In this document, I have complied the benefits of laughter and humor and give reference to research studies that support the claims. In each page I had featured important people who\'s work make an impact using laughter and humor to help others.

1. Laughter and Humor “A Laugh a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?”
A choice for healthier and better life The story of Norman Cousins
Compiled by Avi Liran, avi@ha-p.com
“Laughter is an innate & natural way of achieving connection, clarity,
health, harmony & lightness by rebalancing the chemistry of tension,
stress & pain, and having fun doing it.” (Dr. Annette Goodheart).
“Laugh for no reason” (Dr. Madan Kataria).
©
“Easier DONE than Said ” (Lenny Ravich and Avi Liran)
The most famous story so far of humor
Free and natural: Laughter is one of the finest, most economical, and laughter as a medicine is of an editor
natural and easy ways to boost your physical and emotional health. of the NY Times, Norman Cousins.
“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature Extensive research on 'laughter therapy’
cures the disease.” Voltaire began after the New England Journal of
Medicine published an article by Norman
Cousins in 1976. Later, in 1979, this article
Physical health benefits: More hospitals believe in laughter.
became the first chapter of his book,
• Nature's Stress-buster: Researches from Loma Linda University in
'Anatomy of an Illness’. Cousins describes
California led by Dr. Lee Berk, confirm that Laughter acts as anti-
in his book how he e was diagnosed in
stress measure. It rebalances the body chemicals produced by fear,
1964 with ankylosing spondylitis , a rare
anger, stress and anxiety. It reduces our non-productive stress and
elevates our immunity by reducing the level of stress hormones. disease usually results in acute
The experimental group which laughed Cortisol and Dopac (3,4- inflammation of the spine. His case was
dihydrophenylacetic acid) decreased by 39%. so severe that he was given a one in 500
Epinephrine (Adrenaline) in the experimental group were chance of recovery and a few months to
significantly lower - 70%. Growth hormone levels decreased with live and had to take dozens of painkillers
laughter intervention. a day.
In a study, “The effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural Realizing that negative thoughts and
killer cell activity” conducted in 2003 at the Indiana State University
attitudes parallelize his immunity system,
Sycamore Nursing Center, 33 healthy adult women were divided
he reasoned that positive thoughts and
into two groups. The treatment group watched a humorous video,
while the control group viewed a tourism video. RESULTS: Stress attitudes may have the opposite effect.
decreased for subjects in the humor group, compared with those in He left the hospital and checked into a
the distraction group (U32 = 215.5; P = .004). Amount of mirthful hotel where he took mega doses of
laughter correlated with postintervention stress measures for vitamin C and watched humorous movies
persons in the humor group (r16 = -.655; P = .004). Subjects who and shows, such as 'Candid Camera' and
scored greater than 25 on the humor response scale had increased the Marx Brothers.
immune function postintervention (t16 = 2.52 P = .037) and
compared with the remaining participants (t32 = 32.1; P = .04). He found that ten minutes of boisterous
Humor response scale scores correlated with changes in NK cell laughter resulted in at least two hours of
activity (r16 = .744; P = 001). CONCLUSION: Laughter may reduce pain-free sleep. He continued his routine
stress and improve NK cell activity. until he recovered. He used the same
method to recover from a heart attack
• Blood Pressure: During hearty laugh, initially the blood pressure years later.
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increases, then it decreases to levels below normal
His amazing recovery story sparked much
“Seven days without laughter makes one weak” ~ Mort Walker
interest in exploring scientifically the
connection between body-mind-soul, the
chemistry and emotions behind it.

