Very few people know and understand laughter therapy. The more significant percentage has no clue about it and may even consider it fake. However, laughter therapy is among the many forms of therapy, such as talk or art therapy. It is mainly used in the clinical field, but any interested person can participate.
Laughter is widely known as the best medicine hence using it for therapy is beneficial to the body. It helps the body relax and relieves pain by enhancing the production of endorphin hormones which act as painkillers. Having mentioned some of its advantages, let’s highlight some facts that show that laughter therapy isn’t fake.
What’s the origin of laughter therapy?
Laughter therapy is closely related to laughter yoga. In fact, it’s one of its branches and comes in handy in clinical settings. Led by Dr. Madan Kataria, studies and discussions about it began in the early 70s. Understanding its effect has helped the research team know how to go about the practice and everything about it. After a while, Kataria opened up the first laughter club in the world in 1995. Being one of its kind, it attracted many participants, resulting in growth. Currently, many laughter studios across regions conduct laughter yoga and therapy. People’s massive growth and interest clearly indicate that laughing therapy is real.
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Evidence of laughter therapy’s positive impact on people
After laughter therapy research began in the 70s, Dr. Lee Berk studied its effects in 1989. The entire process was pretty short, as the results were precise. He used ten people with no health issues to participate in his experiment. Five, labelled as experimental subjects, sat in a room to watch comedy clips to help induce laughter. Since no laughter-inducing element was imposed on the other five, Lee labelled them the controlled lot.
Once the viewing time was over, Dr. Lee took blood samples of members of each group. This purpose was to track the change of hormones that showed laughter therapy’s effects. The experimental individuals had low cortisol hormone levels, meaning their stress levels were low. Also, their bodies were better positioned to fight viruses and tumour cells due to the increased killer cells. The induced laughter or laughter therapy played a huge part in these results. The controlled group gave different results like high-stress levels. This experiment proved that laughing therapy isn’t fake, as the effects were evident in the experimental group.
Learn the 6 ways Laughter can improve Children's Wellbeing
What are the benefits of laughter therapy?
Laughing therapy has multiple advantages mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is a laid-back form of exercise and requires less energy compared to other types of workouts. Some people think no muscles are involved, but the abdominal muscles are a huge part of this. They tire like any other hence you feel joyful and exhausted after every session. Moreover, your body feels less tense and more relaxed since your stress levels are low. The body movements and increased inhalation and exhalation improve blood flow and oxygen intake. Laughter therapy also encourages a natural pain relief experience, especially for the sick or elderly.
Who practices laughter therapy?
This is a common question, especially for those who think laughter therapy is unreal. However, this therapy is practiced everywhere and by everyone. You can include it in your daily routine whether you want it for clinical benefits or overall well-being.
To sum up,
The facts above are enough to prove that laughing therapy isn’t fake. Besides the clinics, many people have set up laughter clubs worldwide for participants to practice laughter therapy. Its effects have been tested and proved via research, and it’s also advantageous to your life in various ways. It’s related to laughing yoga, and more and more people embrace it as days go by hence its massive growth.
