We’ve all heard the saying ‘Laughter…it’s the best medicine’ – But is it? and why?

Well, let’s face it, the vast majority of us enjoy a good laugh don’t we? The reasons for our laughter and what we find funny range from the satirical to the ridiculous and every genre in between. So, whether you’re creased up at Eddie Izzard’s Stand-up routines or having a titter at some good old fashioned Laurel and Hardy laughter simply feels good. And, when it comes to self-managing your health and well-being laughter is difficult to beat.   

Anthropologists have recognised that laughter is one of humans most basic emotional responses, but we aren’t taught to laugh or even to smile; they’re as natural to us as breathing.  

Clinicians and scientists have proved that laughter can have a powerful and positive effect on emotional, physical and social health and wellbeing.  It heals and renews the human body and mind, and nothing works faster or more dependably to bring the mind and body back into balance.

There is a growing interest in laughter as a simple and effective health and wellbeing strategy, although it’s still a much underutilized health and wellbeing resource.

Here are 18 of the psychological and physiological benefits of laughter:

1. Anti-Stress: Laughter unwinds the negative effects of stress by reducing the levels of the stress-related hormones cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline) and dopamine. The Stress Arousal system can be triggered by an increase in carbon dioxide bought about through shallow and fast breathing during stressful times. Deep and diaphragmatic breathing activates parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system which helps reduce the negative effects of stress
2. Boosts the immune System: Laughter quickly boosts our immune system with fast increases of levels of anti-viral and anti-infection cells and also cells that fight cancer. Laughter increases the levels of immunoglobulin A (lgA) that is the first line of defence protecting us from infections such as coughs and colds.
3. Reduction of the risk of heart disease. Laughing expands the inner walls of the arteries which increases the ability of blood to flow around the body. This positive effect lasts for up to 45 minutes after the laughter has stopped.
4. Increase in feel good hormones: Laughter releases endorphins, a self- manufactured opiate that has been scientifically proven to carry messages of attachment and bonding (the scientific terms for love) and to stimulate feelings of caring and forgiveness in additional to acting as a natural painkiller. Endorphins create a positive state of mind and boost optimism, confidence and feelings of self-worth.
5. Helps to alleviate depression. Laughter helps by boosting the production of serotonin, a natural anti-depressant.  Laughter also works as an effective distraction from things that cause anxiety and anger.
6. Pain Reduction. There’s a famous study of Norman Cousins use of laughter to successfully treat his ankylosing spondylitis which has been cited in medical journals since the 1930s. Cousins systematically watched comedy films etc. and found that two hours of induced hearty laughter could provide him with 2 hours of painless sleep.
7. Massage for the abdominal organs. Belly laughing effectively ‘massages’ the abdominal organs.  The blood flow to these organs is increased and their functioning is improved.
8. Increased Circulation. Laughter causes an internal ‘jogging’ that massages and promotes circulation to the digestive and lymphatic systems. It increases circulation to flush the body and organs of waste products which improves their function. Facial flushing from improved circulation leaves the skin glowing and radiant

9. Diabetes Control. A recent study showed that people who watched a funny video after their meal had lower blood sugar levels than those who watched a serious film.  It could be that laughter affects the neuroendocrine system, which monitors the body´s glucose levels, or it may be the effect of energy used by the stomach muscles.
10. Laughter gives an instant facelift. As many as 15 facial muscles work together to help you smile and laugh. This increases the blood flow around the face, bringing the circulation into even the smallest of capillaries which, in turn, helps to make you look younger and healthier.
11. Reducing blood pressure. When you laugh, the blood flow increases, circulation improves and your blood pressure rises.  When you stop laughing, your blood pressure drops back to its baseline. This relaxing effect helps to lower your baseline blood pressure.
12. Great Aerobic Exercise. Laughter provides an excellent cardio and mid body workout. The heart rate increase in one minute of hearty laughter can take ten minutes to achieve on exercise machines.
13. Mind and body Re-energizer. Laughing forces air out of lungs, and causes us to take deep inward breaths, increasing the flow of oxygen right around the body.

14. Building resilience. The ability to laugh, or at least smile, when times get tough, is the best way to reduce stress and anxiety.  While a little stress actually helps to motivate us into action and to focus on the problem, laughter helps us to focus on the solution and achieve more productive outcomes.
15. Sleep Aid. Having a good laugh prior to sleep reduces stress and anxiety, promoting deep, restful sleep. Laughter also provides a mild aerobic workout, which, not only energizes you in the short term, but also helps you to sleep better.
16. Emotional Intelligence. For children social play is critical to the development of social skills and emotional intelligence. Restricted play results in deficient skills which can lead to life-long mental, emotional, physical and social problems. New research shows that playful adults continue to learn social skills and improve their emotional intelligence.
17. Bond us to others. Laughter causes the release of oxytocin.  Often called the empathy hormone, oxytocin helps bond individuals and groups together.  A little laughter is great for building great teams, be they in the community or at work.
18. Improving Social Connection. Mirror neurons in the brain cause us to experience the emotions of people we communicate with. Being with laughing people we experience their laughter which makes it easier for us to laugh. Each time we establish eye contact with people who are laughing our mirror neurons add their laughter to our own. This additive effect increases the concentration of laughter-related hormones and neuropeptides in our bloodstream and further reduces the effect of stress. The number of social interactions a person has each day is a direct indicator of his health, wellness and longevity.