2. • Protect against a heart attack: According to study conducted by
Dr. Michael Miller, M.D director of preventive cardiology at the “Laughter is NOT the best
University Of Maryland School Of Medicine in Baltimore, laughter medicine – FRIENDSHIP is”
is linked to healthy function of blood vessels. It appears to cause The story of
the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the
Dr. Patch Adams
endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow.
Overall, average blood flow increased 22 percent during laughter,
and decreased 35 percent during mental stress.
“There is not a lot of laughter in medicine, but there is a lot of
medicine in laughter”
Dr. Hunter Campbell "Patch" Adams,
• Diabetes: Research in university of Akron found that dance twice M.D., is a medical doctor, professional
a week with peer support of comradeship and laughter 2 times clown, iplomat, performer, and author.
per week for 12 produced significant group differences in systolic .He is a social activist who has devoted 30
BP and body fat. years to changing America's healthcare
system from expensive and elitist to
• Reduce Pain: Dr. Rosemary Cogan, PhD, and her colleagues affordable and for everyone. He founded
conducted laboratory experiments to measure how the humor the Gesundheit! Institute in
followed by laughter perception of pressure-induced discomfort
thresholds. Laughter significantly increased discomfort thresholds. Dr. Adams devotes his life to the study of
Other studies confirmed similar findings that humorous what makes people both healthy and
distraction is useful to help children and adolescents tolerate happy. He invest all his personal
painful procedures.
resources to make them healthier
happier. He believes that laughter, joy
and creativity are an integral part of the
healing process and therefore true health
care must incorporate these elements.
Doctors and patients in Patch Adams'
model relate to each other on the basis of
mutual trust, and patients receive plenty
of time from their doctors. Allopathic
In September 2009 Lenny Ravich and Avi Liran had conducted doctors and practitioners of alternative
EDTSTM workshop – a powerful, energizing fun and laughter event medicine work side by side. Dr. Adams
for cancer patients and their families in Mount Elisabeth Hospital and his colleagues have practiced
in Singapore. One of the most difficult jobs is to cheer terminal medicine this way at the Gesundheit
patients knowing that they might be there tomorrow. One of the Institute in West Virgina for over a decade
patients who had stage 4 cancer gave us a personal testimonial: and have treated for free over 15,000
“6 months ago, the doctor gave me 3 months to live. Every day patients.
now is a bonus. I have two young daughters and I try to laugh with
them as much as I can. Laughter and smile help me to reduce the Dr. Adams is the real person behind the
pain. It distracts my mind from the horrors of this terrible cancer hit movie Patch Adams, starring Robin
pain. When this nasty pain comes, I need to take fast the Williams.
medication. But the medication has severe side effects. However, if
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I can force myself to smile or even laugh, the pain is reduced by “If you are putting on a happy face, a
more than 50%”. loving face, you can say it is a fake
performance because you are really
hurting. What is true is your good
intention. The performance serves the
intention.”

3. “A Laugh a Day with the Doctor’s Way?”
Laughter Yoga Research The story of Dr. Madan Kataria
BANGALORE STUDY
In December 2006, Laughter Yoga International commissioned a scientific
research project involving 200 IT professionals in Bangalore, India, to study
the effects of Laughter Yoga on their stress levels.
Seven Laughter Yoga sessions were administered to half the group over an
18 day period, with physiological, immunological and psychological tests
performed on each person before and after the Laughter Yoga sessions. Laughter Yoga is the brainchild of Dr.
The study was undertaken by one of India’s leading scientific research Madan Kataria, an Indian physician from
organizations. The results of the Bangalore study were extremely positive. Mumbai who started the first laughter club
in a park on 13th March 1995, with just 5
In the Laughter Yoga group there was a significant drop in heart rate, blood
people. Today, it has become a worldwide
pressure and Cortisol (stress hormone) levels were significantly reduced.
phenomenon with more than 6000 social
Positive emotions increased by 17% and negative emotions dropped by laughter clubs in 60 countries.
27%, Perceived stress dropped significantly, and Alexithymia dropped by
almost 9%, indicating a significant improvement in emotional intelligence. While there were laughter teachers and
Here is a brief chart summary of the Bangalore Study results: gurus before Dr. Madan Kataria, like Annett
Goodheart, Steve Wilson and many others,
Dr. Kataria’ Laughter Yoga (LY) is sweeping
the world with laughter as a complete
wellbeing workout.
Laughter Yoga combines unconditional
laughter exercises with yogic breathing
(Pranayama). Anyone can laugh for no
reason, without relying on humor, jokes or
comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body
exercise in a group but with eye contact and
childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real
and contagious laughter. The concept of
Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact
that the body cannot differentiate between
fake and real laughter. One gets the same
psychological & physiological benefits.
The charismatic Dr. Kataria is a teaching and
marketing genius. His techniques are fun to
perform and teach. He had created
innovative programs for certifying laughter
teachers and leaders and he conducts
serious research that supports scientifically
the effectiveness of LY.
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Dr. Kataria most recent
research had been published
by JCH in October 2008.

