You might be surprised to know that there is significant evidence that humor can do a body good. Perhaps you have read “Modulation of Neuroimmune Parameters During the Eustress of Humor-associated Mirthful Laughter” in the March 2001 issue of Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine. This study tested blood samples of over fifty men, before and after they viewed a one-hour humor video (Over Your Head with the comedian Gallagher, the guy who smashes stuff with his Sledge-O-Matic).
Scientists measured some hilarious things like “Natural killer cell activity, plasma immunoglobulins, B cells, T cells with helper and suppressor markers, total leukocytes with subpopulations of lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes, etc.” they found increases in many of these cells, which suggests a link between humor, laughter, and positive health benefits. Now, this isn’t incontrovertible science, but there certainly aren’t any unpleasant side effects of laughter. (Although some people do have adverse reactions to watching Gallagher.)
For the more pious among us, an even earlier allusion to a link between laughter and health can be found in the Bible: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”.
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"Does laughter have healing powers?" was posted on Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 11:58 am.