The Caregivers Guide to Cracking UP!

Is there a science behind laughter therapy? Yes there certainly is, in fact, laughter techniques have been used for thousands of years in Eastern countries, in particular India.

What is Psychoneuroimmunology?

Psycho - refers to how our minds process information

Neuro - refers to how the nervous system reacts to this though process

Immunology - refers to how our immune system responds to the marriage of thought and emotion or feelings.

Very simply put ... when you have a thought, coupled with an emotion or feeling, your body automatically produces chemicals and hormones. You will either produce immune enhancing, stress relieving hormones ~ or you will produce ones that increase your heart rate, tighten muscles, restrict blood flow and break your immune system down.

Can laughter really improve health?

Stress Hormones

Researchers are now saying laughter can bring balance to all the components of the immune system, which helps us fight off diseases. Laughter reduces levels of certain stress hormones.

Laughter provides a safety valve that shuts off the flow of stress hormones and the fight-or-flight compounds that swing into action in our bodies when we experience stress, anger or hostility.

These stress hormones suppress the immune system, increase the number of blood platelets (which can cause obstructions in arteries) and raise blood pressure.

When we're laughing, natural killer cells that destroy tumors and viruses increase, as do Gamma-interferon (a disease-fighting protein), T-cells, which are a major part of the immune response, and B-cells, which make disease-destroying antibodies.

The adrenal glands produce two primary hormones, DHEA and cortisol. Both are considered the major shock absorber hormones in the body. They buffer us to stress and the negative impact it can have on both mental and physical function.

Long-term stress can have a serious impact on the adrenal glands and cause them to shrink and reduce production. This causes cellular damage, which sets off a chain reaction affecting all parts of the body, as well as accelerating the aging process.

Laughter also increases the concentration of a natural antibody, IGA in the salivary glands (immunoglobulin A,) that defends against infectious organisms entering through the respiratory tract.

Aerobic Benefits

What may surprise you even more is the fact that researchers estimate that laughing 100 times is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike. Laughing can be a total body workout!

Blood pressure is lowered, and there is an increase in vascular blood flow and in oxygenation of the blood, which further assists healing. Laughter also gives your diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg and back muscles a workout. That's why you often feel exhausted after a long bout of laughter -- you have just had an aerobic workout! Barbara Mascio