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*Editor’s Note: Elephant is not your doctor or hospital. Our lawyers would say “this website is not designed to, and should not be construed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, or treatment to you or any other individual, and is not intended as a substitute for medical or professional care and treatment. Always consult a health professional before trying out new home therapies or changing your diet.” But we can’t afford lawyers, and you knew all that. ~ Ed
A Prescription for Belly Laughs
A long time ago now, I happened across a really good General Practitioner. You know how it can be a bit hit-and-miss with doctors (no offence intended—just saying!). But, sometimes, there is a rare individual who stands out from the crowd. And in my experience, they are usually nomadic and don’t always stay at any one practice for too long.
Well, true story—his name was Dr. Disney!
When I first started consultations, my flatmates were also seeing him about their various ailments. But what can I say—I always felt better for seeing him. He had a lightness of energy and I was aware of this while in his presence.
One day my flatmate came home after a visit to Dr. Disney and showed us the prescription he had written for her.
We all looked at it. It was a written prescription for “funny videos.”
My flatmate had literally been prescribed laughter for her ailments.
I recall she took this quite seriously and heeded his advice. The sound of her laughing carried all the way up to the first floor—where my bedroom was. The humour was infectious. I felt better just hearing her, and I believe she felt better too—after taking her laughter medicine for a few days.
Dr. Disney is not the first person to stumble upon laughter as medicine. One famous example is the story of Norman Cousins. In 1964, he was diagnosed with an incurable and painful spinal disease—but with a remarkable positive spirit, immediately set about dealing with his illness in his own way.
Norman was convinced of the healing potential of positive emotions having read up on research supporting this idea—including evidence that negative emotions like frustration or suppressed rage could cause adrenal exhaustion.
(It is worth noting that Norman’s doctor, who knew him well, was open-minded about his patient’s intuitive sense for what he needed to do to get well, while monitoring things to ensure any unnecessary risks were covered.)
So with his doctor’s agreement, Norman checked himself out of hospital and into a hotel room.
Over the following week or so, Norman binge-watched episodes of an American TV show, Candid Camera and some old Marx Brothers films. His self-made treatment combined continuous bouts of laughter, a nutritious diet, leading to deep, natural, painless sleep.
In addition, he hired a nurse to administer him with massive intravenous infusions of vitamin C, in his belief that this would boost his adrenal glands and also reduce inflammation.
This story itself gets funny, when we discover that his nurse doubled as a movie-projector operator, in order to deliver to Norman what nowadays we call “content!”
Norman found that ten minutes of deep, belly laughter acted like an anaesthetic, giving him at least two hours of pain-free sleep. And when the effect wore off, he’d get the motion-picture projector going again, leading to another round of good, painless slumber.
After this homemade course of treatment, Norman’s original life-threatening illness went into remission and he was able to resume a normal life—even though one specialist gave him only a one in 500 chance of survival.
I also see this as a case of mind over matter. We should acknowledge that Norman’s will to live was the basis of everything he did to recover. This laid the foundation for the positive emotions that played a major role in boosting his immune system.
There is a lot to be said for humour, laughter and lightness of being. My spiritual teacher of 22 years was one of the “lightest” humans and spiritual beings I’ve ever come across.
He constantly reminded us to “keep it light” as he would say, even while bestowing upon us vitally important spiritual truths.
Bear in mind, too, these days that “toxic positivity” has become a bit of a catchphrase.
While it may not be possible to be positive and light all the time—we can always make efforts to “lift” into a lighter way of feeling and experiencing life. Humour and laughter have much to offer.
Another very easy and simple way to feel more joy is through using mudras (ancient hand gestures that activate energy).
In fact, Hamsi mudra is brilliant for this. And amazingly, when most people try it a smile quite naturally comes over their face. I’ve witnessed this time and time again!
Mudras are game changers—they activate the subtle energies in the body, forming a circuit of prana (energy) which activates the chakras, cultivating a sealed “flow” that can really help you on your healing and spiritual trajectory.
They are also a wonderful add-on to any meditation practice, ushering in more depth of feeling and experience.
Hamsi mudra is specifically known as the mudra of joy, giving you an experience of an inner shift to a lighter way of feeling.
How to Practice Hamsi Mudra
Approach this single-hand gesture with a childlike spirit. Bring the tips of the thumb, middle, ring and little finger together. Extend the index finger upwards. Hold it at a comfortable height.
You have nothing to lose! Give this mudra a try and feel its benefits for yourself.
Perhaps now in addition to comedy videos, Dr. Disney prescribes Hamsi mudra for health and happiness!
Bonus: A list of Personal Comedy Favorites I Hope You Enjoy
>> “The Room” (Movie): This is actually meant to be a serious movie—but it’s famously dubbed “the Citizen Kane of bad movies.”
>> “Fawlty Towers” (TV Show): It’s a classic for a reason.
>> “Black Books” (TV Show): Bernard, Manny & Fran—loveable for all the right reasons.
>> “Monty Python”: Say no more!
>> “Coming to America” (Movie): Eddie Murphy!
>> “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (Movie): Steve Martin!
>> “The Office,” “Derek,” “Extras” (TV Shows): Anything by Ricky Gervais!
>> “The Party” (Movie): No words for this one… just laughter!
>> “Bridesmaids” (Movie): So good.
~
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