Cancer Is Not Contagious, Laughter Is!
By Flora Yong
Senior Nurse Manager, NCC

Patients, doctors and healthcare professionals are all finding that laughter may indeed be the best medicine. A 1999 survey found that about 1 one in 5 five National Cancer Institute-designated treatment centers centres in USA offered humo ur therapy.

Humo ur is a universal language. It's a contagious emotion and a natural diversion. Best of all it is free and has no known side effects. In countries such as India and also in Singapore, laughing clubs -- in which participants gather in the early morning for the sole purpose of laughing -- are becoming as popular as yoga and Tai Chi.

Laughter provides an opportunity for the release of those uncomfortable emotions which, if held inside, may create biochemical changes that are harmful to the body. Humo ur has physical effects because it can stimulate the circulatory and immune system, and other systems in the body. Although available scientific evidence does not support claims that laughter can cure cancer or any other disease, it can reduce stress and enhance a person's quality of life. Humo ur is one of the healthiest and most therapeutic mechanisms that human beings have. Humo ur and laughter are healing physically and emotionally.

Laughing is found to lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and boost immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.

How It Works?
Humo ur perception involves the whole brain and serves to integrate and balance activity in both hemispheres.

During the setup to the joke, the cortex's left hemisphere began begins its analytical function of processing words. Shortly afterward, most of the brain activity moved moves to the frontal lobe, which is the center centre of emotionality. Moments later the right hemisphere's synthesis capabilities joined join with the left's processing to find the pattern -- to 'get the joke'. A few milli-seconds later, before the person had has had enough time to laugh, the increased brain wave activity spread s to the sensory processing areas of the brain, the occipital lobe. The increased fluctuations in delta waves reached reaches a crescendo of activity and crested crests as the brain 'got' 'gets' the joke and the external expression of laughter began begins.

The emotions and moods we experience directly affect our immune system. These positive emotions can create neurochemical changes that will buffer the immunosuppressive effects of diseases and stress and provide moments of joy and delight. Humo ur prompts laughter; laughter provides the biochemical change.

It has a positive impact on health from any and all perspectives. It diminishes stress and restores hope and optimism. Someone else laughing also triggers laughter, so it really is contagious. The next time you feel down, stop worrying. You just need to find funnier friends.

"Laughter is an ambassador for all the positive emotions." ~Norman Cousins