The Best Medicine

In 1962 there was an "outbreak of contagious laughter in Tanganyika. What began as an isolated fit of laughter (and sometimes crying) in a group of 12- to 18-year-old schoolgirls rapidly rose to epidemic proportions. Contagious laughter propagated from one individual to the next, eventually infecting adjacent communities. The epidemic was so severe that it required the closing of schools. It lasted for six months."

- Robert R Povine, American Scientist, 1996.

Can you imagine missing 6 months of school because you were laughing? How cool would that be? Do you have any idea how healthy you would be?

Laughing engages almost every major part of your body.

Laugher exercises your diaphragm. The diaphragm separates your chest cavity and your abdomen. When you laugh, it convulses and gives your organs a much-needed massage, stimulating circulation and enhancing general wellbeing.

When you laugh, your heart rate and blood pressure increase, dilating your cardiovascular system. When you stop, they decrease to below normal. Laughing ultimately lowers heart rate and blood pressure.

Laughing releases the body's natural opiates and pain reliever; beta-endorphins.

When you laugh, your head and your facial muscles move. These muscles are connected to your thymus gland, which in turn is responsible for your immune system. The more you laugh, the better your immune system.

Why don't we laugh enough? Kids laugh around 300 times a day, and adults, not even half that. You've probably heard that statistic before, but never really given it a second thought. I did some observing, and I realised that children laugh at anything that is funny. I know that sounds bleedingly obvious, but it's true. Adults only laugh if they know why they're laughing. Kids laugh at a word that sounds funny, adults won't do that because there is absolutely no reason behind why they are laughing. For kids, something is funny at face value. For adults, it's not funny until they have all the facts. No wonder it's easier for children to laugh. Kids also laugh at each other. That in turn makes it easier for kids to laugh at themselves. If someone's already laughing at you, you might as well join in. Find 3 resons to laugh before you go to bed. You'll feel better for it.