4. Social & Personal Benefits of humor and laughter: “Easier DONE than Said©”
The story of Lenny Ravich & Avi Liran
Laughter works much better in company. It is contagious and
infectious. We can’t resist laughing or at least smiling when we hear
hearty laughter. One man starts laughing in the train and the whole
train…
o Better Connections: Taking life with a pinch of salt, using laughter
and humor as tools, enhances our ability to affiliate or connect
with others. It is a great antidote to upsets. Non-ridicule laughing
will assist us in making better connection, first and internal Lenny (MA in Education, Samford
connection within ourselves and then when we can laugh with University, Alabama) spent his early
others (we don't have to "be funny"). school years in special education
o classes since he was diagnosed as
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people”
Victor Borge “overly joyous,” and therefore,
disturbed. His experience as an actor, a
radio DJ then as educator, an
o Less suffering: “Sometimes pain is unavoidable, Suffering is
education supervisor and Director of
optional”. Painful events are half as painful with the right reaction.
the Gestalt Institute in Israel, was
Finding the ridicule, the funny part of the absurd, laughing at our
reflected humorously in his platinum
own mistakes (while learning how not to repeat them) reduces
award book. His work with students
significantly the suffering such as getting angry, depressed,
anxious, guilty, or resentful. and thereafter with organizations and
individuals is based on his proven
o Clarity and detachment: Our emotional negative thoughts create methodology of laughter, humor and
unbearable noise that distract us and prevent us from a fair play as essential tools for the success
judgment of the situation. In his book “Noise”, Jacob Burak of education and business.
describe noise as “Unrecognized but powerful emotional forces
that create anxiety and uncertainty in our lives, uniquely personal
noises generated by the fear of being alone, of failing, or,
ultimately, of dying”. Laughter focuses our perspective so we can
think more clearly. It allows us to distance the bad and look at
challenges as they really are filtering out much of the “noise
distraction”. What seems like an elephant before laughter may
just look like an ant after a good hearty laughter.
Avi Liran (MBA) ex CEO of boutique
investment consultancy firm and a
o Liberal and Liberating: Laughter releases us from the over- Laughter Teacher joined his mentor
seriousness. Through laughter, we are freer, allowing our Lenny in the quest to bring positive
emotions and spontaneity to let loose. In this sense, Laughter is change. Together they coach, consult
the wings that allow us to fly beyond the tangible border of our and train evolutionary Leadership and
physical existence. positive changes in teams via Humor,
Laughter and Optimism. Organizations
“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul” and individuals transform to the next
Yiddish Proverb level in terms of business and personal
objectives, replacing bad energy,
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chemicals and karma using “Easier DONE
than said” methodology which add new
elements to the business world such as
self and team love, choosing positive jolly
and humorous attitude that brings
results.

5. o Tension Release: Laughter eases muscle tension. We feel “Laughter Therapy & Coaching”
cleansed from “mental poison” and stressful challenging The story of
eventualities. Laughter is a channel to release both physical and
• Dr. Annette Goodheart
emotional accumulation of toxic thoughts and burdens.
o Bring family closer: Ability to laugh at challenges embraces
interaction within the family, especially with teenagers. Everyone
prefers to be next to a happy person who enjoys a good laugh
than next to a “walking grouchy complain box”.
o Problem solving: The Italian expression “Attraversiamo” means
Dr. Goodheart (her real name) started
literally “to cross over” became famous in Elizabeth Gilbert book
Laughter Coaching in the 1970’s.
“Eat Pray Love”. Laughter and humor do not solve our problems.
Dr. Goodheart is one of the pioneers in
They set the right environment for us to be able to focus on how
helping people realize the healing
to resolve them and start crossing the road towards the desired
powers of laughter. She has developed,
destination. Laughter helps us accept what we can’t resolve or
change. It gives us strength to move on with minimal emotional treated people and certify coaches with
wounds and maximum effectiveness. techniques that heal people’s deep
emotional wounds and then move on to
“The human race has only one really effective weapon and healthier and happier living.
that is laughter” Mark Twain
Dr. Goodheart teaches a balanced
o Enjoy the rest of our life: Once we use laughter more often, we approach to laughter as a mean and not
wonder why we wasted all those years being so serious. We as a goal.
become more open to enjoy experiencing the satisfaction of the
moment before jumping to fulfill another desire. Dr. Goodheart promotes “Appropriate
Laughter”. She teaches her students to
o Healthier ego: Over seriousness is a fatal disease. Living with a appreciate other than laughter cathartic
demanding ego is exhausting. Our ability to laugh at and with mechanisms in our body such as crying
ourselves, releases us from our insecurities allowing us to feed our and use them as well when appropriate.
ego with “meaningful diet” such as giving, and loving which result Laughter can be misused; laughter
in immediate gratification that boost our ego and moral. should not be "laughed off" as
unnecessary, unproductive or frivolous.
o Laughter increase Altruism: Study, conducted psychologists at However, used at the right time and
the universities of Kent and Liverpool led by Professor Mark van place laughter coaching help in
Vugt has revealed that laughter increases altruism towards facilitating higher self determination,
strangers. better well-being and healthier
connections, on the journey to
o Spice: Laughter brings the spice to our soul, without it life is wherever YOU chose to go.
tasteless and technical. Passion and love flow in.
Equipped with lifetime experience,
knowledge and healthy sense of humor,
“When people are laughing, they're generally not killing each Dr. Goodheart does not take herself too
other” Alan Alda seriously and allows her students to
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take a trip also to the dark sides of
laughter such ridicule. She teaches the
extraordinary physiology of laughter and
its role in healing

