Laughter: Is It Really the Best Medicine?

A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Your Waistline

Photo by Surface on Unsplash

You’ve heard the infamous saying: laughter is the best medicine. Well, I’ve been thinking, is this true scientifically? And if it is, why?

Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychology, said that laughter releases tension and “psychic energy.” Today we would think of it as mental energy or the driving force behind thoughts and even behavior.

I was curious though about the physiology…is that why people say it’s the best medicine? Biologically, the physical act of laughter increases our air intake, which means increased oxygen. Other benefits of laughter are that it stimulates the heart and lungs, releases muscle tension and increases endorphins. As a result, laughter relieves the stress response and soothes tension — both mental and physical.

While I’ve written before about exercise being a physical way to release stress, laughter is a super powerful and fast acting tool. Like physical exercise, laughter works out your organs. It begins at the diaphragm, the major muscle of respiration, which connects to your abdominal muscles. So, when you laugh so hard your stomach hurts, it’s because you’re working out your abs! Your shoulders may get involved, and your heart begins to pump quickly. Voila(!) you’re feeling better…