Laughter techniques for therapeutic use in medicine

Abstract

IntroductionLaughter has positive, quantifiable physiological and psychological effects on certain aspects of health. In the clinical setting, laughter interventions can be used with preventive intent (lifestyle medicine) or as a complementary or alternative therapeutic option to other established therapeutic strategies. Although the medical community has been reluctant to embrace and support laughter for health, laughter interventions are increasingly being implemented as a routine clinical practice in its therapeutic portfolio. However, the therapist will have to know, understand and manage the various techniques available to experience positive emotions (including hilarity-humour) and types of therapeutic laughter (spontaneous, simulated and stimulated). This review discusses laughter techniques for therapeutic use in medicine. Discussion A therapeutic laughter intervention usually consists of a minimum of three stages: (a) opening and warm-up; (b) experiencing laughter and (c) recovery, evaluation and closure. Breathing; facial and body gymnastics; laughter placing, intonation and releasing techniques are used in the beginning of each laughter intervention, both as a mental/ physical warm-up and as a disinhibition practice. Within the experiencing stage, spontaneous laughter is mainly derived from any kind of playing, clowning, dancing, move-

Simulated Laughter Techniques for Therapeutic Use in Mental Health

“…The Laughter Wellness method [28] is a Western evolution of laughter yoga sessions, designed to amplify a positive attitude, which integrates the best of numerous other similar modalities in a cohesive and fluid whole that is easy to implement. In summary, the library of therapeutic simulated laughter techniques and corresponding exercises is virtually infinite [27], and by considering many different possibilities and combinations with additional therapeutic techniques, further exercises can be developed and added: for different age groups (children, adults, seniors); to laugh standing up, on a chair, lying on the floor; with or without props, with music, dance, movement, using different body parts; depending on level of physical fitness, underlying health conditions, or preventive or therapeutic aims.…”

A Complementary Approach to Midwifery Practices: Universal Expression of Emotional Language, Laughter Yoga

“…Kahkaha yogası diğer terapilerle kıyaslandığında çok fazla zaman almayan, kolay uygulanabilir ve uygun maliyetli bir teknik olabilir. 42 Kahkaha yogası fiziksel, psikolojik ve sosyal yaşam kalitesini önemli derecede etkileyen bir uygulamadır. Kişilerarası iletişim, hasta bakımı ve kadın sağlığına olumlu etkileri, yapılan kanıt temelli çalışmalarla ispatlanmıştır.…”

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“…Simulated laughter is self-induced laughter therapy that is triggered by oneself at will, with no specific reason. Others are induced and pathological laughter [7] . With above mention Laughter therapy, 'Spontaneous' (humorous) and 'Simulated' (non-humorous) laughter have been applied in a wide range of settings to improve health and well-being [7] .…”