Can Laughter Cure Depression Anxiety?
Laughter is the best medicine goes the saying. A new study out of Isfahan Iran, not widely regarded as the capital of comedy, has shown that laughter can significantly improve depression anxiety and sleep disorders. Study.
Apparently, and this is not a joke, there is a branch of yoga called Laughter Yoga, where individuals gather together and voluntarily laugh. In the study, male nursing students engaged in eight 1 hour laughter yoga sessions twice a week, and at the end of the study were much happier and healthier than the control group.
Laughter Yoga started in India in 1995 by Doctor Madan Kataria, and the study authors point out that Laughter Yoga “increases the O2 saturation of brain and body. Enhanced feeling of security and self-belief, positive energy, and distraction from negative thoughts are among the positive treatment effects of laughter Yoga.”
Yoga has been scientifically proven to help depression anxiety through a combination of physical exercise and breath control.
Learn More: Yoga for Depression Anxiety
Seriously, laughter is no joking matter, scientists have been studying the effect of laughter on health for a long time. Here is a list of studies into the science of laughter.
The video at the top of this post, if it doesn’t make you laugh nothing will, is of Tommy Westerfield who leads free Laughter Yoga Classes in San Francisco. You can learn more about Tommy here and find a local Laughter Yoga Club here.
Not everyone agrees that laughter is the best medicine. In fact, there may be hazards to laughter such as triggering asthma attacks, and choking on food while laughing. Report. However, WebMD lists the positive benefits of laughter, helping everything from blood flow to lowering blood sugar levels. Article.
No one is quite sure where the saying “Laughter is the Best Medicine” comes from, but many believe it originates from the Bible.
“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 (New King James Version)
So it appears, that over 2,000 years ago, people recognized the health benefits of laughter, and may explain court jesters throughout history and late night comedians.
Learn more about our natural depression anxiety alternative and how to use diet, exercise, and the best supplements for depression anxiety recovery.
Learn More:
Depression Anxiety Recipes
Depression Anxiety Exercises
Depression Anxiety Supplements
The post Laughter The Best Medicine appeared first on Depression Anxiety Diet.