When thinking about alternative medicine, most people picture plants, crystals, needles, maybe some bugs and leeches, but few realize that jokes, humor and comedy are truly medicines, in their own right. It has long been established that optimists live longer than pessimists, but now there is some hard evidence that people with a better sense of humor also have longer and healthier lives. Your "stay healthy" plan should include a joke and a 20-minute comedy show, to go with the broccoli and carrots.
There are now various associations and physicians specialized in the so-called therapeutic humor, who are still investigating the roles of laughter in our lives. Perhaps the most obvious of these roles is that related to the social life - jokes often allow people to connect and to bond, and sharing a good laughter is a good method to integrate in a team, to get along with the coworkers, neighbors and so on. This function is vital from the point of view of mental health, since it reduces loneliness and, with it, depression and other problems associated with it. You don't have to be trained in stand-up comedy in order to say something funny, sometimes all you need is a change of perspective or the courage to make fun at your own expense.
Humor is an invaluable asset in crisis situations, when it helps us calm down and reduce the levels of stress (and all the negative effects stress has on health). It is often considered that, among patients with very severe diseases, those with an upbeat approach, who are capable of making jokes about their situations, have the best chances to defeat the illness. So far, there have been no scientific studies to prove this, but the patients themselves report feeling better after joining an activity with humorous potential, even if it's just watching a comedy show together with some friends or with other patients.
Recent researches suggest that laughter influences more than our mental framework, it actually has a positive effect on the physical aspect as well. It has been widely accepted, for some time, that laughter increases the pain resistance level, but the theory is still not proven. In fact, very few studies have yet been made about the relation between comedy and health, but those existing seem to indicate that a good joke may lower the blood pressure, improve memory and cognitive functions and boost the immune system. Moreover, these results are not short-term only: it seems that a good sense of humor may protect you against heart diseases and alter your biochemical state to a level where the organism produces more antibodies. The lack of research in the field is due to the fact that people have always assumed that laughter is good for your health (along with an apple a day and a breath of fresh air), but little has been done to analyze this in depth.
There is also a "bad" humor (same as there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol). This category includes the approach that makes people feel miserable about themselves, or angry, upset and vengeful, as well as the skeptic and cynic attitude, which is often the front for deep depression and indifference. Jokes directed at other people are also "bad" humor, along with ethnic, racial and sexist jokes, which are born out of frustration, not out of optimism and cheerfulness. Also, people who often make fun of themselves hide a low self esteem, which is only worsened with every funny joke they invent (there is a good reason why clowns and successful comedy actors are often perceived as sad and depressed in their real lives).
If you decide to use laughter as a therapeutic method, the first obvious issue is that there are no harmful side effects, and you've got nothing to lose. The second issue is that you can actually improve your sense of humor in time, same as any other skill or ability, by constant training and exposure to jokes and comedy. Next time you go to the movies, buy a ticket for a comedy, no matter how dumb the poster looks. When you read the paper, don't forget to check out their daily cartoon too. Spend ten minutes every day reading jokes, and, when you find some you like, share them with your friends. (And when your boss catches you reading jokes instead of working, tell him it's just therapy, he can't stop your from taking your medication at work, right?) Last but not least, try to find the funny side of the small things that happen every day around you - there is always something absurd or plain stupid going on right near you, which may provide five minutes of good laugher, which, in turn, may unblock some arteries and keep the heart attack far away.
John Ryan is the creator of award winning poker software
and in his spare time, he likes to rewrite classic jokes at http://www.jokes-comedy.com
There are many kinds of eczema, and too few people... Read More
Dosha theory which help in diagnosis of the diseases.According to... Read More
"The smell of basil is good for the heart, it... Read More
In my search for at-home spa treatments and home herbal... Read More
You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you... Read More
Holistic Medicine involves natural treatment options like holistic nutrition, herbology,... Read More
1. Clean and Fresh AirBacterial allergens and other pollutants constantly... Read More
Why do the Japanese have the longest lifespan? Last month... Read More
Allergies and asthma arise from loss of the body's natural... Read More
Abuse of any kind is difficult to deal with. Types... Read More
The revolution is indeed underway. Money married to desire, imagination... Read More
The Way Essential Oils Effect the Etheric Body or Psycho-spiritual... Read More
Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of a... Read More
HYPNOSIS is a state of induced but conscious sleep through... Read More
There are many unpleasant symptoms and diseases associated with constipation.... Read More
Say you had a stressful day at work, didn't get... Read More
Do you know why the rich and famous spend thousands... Read More
Constipation is a problem that affects many Americans every day.... Read More
Smokers love excuses. Nothing makes them happier than, 'I can't... Read More
If you're like most of us who have known chronic... Read More
Summer EnthusiasmAccording to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five... Read More
When you suffer from allergies or asthma, you may think... Read More
Many doctors and others in the health field may tell... Read More
Honey is a highly concentrated sugar solution produced by honeybees.... Read More
Friends, The study below done a few years ago should... Read More
The purpose of this article is not to offer an... Read More
When thinking about alternative medicine, most people picture plants, crystals,... Read More
Pain behind the knee is something many of us have... Read More
When someone experiences a trauma they go into immediate shock.... Read More
It should not be hard for anyone to imagine that... Read More
The Mysterious FrankincenseUsed for many thousands of years, the Frankincense... Read More
Cayenne is a constipation home remedy that is effective in... Read More
No patience for bleaching? There may be another way to... Read More
Cayenne is a constipation home remedy that is effective in... Read More
Autoimmune disorders, lupus, Sjogrens, MS, IBS, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia... Read More
Remember the last Dumpling Festival? Did your mother or grandmother... Read More
As powerful as the subconscious can be in relieving pain,... Read More
Over 100 different types of arthritis exist, but by far... Read More
Before anyone experiences hypnosis and starts using it to make... Read More
NET or Neuro Emotional Technique is one of the newer... Read More
The terms alternative medicine and complementary medicine are often wrongly... Read More
Just because something is labeled or deemed "natural' does not... Read More
Pollution is generallyy defined as the release of harmful environmental... Read More
Constipation is a problem that affects many Americans every day.... Read More
Many common herbs that you might use in cooking are... Read More
To have regular bowel movements and escape constipation you need... Read More
Patchouli's History and UsesAh, Patchouli oil - people seem to... Read More
One of the least known and least practiced aspects of... Read More
Mom was right to insist on us eating our vegetables.... Read More
Low back pain is one of the most common pain... Read More
This article first appeared in The Sept. 2004 issue of... Read More
Asian HerbsI have found Chinese herb formulations quite effective in... Read More
Using crystals in the context of healing has a very... Read More
Aromatherapy works in several ways to combat common ailments. Essential... Read More
Home Remedies - Facts or Quacks?That's what I recently asked... Read More
Stammering or as it is sometimes known as stuttering is... Read More
Potassium and prunes are a natural constipation remedy that you... Read More
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has been used for thousands of... Read More
Constipation is a problem that affects many Americans every day.... Read More
It is relatively well known now that exercise releases endorphins... Read More
Almost two years ago, before the release of my first... Read More
Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of a... Read More
People with alcohol and drug problems have been done a... Read More
Your husband always seems tired. Your son is always hungry.... Read More
Stuttering is a problem that affects approximately one in every... Read More
You have seen and heard the warnings. You know what... Read More
Alternative Medicine |