Is laughter the best medicine?

A healthy living blog from Marshfield Clinic Health System

May 28, 2024

Laughter draws people together in more ways than one. In addition to bringing joy and a feeling of togetherness, it can trigger physical and emotional changes in the body. In some ways, laughter really is the best medicine.

“If my patients and I can laugh together, I find they are more optimistic toward the changes I am requesting them to make,” said Dr. Jacob Diestelmann, psychologist with Marshfield Clinic Health System.

Benefits of laughter

As adults, life can feel more serious and laughter might not come as frequent as when we were kids. Seeking out opportunities for humor might just add years to your life.

“The good feeling that comes from laughter can stay with you in more ways than one even after the laughter subsides,” said Dr. Diestelmann.

Physical health benefits include:

Immunity boost
Lowered stress hormones
Decreased pain
Relaxed muscles

Mental health benefits include:

Added joy
Decreased anxiety and tension
Stress relief
Improved mood
Improved sense of well-being

Social benefits include:

Stronger relationships
Enhanced teamwork
Group bonding

Laughter therapy? A long history of benefitting patients

When you were a child, or perhaps the last time you took your child to the doctor, did someone from your care team do something funny as a distraction?

Laughter therapy has been used in medicine for centuries. For example, in the United States during the polio outbreak in the 1930s, hospitals began bringing in clowns to cheer up sick children. A hospital also was built in 1972, the Gesundheit Institute, that was dedicated to spreading humor and joy to patients.

Laughter therapy uses spontaneous and simulated laughter to improve the quality of life.

This might be done through:

Humor therapy, which involves group sessions that use funny books, shows and movies or stories to encourage laughter. The therapist might also ask participants to share funny experiences and discuss what made them funny.
Trigger therapy, in which the therapist finds the client’s laughter triggers to build a humor profile to use as a tool to help them deal with emotional stress.
Laughter meditation involves stretching and laughing to relieve stress and free the mind.

One study, done across nine countries, involved participants with depression, anxiety or both. The majority felt that humor therapy lessened their symptoms, lending support that humor therapy could become an accessible alternative therapy for patients.