LAUGHTER:
A HEALING TOOL.
by Dr. Lora Hurley, Traditional
Naturopath
You see before you a large, rectangular
bed of coals. The fire has
ceased to flame, yet the glow of the coals and the heat that
radiates
from them tells you to keep your distance or you will "get
burned." Or will you? The power of mind control allows
"Firewalkers" to walk upon hot coals without the result
of pain or burns. This is only one example of how a belief system
can affect a body‚s functions.
You are a unique individual. You are Body, Mind, and Soul. For
balance to be obtained and sustained, all three areas of Structure,
Chemical, and Psychological must be supported. Hippocrates,
"Father of Medicine", taught us that the psychological
is an often overlooked area of health that must be supported
if we are to truly become whole. The body/mind connection that
exists between the Brain, Endocrine System and Immune System
is called Psychoneuroimmunology. Psychoneuroimmunology describes
the complex interactions between different systems of the body.
When embarrassed, one blushes. When nervous, one's hands' sweat.
When scared, one's heart races. These are only a few examples
of Psychoneuroimmunology. It is the study of how the mind with
its' psychological and emotional states affects a person‚s
disease resistance through the interaction with the nerves,
hormone capabilities, and the immune system. Whatever happens
in the mind definitely affects what happens in the body.
It is not uncommon for people who experience intense exasperation,
frustration, or rage to become victims of their own emotions.
Experiencing "negative emotions" such as fear, anger,
or guilt; can negatively affect function of the kidneys, the
liver, or increase the pain threshold of your body. In effect,
the body can manufacture its' own poisons when in a state of
negativity or frustrated emotions. An example of this would
be if a friend or family member let you down and you became
depressed by something that they did or did not do as was expected,
negative emotions may bring on a physical problem like stomach
upset, diarrhea, or nausea. This negative feeling left unchecked
long
term may cause Enteritis, Colitis, or eventually Crohn‚s
disease.
Some people, due to religious upbringing, feel guilty and view
their
illness as a form of punishment for misdeeds that they have
done.
Sometimes they don't even know what the misdeed was. Feeling
guilty can induce prolonged feelings of remorse and self-condemnation
and this attitude can have damaging effects on the body's systems
which lowers the immune system making the person susceptible
to disease. This is the out come of "Guilt" that allows
the bearer to seek out punishment which will result in pain
that may not always manifest itself in the physical body. Pain
can also be experienced by the Emotional or Spiritual self.
Psychological Re-Programming may lessen their feelings of guilt,
remorse, and possibly help them to forgive themselves. Changing
the attitude of a person may un-block the space in the mind
that remorse, resentment, or self persecution fills. At this
point, treatment modalities need to be changed to alter the
negative emotions felt by the patient. One should attempt to
remove as many negative factors from their life as possible
and then try to enhance their life with positive emotions like:
hope, determination, and the will to live. Through willpower,
attitudes to overcome disease will help the physical body to
overcome the illness.
Positive emotions may provide extra help against the lowered
immunity brought on by stress. When experiencing "positive
emotions" such as hope, faith, will to live, festivity,
purpose, determination, peace, love, joy or laughter, the brain
secretes morphine-like molecules called Endorphins and Enkephalins
to assist the body in pain management and to increase immune
response. Modern research suggests that the human brain could
be considered a gland that can produce at least several dozen
basic
secretions already identified. The brain also has the ability
to combine these secretions like a prescription that the brain
writes for the body. What a person thinks or does determines
the type of mixture prescribed by the brain for the body. Our
ability to cope with severe pain can be enhanced as a result
of substances produced in the brain because some of these chemicals
have painkilling properties. Studies have also shown that when
the body is under emotional stresses, it can produce these painkilling
secretions. With these secretions, a strong mind through self-hypnosis
allows people to walk on coals without blistering their
feet.
Laughter benefits the body in many ways. Some of these benefits
are: assistance with the release of hormones, helps to increase
circulation of the body by increasing the frequency at which
we vibrate, and laughter increases one‚s disease resistance
by boosting the immune system response. Laughter causes other
biological changes like enhanced respiration and increases in
the number of disease-fighting immune cells. This causes laughter
to contribute to good health. There are reported beneficial
effects on the lungs, liver, heart, pancreas, spleen, stomach,
intestines, and the brain. It causes increased oxygen consumption
through accelerated breathing, gives the muscles of the face
and stomach a work-out, and relaxes muscles not involved in
laughing. Laughter can help the patient to confront personal
problems in a more relaxed and creative state. It can also help
reduce discomfort sensitivity. Since it can improve one's perspective
on life and on pain, it might be helpful in fighting unusual
stress making one more capable of coping with tensions and severe
personal problems.
Science and the art of healing converge when doctors become
basically concerned with the whole of the human condition, in
other words, when the doctor understands that we are body, mind,
and soul. One should use the body/mind connection when attempting
to help ones' self. I truly believe people need assistance to
forgive themselves and others. That which we cannot let go of
becomes our own torture device. All doctors should consider
psychological needs as part of his duty in caring for his client
and should try to inspire these positive traits in this person.
A strong
support group of friends, family, or caretakers can be extremely
helpful to a person with serious illness. In this way, strong
support supplied by these people may help maintain or restore
emotional equilibrium. Many therapies are offered to assist
the psychological needs of the body. Psychological Emotional
Re-programming, Shock release, and Emotional release are a few.
Harezi, Ilonka, "The Resonace in Residence", ©
2002 Ilonka Harezi
Hay, Louise, "You Can Heal Your Life", © 1984,
Hay House inc.
Truman, Karol, "Feelings Buried Alive Never Die",
© 1991, Olympus Distributing
Vanzant, Iyanla, "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up",
© 1998, Fireside
Cousins, Norman, "Head First", ©, 1989, Penguin
Books USA Inc