6. Physical Workout:
o Muscles: Belly laughter exercises and massages the
diaphragm, abdominal organs and facial muscles. It tones
intestinal functioning, and strengthens the muscles that hold Dr. Judy Willis M.D. M.Ed
the abdominal organs in place. It contracts the abs and even www.radteach.com practiced neurology
works out the shoulders, leg, and back muscles. It leaves for fifteen years before obtaining her
muscles more relaxed afterward. Teaching Credential and Masters of
Education. She then taught
elementary and middle school for ten
o Increase Oxygen ratio in the blood: Breathing becomes years in Santa Barbara, California
deeper which sends much more oxygen enriched blood and where she is currently an Associate
nutrients throughout the body. Lecturer at University of California
Dr. Willis has published six books,
presents at conferences and conducts
o Burn Calories: It is estimated that laughing 100 to 200 times a workshops for educators and parents
day is a cardiovascular activity that can burn calories internationally about how children’s
equivalent to several minutes on the rowing machine or the brains learn best and about teaching
exercise bike. A hearty belly laugh is like internal jogging. At strategies derived from neuroscience
research.
least 15 facial muscles plus dozens of others all over our body
flex and relax. Our pulse and respiration increase, oxygenating Dr. Judy Willis is an authority in brain
the blood. (I lost 2kg in 5 days of Laughter Teachers workshop research regarding learning and the
in Paris while eating great French food. I also slept like a brain.
baby).
Drawing on her neurology expertise
“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight” and classroom experience, Dr. Willis
Phyllis Diller examined decades of learning-
centered brain research to determine
what information was most valid and
o Energizing: Taking life with Humor and laughter increases our relevant for educators.
energy, and with increased energy we may perform activities Her most recent book, Learning to
that we might otherwise avoid. Love Math: Overcoming Negativity
with Motivation ASCD 2010, provides
o Memory: Dr. Judy Willis research on RAD show that interventions for motivation
connecting critical information to positive emotional enhancement for the increasing
experiences in the classroom increases the memory. negativity of today’s students for
many school subjects.
Caution: Not everybody should laugh. There are some medical
conditions when laughter can be a health hazard. Laughter drills are One of the conclusions of Neuro-
Research and learning is that in order
not a substitute for proper medical consultation for physical, mental
for students to learn, they must be
and psychological illnesses and may not be suitable for everyone. It is engaged in a relaxed and enjoyable
contra-indicated for people suffering from uncontrolled high blood way. Fear of participating and making
pressure, heart disease, epilepsy, any kind of hernia, severe backache a mistake in front of the class and
and major psychiatric disorders. Pregnant ladies and people suffering boredom are two of the main reasons
why students fail.
from Asthma should laugh mildly.
In her book “Ignite”, Willis takes a
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“A hearty laugh gives one a dry cleaning, while a good cry is a reader-friendly approach to
wet wash” Puzant Kevork Thomajan neuroscience, describing how the
brain processes, stores, and retrieves
material and which instructional
strategies help students learn most
effectively and joyfully.

7. • "Laughter in and of itself cannot cure cancer nor prevent cancer, but laughter as part of the full
range of positive emotions including hope, love, faith, strong will to live, determination and
purpose, can be a significant and indispensable aspect of the total fight for recovery." ~Harold H.
Benjamin, PhD
• "A clown is like an aspirin, only he works twice as fast." Groucho Marx
• “Don’t deny the diagnosis. Try to defy the verdict.” ~Norman Cousins
• “A day without laughter is a day wasted”.
• “Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain” ~Charlie Chaplin
• “Every laughter gets deposited to your health immune system bank account. When
you feel that you have nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit.”
• “Smile, life is taking a picture of you NOW!” ~Avi Liran
• “Earth laughs in flowers.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
• I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. ~Woody Allen
• “If every word I said could make you laugh, I'd talk forever...”
• At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. ~Jean
Houston
• Laughter is an instant vacation. ~Milton Berle
• Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since
there is less cleaning up to do afterward. ~Kurt Vonnegut
• Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.
~Bob Newhart
• Laughter is the corrective force which prevents us from becoming cranks. ~Henri Bergson
• Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing. ~Ken Kesey
• Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. ~Victor Hugo
• Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects. ~Arnold Glasow
• Laughter is an orgasm triggered by the intercourse of sense and nonsense. ~Author Unknown
• A smile confuses an approaching frown. Author Unknown
• A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those
who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or
mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it.
Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to
anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours,
as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. - Author Unknown
• A smile is a powerful weapon; you can even break ice with it. - Author Unknown
• A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home. Author Unknown
• All the statistics in the world can't measure the warmth of a smile. Chris Hart
• A smile is the universal welcome. Max Eastman
• Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile.
Author Unknown
• A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. Charles Gordy
• Everyone smiles and laughs in the same language. Author Unknown
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• HOPE = H –umor O-pens P-ossibilities E- very Day