Riley’s Rainforest: Laughter IS Good Medicine
“ Send down . . . from the clouds of Thy mercy the rains of Thy healing . . .”
—Bahá’u’lláh
Don’t you love a good laugh? Humor does more than just tickle your funny bone—it may be seriously good for you. Some scientists say a hearty belly laugh can boost your immune system, help you handle pain, and maybe even keep your heart healthy.
The study of laughter and its impact on our bodies is called gelotology (from the Greek word gelos, which means “laughter”). Research in this field shows that laughter has a positive effect on the body. Some studies find that when we chuckle, more immune cells are made. And stress chemicals, which can weaken the immune system when stress is constant, are decreased. So laughing can help your body’s defenses.
Sometimes you might laugh until your sides ache—but laughing can actually lessen pain. Some researchers believe that exerting stomach muscles during laughter causes a rush of endorphins—the same feel-good chemicals our bodies release during exercise—which helps to ease pain.
Laughter may also protect your heart. In one study, people with heart disease were 40% less likely to laugh in funny situations than people with healthy hearts. Those findings suggest a link between laughter and heart health. Another study showed that laughter appears to cause blood vessels to expand, allowing more blood flow, which may help to ward off heart disease.
So chuckle, chortle, and guffaw to your heart’s content. Laughter might really be the best medicine!
Explore & Soar: Get the Giggles
Be silly with your friends, and add more laughter to your life.
- Make funny faces or sound effects with a friend.
- How long can you stare into a friend’s eyes without laughing?
- Share jokes with friends and make up new jokes together.
- 77 benevolent elephants! Try out some tongue twisters.
- !sdrawkcab gniklat yrT
For a printable version, download a PDF of this page.
Photo: Pollyana Ventura
Discover552 Riley112 Characters493 Science and Health55 Article39 Humor16 Laughter19 Friendship185 Cheerfulness3 Health91 Mental Health12 Happiness90 Riley’s Rainforest49 Positive Attitude66