Laughter is the best medicine: Experts

Singer Raageshwari  Loomba recalls how recently at a family get together her ‘serious’ uncle grooved to the Character dheela… song and her ‘sober’ aunt gyrated to Sheila ki Jawani. “We all were falling down with laughter watching them gyrate,” she recalls amusedly. “Suddenly the do has become memorable for all of us and we keep talking to each other about it. And laugh over it again and again. My morose uncles and aunts have suddenly bloomed and feel liberated. That’s what laughter does to you... it takes away all the stress you may have.”

Laughter has long been recognised as a natural relaxation therapy. Tannaz Currim Irani has her own ‘Matheran-monkey’ joke that she celebrates with her husband and kids — which tells of the time she sighted a monkey while in Matheran and screamed for husband Bhakhtyar’s help. And how her hubby was so spooked by the creature that she had to end up saving him. The family still screams in laughter every time they recall that joke, repeating it four-five times on each occasion. “Laughter makes us all feel so positive that every day we end up reviewing the day in laughter with each other — recalling funny incidents that have occurred earlier in the day,” Tannaz says.

Says Shunali Shroff, “Long ago I decided to find humour and happiness in most things in life. To be around people who laugh, to laugh with my kids each day…even the books I choose are in the comic genre. When I laugh I feel that all is well in the world around me. I think we should all aim to be laughing Buddhas in order to be happy.”

Psychologist Seema Hingorrani views laughter as natural therapy for the human mind. “When one laughs, hormones called endoceles are released in the brain which enhance the feeling of well being. Research also shows that when one laughs there is oxygenation of the muscles in the body and the brain. Getting into the laughter habit is especially important for people who tend to sulk or brood.” Hingorrani opines that depression or anxiety can be controlled through developing the habit of laughing regularly.

“To that extent I’d even support laughter clubs, where laughter is deliberately induced because it has the effect of socialisation on a positive note. Besides they produce so much humour and goodwill in the environment around  them.” The other positive effects of laughter, Hingorrani notes, are that it preserves human memory and increases attention spans. Isn’t that good enough reason for you to laugh once again today?