12 Science-Backed Ways Laughter Is Becoming Medicine

5. Mental health applications: mood, anxiety, and cognitive boosts

Because laughter modulates neurochemistry and stress hormones, it functions as a natural mood enhancer and anxiety reducer. Clinicians and researchers describe mirth as an "antidepressant in the brain" for its immediate mood effects and ability to interrupt anxious thought patterns. Short laughter practices can produce quick reductions in tension and create a break from rumination. For people managing mood symptoms, laughter is best used alongside evidence-based treatments rather than as a stand-alone therapy. In therapy settings, humor and laughter exercises can foster rapport, lower defensiveness, and gently expose clients to safer emotional expression. For daily use, keep a small toolkit: an uplifting playlist of comedic moments, a list of light-hearted memories you can recall, or a laughter partner you text when you need a mood lift. These small practices are accessible and carry no pharmacological risk, though they should complement—not replace—professional mental health care when needed. (Source: Loma Linda University, 2019)

6. Spiritual and cultural roots: ancient wisdom meets modern science

Joy as medicine isn’t new. Ancient texts and cultural traditions recognized the healing role of cheer and gratitude long before modern labs examined biochemical pathways. For example, Proverbs 17:22—"A merry heart does good, like medicine"—is a historical expression that aligns with findings in psycho-neuro-immunology. Researchers like Dr. Berk note that such long-standing observations often anticipated scientific discovery by pointing to whole-person care: mind, body, and spirit. Today, integrating spiritual practices—gratitude rituals, communal celebrations, or faith-based laughter events—can strengthen social support and meaning, both crucial for resilience. When designing a joy practice, honor the cultural or spiritual traditions that resonate for you and combine them with evidence-based steps like scheduled laughter breaks or social laughter groups. Doing so can make laughter feel less like a task and more like a meaningful ritual that supports both well-being and belonging. (Source: Loma Linda University, 2019)