Is Laughter the Best Medicine?

One way to describe or define human nature is to view ourselves as biological creatures. We look at genetics, physiology and metabolism, anatomy, and chemical and physical makeup. When we consider ourselves this way, it is clear that laughter and a sense of humor are integral and significant parts of being human.

First let's look at genetics. Experts used to think that humans learn their sense of humor and how to laugh, and that's true—to a certain extent. We now know that family and cultural influences do guide the development of a sense of humor. But these influences can be active only because we have inherited the potential for having a sense of humor-for laughing and smiling and giggling and chortling and chuckling and guffawing and whatever else we instinctively do when we are amused. In other words, our inheritance sets us up for appreciating humor and for being amused.

Physiology—the body's physical and chemical reactions also shows that laughter and humor are part of our basic humanity. Mirth and laughter create a wide range of powerful physiologic effects. For example, laughter has a profound impact on normal breathing patterns. Paroxysms of laughter completely change the usual pattern of cyclic, in-and-out breathing. And the change is mostly beneficial. Our lungs have improved aeration, and we get rid of some stale air when we laugh.

Laughter also affects the activity of the heart. During laughter, the heart rate increases, sometimes to a great degree-even double its normal pace-if the laughter is intense and prolonged. After the laughter ceases, the heart relaxes for a short period when the rate drops below normal. This stimulation and relaxation effect on the heart is also reflected in the blood pressure response during and after laughter. We can assume that the heart muscle gets good exercise when it beats faster during laughter. Laughter is something like sit-down jogging. 

Other parts of the body get some exercise from laughter, too. Obviously the muscles of the chest, abdomen, neck, and face are exercised when a person is laughing.

Other hidden muscles are also being exercised—the diaphragm and pelvic muscles, for instance. When laughter gets really uproarious, arms and legs start thrashing around; thighs get slapped; people start shaking and bobbing. And then, after all this activity, the muscles have a short period of relaxation.

Laughter helps with muscle conditioning. Also, by stimulating and relaxing muscles, laughter breaks up muscle tension patterns and can relieve pain associated with muscle tension. Regular exercise helps to stimulate production of necessary hormones and enzymes within the body as well. Humor not only helps us to remain in good condition, but it also helps to produce those powerful body chemicals that combat disease.

Maybe it's enough to show that we laugh because of our biology, but another factor is too important to ignore. For now, let's forget about human biology and start to think of humans as thinking most of the time, and there are few effective ways of turning off our thinking machines.

As thinking creatures, we need some thoughts each day that teach us something new, expand our understanding, give us new perspectives. Such creative thinking helps us to develop mentally, just as exercise helps our physical development and conditioning.

This is where humor comes into the picture. It is the essence of humor to teach us something. Each joke presents some little or big truth about life or human nature or the world. Each time we laugh, we are announcing some new viewpoint, some new association, some realization. Even without these physiological and philosophical benefits, laughter is in itself one of our most important pleasures in life.

The End.

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What's a Classic Article anyway?

This article originally appeared in the very first issue of the printed edition of Laugh Factory magazine, from February 1983.

Laugh Factory Magazine cover from February 1983 (Vol 1, Issue 1), featuring Dustin Hoffman.