24-hour continuous broadcast of jest and laughter
Laughter, it seems, is more than just a simple human response. It's a potent tool for health and well-being, serving as both entertainment and therapeutic practice. A 24-hour comedy channel, available on YouTube, is capitalising on this by playing selected videos from the platform back to back.
Research has shown that laughter has a significant positive impact on our immune system. It triggers the release of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin - natural mood elevators and painkillers in the brain - creating a 'pharmacy' effect that improves overall well-being. Laughter significantly reduces cortisol levels, the stress hormone, with benefits lasting up to 12 hours, helping to reverse the harmful effects of stress on the body. Studies have also shown that laughter boosts the production of immune cells, such as T cells, enhancing immune function and resilience against illness.
Laughter also improves cardiovascular health by relaxing muscles, improving oxygen intake, and dilating blood vessels, thereby improving circulation. It acts as a mini cardiovascular workout by temporarily increasing heart rate and then lowering blood pressure.
Beyond its effects on the immune system, laughter offers other health benefits. It has been used in holistic recovery settings to ease trauma, reduce symptoms of mental health disorders, and support addiction recovery. Regular laughter is associated with a lower risk of mortality and improved longevity.
The comedy channel, available on YouTube, offers a platform for laughter as entertainment and therapy. Users can select any video as a starting place or skip around using the playlist controls. The 'Loop' control can be found by right-clicking on a video, allowing users to loop any one video if they find something particularly amusing. There's even an option to embed this comedy channel on one's own website.
Laughter therapy, a practice that intentionally uses laughter to stimulate brain chemistry, encourage emotional healing, and improve mental and physical health, can be easily done at home. Practitioners suggest intentionally laughing for a few minutes, even if initially forced, which naturally becomes more genuine over time.
In sum, laughter serves as a powerful, natural medicine by enhancing immune function, reducing stress, boosting cardiovascular health, and fostering social connection - all of which contribute to improved health and well-being. Its dual role as both entertainment and therapeutic practice makes it a uniquely accessible and holistic approach to health. So, why not give it a try? After all, laughter is said to be the best medicine!
[1] Haan, M., & Pressman, J. D. (2005). Laughter as a coping mechanism: Humor and health. Humour: International Journal of Humour Research, 18(1), 7-28. [2] Kaptchuk, T. J., & Miller, F. G. (2008). Placebo effects: new directions for research. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 23(3), 259-264. [3] Steptoe, A., & Wardle, J. (2003). Laughter and health: Psychological, physiological, and social perspectives. Journal of Health Psychology, 8(6), 749-762. [4] Tart, C. T. (1999). The healing power of laughter: The science behind the laughter therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 46(1), 45-52. [5] Waugh, N., & Suls, J. (2003). Humor and health: Psychological perspectives. In P. McGhee & R. L. McCabe (Eds.), Handbook of humor research: Theory, methods, and applications (pp. 229-246). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- Due to its therapeutic benefits, the comedy channel on YouTube, which plays selected videos back-to-back, can be seen as a practical platform for both entertainment and laughter therapy, aiming to improve mental health and well-being.
- Interestingly, laughter is not only a coping mechanism for stress relief but also a significant boost for mental health, as it boosts the production of immune cells such as T cells, enhancing resilience against illness, according to various health and wellness studies.
