LAUGHTER THE BEST MEDICINE

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Laughter not only gives joy and amusement but also has many health benefits. However this is not a new discovery, since ancient Indian literature has also mentioned the benefits of laughter for good health. “Vaids” and Ayurvedic practitioners in India had stressed on the importance of laughter to lead a healthy life. Laugther therapy or “hasayog” is a well know theraphy.

In ancient times most Emperors and Kings had a court jester to make them laugh. Needless to say this diffused the tense atmosphere and helped people to come closer. Every circus has a couple of clowns to induce laughter and almost every film has comic character to make us laugh. A good laugh in valuable tool in the workplace. Tension is unavoidable in business and humor is an unexpected release, a surprise. Researchers have found that more the people are stressed more they are ready to laugh.

Laughter is in fact the only method by which the residue air in the lungs can be replaced by fresh air which  leads to healthy living .Laughter has similar effect as  exercise.  It also lifts the mood, decreases stress hormones, enhances immune activity lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol. A study conducted for the same was led by Dr. Lee Berk from Loma Linda University California. Dr. Berk states that repetitive laughter is similar to the effect of repetitive exercise.  Laughter also reduces one’s risk of a heart attack and diabetes and generally regulates the body’s vital functions. It is also important way to distress oneself after days hard work For the study number of volunteers were asked to watch just 20 minutes of comedies and their blood samples showed dramatic drop in stress hormones, blood pressure and level of cholesterol.

However laughter therapy should be avoided by those having glaucoma, hernia, piles, and also by pregnant women suffering from cold and flu.

Many big and small cities in India have laugher clubs where people assemble in the morning for bout of laughing. Here is one set of rules often followed in such clubs. As soon as the instructor blows his whistle, the members must break into laughter, swinging their arm to and fro in the air. They must also take deep breaths at the same time. In the net step they have to keep their mouths closed and try to laugh without making a sound. In the third step the members must laugh with their mouths open but there must be no sound. The entire session ends with the recitation of the “om” sound.