Here are two reports which once again prove that laughter is a great healer. The therapeutic aspect of laughter is being realized by several groups engaged in healing and treatment of various diseases. In fact, many hospitals and health- care centers worldwide have already incorporated Laughter Yoga as an alternative therapy for dealing with physical as well as psychological problems, pain, trauma and other symptoms of discomfort and anxiety.

A study done some time back by the Leeds University confirms that laughing helps get blood flowing round the body, and a good old belly laugh can help heal leg ulcers. In fact, the research team said that good nursing and the occasional laugh was a better way to get the body healing than using latest technology. Instead, lead researcher Professor Andrea Nelson said: "They key to care with this group of patients is to stimulate blood flow back up the legs to the heart. The best way to do that is with compression bandages and support stocking coupled with advice on diet and exercise. "Believe it or not, having a really hearty chuckle can help too. This is because laughing gets the diaphragm moving and this plays a vital part in moving blood around the body." During the study, the team concentrated on patients with hard-to-heal ulcers that had not cleared up after six months or longer. They found that adding ultrasound to the standard approach to care - dressings and compression therapy - made no difference to the speed of healing or the chance of ulcers coming back.

Just Laugh Away Your Weight!!

Another study confirmed that giggling for just 15 minutes a day burns enough calories to shed up to 5lbs of fat over a year, work shows. A big belly laugh uses about the same energy as walking more than half a mile, the US study in the International Journal of Obesity suggests. Laughing makes the heart beat faster and works many different muscles. The researchers measured the number of calories expended by 45 adults as they watched different TV programs, including nature and comedy shows.

Bouts of laughter when watching the funny film used up to 20% more energy than at rest.

This would mean that 10 to15 minutes of laughter a day could increase total energy expenditure by 40 to 170 kJ or burn off between 10 and 40 calories, the researchers estimate. Lead author Dr Maciej Buchowski, from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, explained: "Participants had 10 to 20 percent higher energy expenditure during episodes of laughter than during rest.”We have calculated that the energy cost of 15 minutes of laughter over one year may translate into annual weight loss of 4.5lbs."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12699016" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12699016