Laughter: Medicine Without a Prescription
- Dr. Howard A. Friedman MD, founder of HHOM LLC
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
9--09-2025
By Dr. Howard Friedman MD | Veteran | U.S. Army Medical Corps | Internal Medicine | HHOM LLC
A chuckle cuts the day in two,
A lighter step, a brighter view.
The body heals when joy takes part,
Laughter writes its script on the heart.
—Dr. Howard Friedman, M.D.
Thesis
Medicine doesn’t always come in pills or procedures. Laughter has measurable biological benefits—lowering stress hormones, easing pain, strengthening immunity, and improving heart health. This blog highlights why a good laugh belongs in every health plan.
Introduction – Why We Laugh
The old saying “laughter is the best medicine” holds more truth than metaphor. Laughter touches physical, mental, and social health all at once. The body needs antidotes to inflammation—gratitude is one, and laughter is another. A good laugh relaxes muscles, triggers endorphins, and boosts dopamine and serotonin. It eases tension, improves sleep, strengthens relationships, relieves pain, and even enhances oxygenation. In this blog, we’ll explore why laughter deserves a place in every prescription pad.
Physiological Effects
When we laugh, the body releases endorphins—the pleasure hormones that counter cortisol and epinephrine, the very chemicals that drive inflammation. Improved oxygenation, lower blood pressure, and reduced inflammation all work together to protect cardiovascular health. At the same time, dopamine and serotonin elevate mood, carrying the same anti-depressant power that modern medicine often tries to bottle. Pain relief often follows in laughter’s wake, a natural byproduct of the body’s own chemistry.
Immune-Boosting Power
The benefits go deeper than mood. By quieting inflammation, laughter strengthens immune defenses. Natural killer (NK) cells—the body’s patrol against infection and cancer—become more active. Cytokines, the messengers of immunity, are influenced in ways that prime resistance against disease. It’s not just apples that keep the doctor away; a good laugh may do the same. Of course, one chuckle won’t remake your health. But a life filled with regular laughter creates resilience against infection, illness, and even cancer.
Laughter and Pain
Because of these effects, laughter belongs on cancer wards and in pain clinics as much as in comedy clubs. It eases chronic illness not just with distraction, but through real biological change. One example is Laughter Yoga, a discipline that combines intentional laughter with breathing exercises. It may sound unusual, but many communities offer classes, and it is also widely available online. Whether through yoga, shared humor, or a funny story told among friends, laughter opens a non-pharmacologic path to relief.
The Social Side
Laughter is also social medicine. It diffuses tension, softens conflict, and strengthens bonds. In war zones and in homes, laughter reminds us of our shared humanity. Laughing together prevents isolation, restores connection, and builds resilience in communities. Sometimes the absurdity of life—and even of war—can only be met with a laugh that cuts through fear.
Practical Ways to Add Laughter
Laughter doesn’t have to wait for chance—it can be built into daily life. Watch a comedy, share a joke, or allow yourself to see the absurd in ordinary moments. Seek out friends who laugh easily and let their joy be contagious. For those who want something more structured, consider Laughter Yoga. This practice blends intentional laughter with deep breathing and is offered in some communities and online. It may feel unusual at first, but for many it becomes a reliable way to unlock the body’s natural medicine.
Conclusion – A Prescription You Can Fill Yourself
Unlike most prescriptions, laughter needs no pharmacy. It is renewable daily, without side effects, and tailored to every patient. In a world of pills and procedures, we should remember that sometimes the most powerful medicine is the simplest: a laugh.
The pill may dull, the scalpel mend,
But laughter heals in ways that bend.
No cost, no script, no dose to chart—
It writes its cure upon the heart.
Dr. Howard Friedman M.D.
—Dr. Howard Friedman MD
Board-Certified | Internal Medicine | Veteran | U.S. Army Medical Corps
Founder of Howard’s House of Medicine (HHOM LLC)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How does laughter improve physical health?
A: Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. It lowers stress hormones like cortisol, improves oxygenation, relaxes muscles, and even helps regulate blood pressure. Over time, this protects cardiovascular health and reduces the burden of chronic inflammation.
Q: Can laughter really strengthen the immune system?
A: Yes. Research shows that laughter boosts natural killer (NK) cell activity, supports antibody production, and influences cytokines in ways that improve immune defense. This means that regular laughter can build resilience against infections and even contribute to cancer prevention.
Q: Why is shared laughter especially powerful?
A: Laughing together is social medicine. It strengthens bonds, diffuses conflict, and prevents isolation. For veterans, families, and communities alike, shared laughter restores connection and builds collective resilience. It’s more than mood—it’s medicine that works best when given in company.
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