October 18, 2025

Is Laughter a Form of Therapeutic Medicine?

6 minutes

Laughter therapy reduces anxiety and increases life satisfaction, giving you a natural way to calm your mind and feel more fulfilled
Spontaneous laughter lowers cortisol, your main stress hormone, by about one-third, protecting you from stress-related problems like weight gain, weakened immunity, and heart disease
Studies show laughter therapy improves sleep, mood, and even reduces inflammation, making it a powerful tool for both mental and physical health
Older adults who laugh more often are less likely to develop disability, depression, or insomnia, helping them stay independent and resilient
You can use laughter like medicine by scheduling daily laughter sessions, sharing humor with others, and mixing structured approaches like laughter yoga with spontaneous laughter

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14871,487 ratings

October 18, 2025

6 minutes

Laughter therapy reduces anxiety and increases life satisfaction, giving you a natural way to calm your mind and feel more fulfilled
Spontaneous laughter lowers cortisol, your main stress hormone, by about one-third, protecting you from stress-related problems like weight gain, weakened immunity, and heart disease
Studies show laughter therapy improves sleep, mood, and even reduces inflammation, making it a powerful tool for both mental and physical health
Older adults who laugh more often are less likely to develop disability, depression, or insomnia, helping them stay independent and resilient
You can use laughter like medicine by scheduling daily laughter sessions, sharing humor with others, and mixing structured approaches like laughter yoga with spontaneous laughter

...more