Is Laughter Your Best Medicine?

As patients face the life changing diagnosis of cancer, joyous expression is a commodity that is hard to come by. Cancer patients are overwhelmed by the sense that they have lost all control. While laughter is not be the cure, it can certainly help. According to the American Cancer Society and other medical experts, laughter reduces stress and promotes relaxation by lowering blood pressure, improves breathing and increases muscle function. At the Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center in New York patients can take part in the hospital's "Strenth Through Laughter" therapy program. Participants at all stages of disease meet for joke sessions, clown appearances and funny movies. They are encouraged to share funny stories and jokes with one another to turn up the volume of laughter in the room. Their facilitator, oncology social worker Gloria Nelson, started the session five years ago to help cancer patients focus on living, instead of dying. Another laughter program is conducted through M.D. Anderson's integrative medicine program called "Laughter Yoga". Acccording to their medical director, Moshe Frenkel, M.D., "We know from multiple studies that laughter causes a positive physiological response - it lowers cortisol levels, improves our immune system function noted by increased number in activated T lymphocytes, increase in number and activity of natural killer cells, increase in salivary IgA, increase in endorphin release and above all reduces stress and anxiety."

So where do you start? A funny movie and a one of those crazy friends who gives you a belly ache with their sense of humor is a good place to start. Beyond that, there are classes taking place all over the country that you can get involved with. To help you get locate these, follow the links below. These classes will help you feel comfortable with the idea of laughter for laughter sake. And remember, everyone else is laughing too!

http://www.worldlaughtertour.com/sections/news/programs_cancer.asp

http://www.laughangeles.com/club-list.php