Laughter is the best Medicine

Quote:

‘The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.’
~ e. e. cummings

It’s believed that a good bout of laughter provides a safety valve which shuts off the flow of stress hormones which is triggered by our biological ‘fight or flight’ response when we feel stress, anger or hostility.

Unblocked, and in the absence of laughter, these stress hormones can weaken the immune system, increase the number of blood platelets (which can clog the arteries) and raise blood pressure.

When we laugh, natural killer cells which destroy tumours and viruses increase, along with Gamma-interferon (a disease-fighting protein), T-cells (important for our immune system) and B-cells (which make disease-fighting antibodies). As well as lowering blood pressure, laughter increases oxygen in the blood, which also encourages healing.

I believe that laughter is a vital coping mechanism, which gives us a cathartic outlet for dealing with stress, humiliation, embarrassment, pain and suffering.Where else to go but here to find that laughter ………

Squiffy's House of Fun ~ Laughter for MS

Here is Squiffy himself on his completion of the 2005 Flora London Marathon, not that he was laughing at that very moment, but weeping with a mixture of exhaustion , happiness and a whole range of other emotions - I witnessed it all.

You can read his own account of it .....

HERE!

I have to admit to having tears of laughter running down my face at some of his worst jokes ever e.g.

Patient: Doc, everywhere I look I see frogs, rabbits, and kangaroos!
What’s wrongwith me?

Doctor: Don’t worry, it’s just a hoptical illusion.

I’ll just end with another quote…

‘Seven days without laughter makes one WEAK.’ ~ Anon.