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Food For Thought |
The Healing Power of Humor Did you know that laughter might be one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself? Several recent studies show that laughter can actually promote healing from within. It was reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2-14-2001) that research done at Unitika Central Hospital in Japan found skin welts shrank in allergy patients who watched Charlie Chaplin's comedic classic "Modern Times," but not in patients who watched a video on weather. Head researcher, Dr. Hajime Kimata said, "These results suggest that the induction of laughter may play some role in alleviating allergic diseases." Dr. Kimata was influenced by previous studies of Norman Cousins, whose 30-year-old research suggested that laughter and a positive attitude can help reduce pain. Cousins suffered a life-threatening joint disease and reported that 10 minutes of laughter helped reduce his pain. In another study on laughter and health, Dr. Michael Miller of the University of Maryland Medical Center, led a study of 300 people, half of whom had suffered a heart attack or had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The other half matched the first group in age, but had no heart problems. Both groups were asked to answer two questionnaires designed to find out how much they laugh and what their levels of anger and hostility were in a variety of situations. The results showed that the group with heart disease was 40 percent less likely to laugh, and was also more likely to feel hostility and anger. A similar study by an Ohio State University researcher also suggests a link between happiness and the health of the heart. In this large-scale, 10-year study, clinically depressed men were found to be more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack as those who did not suffer from depression are. The Ohio study was published in the October 2000 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Is there a moral to these stories? Well, you might be inclined to say that these studies prove that health IS a laughing matter!
Several articles in the February 2001 issue of the British Medical Journal discuss the actual benefits that childhood colds and infections play in developing a normal and healthy immune system. According to the articles, having many older siblings, attending day care at an early age, growing up on a farm and in frequent contact with cattle, poultry, and cats, and having childhood measles and infections such as hepatitis A are all helpful in promoting normal immunological maturation and in preventing disease. Additionally, repeated viral infections (other than lower respiratory tract infections) early in life may reduce the risk of developing asthma up to school age. Another important conclusion of the article was that the risk of developing asthma by the age of 7 is reduced by about 50% percent in children with two or more reported episodes of common cold by the age of 1 year. These findings lead to the conclusion that children who fight a variety of normal childhood diseases develop strong and more potent immune systems as long as they aren't give antibiotics. ~Contributed by Dr. Jim Pizzadilli
from his web site www.pizzadillichiropractic.com
Want to look younger and more attractive? Take care of your skin. People who have facials in beauty shops or facial massage by a massage therapist often look younger. Why? Because massaging body tissues bring blood into the area, along with nutrition and oxygen. Oxygen is an antioxidant that cleans tissues and nutrients, helps the skin repair itself, and encourages it to maintain elasticity. Working the muscles of the face through regular massage keeps muscles toned and healthy, postpones sags and helps smooth out lines. The relaxation and other benefits that come from massage help keep habitual facial expressions from forming on the face (such as frown lines). Worry, tension and negative thinking also show up on the face. Massage releases stress. No matter what your age, a happy face is much more attractive than an unhappy one! Talk to your skin specialist or massage therapist today. You can even learn how to massage your own face. ~Contributed by Jackie Kosednar
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