Gelotology is the study of laughter

Laughter

Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli, fundamentally stress, which serves as an emotional balancing mechanism. Traditionally, it is considered a visual expression of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli...

 and its effects on the body, from a psychological and physiological perspective. Its proponents often advocate induction of laughter on therapeutic grounds in complementary medicine. The field of study was pioneered by William F. Fry of Stanford University

Stanford University

The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...

.

History

Gelotology was first studied by psychiatrists, although some doctors in antiquity

Antiquity

Antiquity and ancient may refer to:*any period before the Middle Ages, but still within the period of human history or prehistory...

 recommended laughter as a form of medicine. It was initially deprecated by most other physicians, who doubted that laughter possessed analgesic

Analgesic

An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....

 qualities. One early study that demonstrated the effectiveness of laughter in a clinical setting showed that laughter could help patients with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, chronically relapsing, non-contagious and pruritic skin disorder...

 respond less to allergens. Other studies have shown that laughter can help alleviate stress and pain, and can assist Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a branch of rehabilitation medicine dealing with optimizing physical function in patients with cardiac disease. CR services are generally provided in an outpatient setting as comprehensive, long-term programs involving medical evaluation, prescribed exercise, cardiac...

.

Types of therapy

Several types of therapy have emerged which use laughter to help patients.

• Humor and Laughter Therapy consist of the use of humorous materials such as books, shows, movies, or stories to encourage spontaneous discussion of the patients' own humorous experiences. This can be provided individually or in a group setting. The process is facilitated by a clinician. It can also be used in conversation between medical professionals and patients.

• Laughter Meditation possesses similarities to traditional meditation. However, it is the laughter that focuses the person to concentrate on the moment. Through a three stage process of stretching, intentional laughing, and a period of meditative silence. It is sometimes done in group settings.

• Laughter Yoga
  Laughter Yoga
  Laughter Yoga is a form of yoga employing self-triggered laughter. The "laughter" is physical in nature, and does not necessarily involve humor or comedy. Laughter Yoga combines unconditional laughter with pranayama...
  
  is somewhat similar to traditional yoga, it is an exercise which incorporates breathing, yoga, and stretching techniques, along with laughter. The structured format includes several laughter exercises for a period of 30 to 45 minutes facilitated by a trained individual. It can be used as supplemental or preventative therapy.

External links

• Humour therapy at the American Cancer Society