too
important to be forgotten, not merely for its inspirational nature, but
because of its protagonist's never-say-die attitude. (This movie will not
appear very often on television, but you can still purchase a copy
inexpensively through online auction houses and bookstores.)
Does laughing really work? Doctors will say that patients will be better
off, but doctors are not certain if it is the cure that everyone thinks.
Serious research has yet to be done on the subject, but it has potential.
What happens to the person who follows a path of laughter? He stretches
his muscles, raises his pulse and blood pressure, promotes his breathing,
and increases oxygen to his cells. But the same can be true of a bout with
fear. One researcher, William Fry, proclaimed that one minute of hearty
laughter was equal to ten minutes on a rowing machine. But why do
traditional scientists continue to believe that it is nothing more than a
physical workout? Studies of groups of people, one set watching a comedy
and another set watching a drama, have found that the latter group will
tense and restrict blood flow. The former, those watching comedy, have
positive health effects, with blood vessels expanding and contracting
easily.
There is the possibility that, with laughter, positive chemical activities
will increase, allowing for a rise in antibodies and an increase in the
level of immunity.
As usual, traditional doctors are neither impressed nor inspired. But
studies of the subject are few, small, and usually engineered improperly.
Those who initiate studies are usually biased in favor of the theory. It
is the worst way to scientifically approach any topic. Without intelligent
research, laughter may appear to be no better than any other extreme
emotional reaction. You could get similar positive results, simply from
screaming. Initial observations suggest that laughter can assist the body
in raising the threshold of tolerance for pain. But what can it do for
conquering the illness itself? Simply emulating morphine is insufficient.
Laughter is a proven therapy that can improve mood and health!
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If you have an illness that traditional doctors and holistic practitioners
have failed to defeat, then give it a try. But mix your personal treatment
with other parallel therapies. You can rent or purchase an infinite number
of comedies in DVD or VHS format. At the same time, you may want to add
other elements that promote healing. Surround yourself with everything
that brings you up. Make your list. The list should include pets, children,
and flowers. Just be careful that they are the things that make you
personally feel good. W.C. Fields may not have chosen children. Those with
allergies may not choose pets or flowers. Also, many comedians may not
always be to your taste. If you are sick and feeling low, you are more
likely to be open-minded to other comedy styles. You can now get DVDs for
a vast array of recent television series and also older comedies.
The trick is to immerse yourself within laughter.
The human body appears to be engineered to benefit from the experience in
ways that we cannot yet fully comprehend.
