Is Laughter the Best Medicine? A Look at the Mental & Physical Health Benefits

Is laughter the best medicine? Learn how laughter affects stress, mental health, and physical health, plus evidence-based insights and practical tips.

The familiar phrase, “laughter is the best medicine,” holds more truth than many people realize. In everyday life, laughter offers more than momentary amusement; it plays an important role in supporting both physical health and mental health. A good laugh can ease stress, soften tension in the body, and spark positive emotions, even in stressful situations. While laughter isn’t a replacement for professional medicine or mental health care, it has long been recognized as good medicine for the mind–body connection. From reducing stress levels to helping people cope with pain and emotional strain, laughter remains one of the simplest and most accessible ways to support overall well-being.

What does it mean that laughter is the best medicine?

When people say laughter is the best medicine, they don’t mean it literally replaces prescriptions or treatment. Instead, the phrase highlights how laughter supports emotional balance, physical health, and overall well-being. A hearty laugh or a good belly laugh triggers changes throughout the body, activating muscles, stimulating breathing, and shifting the stress response. Genuine, spontaneous laughing can temporarily distract from pain, soothe tension, and create a sense of personal satisfaction even during difficult moments.

In healthcare settings, laughter therapy and humor therapy are sometimes used to help patients cope with illness. Some hospitals even bring in comedy programs or encourage patients to watch a funny movie to promote relaxation. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter can enhance mood, reduce stress levels, and help people feel more connected during challenging times. At its core, the idea is simple: laughter reminds the body that it’s safe, even if just for a moment.

Why is laughter good for you?

Laughter affects nearly every system in the body, which explains why it’s linked to both physical health and emotional well-being. When people laugh, their brains, muscles, hormones, and nervous systems all respond at once, creating changes that go far beyond a fleeting smile. Here are the physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of laughter on the body. 

Physical health benefits

1. Improves circulation and supports heart health

2. Relaxes muscles and reduces physical tension

3. Helps relieve pain by triggering endorphin release

4. Supports immune function through stress reduction

Genuine laughter engages core muscles, increases oxygen intake, and stimulates the diaphragm—almost like light exercise.

Mental and emotional benefits

1. Encourages positive emotions

2. Helps manage stress and anxiety

3. Supports mental health by improving mood

4. Increases personal satisfaction and resilience

Laughter can be especially powerful during difficult moments. Even in a painful or uncertain experience, humor provides emotional distraction and perspective.

Social and psychological benefits

Laughter is deeply social, with activities such as sharing a good joke, watching a funny movie with friends, or bonding over humour, creating connection. Laughter clubs and group laughter yoga sessions exist largely because laughing together strengthens social bonds and reduces feelings of isolation.

Stress relief from laughter

One of the most well-documented benefits of laughter is stress relief. When people are stuck in a stressful situation, their body enters a heightened stress response—heart rate increases, muscles tighten, and stress hormones flood the system. A good laugh interrupts that cycle by soothing tension in the body and relaxing tight muscles. Additionally, it improves oxygen intake, stimulates circulation, and creates a brief sense of calm once the laughter subsides.

Over time, frequent laughter may help reduce overall stress levels. People who regularly find humor in everyday life, through anecdotes, funny stories, or comedy, often report feeling more emotionally flexible and less overwhelmed. However, this doesn’t mean ignoring real problems. Rather, laughter creates a pause, allowing the body to reset before returning to challenges with a clearer head.

Laughter, humor, and mental health

Humor plays an important role in overall mental health, especially during emotionally challenging periods. While laughter isn’t a replacement for standard therapy or medication, it can be a meaningful supplement. For people dealing with mental health concerns like anxiety or depression, humor can act as a gentle emotional release. Watching comedy, listening to a favorite comedian, or recalling a funny story can momentarily lift heavy thoughts and offer relief.

In clinical settings, laughter therapy is sometimes used to help patients cope with fear, grief, or discomfort. These approaches recognize that emotional well-being and physical healing are closely connected. Laughter doesn’t deny pain—it coexists with it, offering moments of lightness when they’re most needed.

Is laughter the best medicine?

So, is laughter really the best medicine? The answer is nuanced. While laughter alone can’t cure mental health disorders like depression, eliminate chronic pain, or replace professional care, it can be a powerful supportive tool alongside evidence-based treatment. In mental health care, laughter can help counter emotional heaviness and may temporarily lift mood and encourage positive emotions. Furthermore, for patients dealing with illness or recovery, laughing can improve outlook and resilience.

Studies show that laughing may lower cortisol, the hormone associated with stress, and stimulate the release of endorphins (chemicals in the brain that promote feelings of pleasure and comfort). This can help relieve pain, relax the body, and soften emotional distress. Some integrative medicine approaches even include mind–body practices like laughter yoga. These practices don’t rely on jokes or funny things alone; instead, they use intentional laughing combined with breathing exercises to reduce stress and support good health.

Laughter as good medicine for the body and mind

Within healthcare and wellness contexts, laughter is best understood as a behavioral and social factor that supports overall functioning rather than a physiological intervention. Regular exposure to humor and lighthearted engagement can help reinforce adaptive coping patterns, improve emotional regulation, and support interpersonal connection—elements that are strongly associated with long-term health outcomes.

From a clinical perspective, laughter is notable for its accessibility and low risk. Unlike many interventions, it does not require specialized equipment, training, or financial cost, making it a practical supportive strategy across diverse populations. Incorporating humor into daily routines—through social interaction, entertainment, or intentional practices—can help sustain emotional balance during periods of ongoing stress.

Everyday ways to invite more laughter into your life

Laughter doesn’t have to be spontaneous or accidental to be beneficial. Laughter often comes first, while the good feelings follow. By incorporating humor and lighthearted engagement into daily routines, people can use laughter as a practical tool to support overall health and coping. Here are some simple, realistic ways to incorporate laughter into daily life.

1. Intentionally consume humorous content

Choosing to engage with comedy, such as a funny movie, stand-up special, or humorous clips, can help introduce regular moments of laughter into daily life. Consistent exposure to humor may help reduce stress levels and provide emotional relief, particularly during demanding or stressful periods.

2. Use laughter to support social connection

Sharing humor with others through conversation, storytelling, or lighthearted exchanges can strengthen relationships and foster emotional connection. Social laughter is associated with improved mood and can help ease interpersonal tension, making it especially beneficial during times of emotional strain.

3. Incorporate structured laughter practices

Practices such as laughter yoga or group-based laughter activities encourage intentional laughing combined with controlled breathing. These approaches are often used within wellness and integrative care settings to support relaxation, reduce stress, and promote emotional regulation.

4. Allow spontaneous laughter without judgment

Laughter does not need to be forced, productive, or meaningful to offer benefits. Allowing natural moments of giggles or a brief laugh, whether triggered by humor, memories, or everyday interactions, can help interrupt stress responses and support overall emotional balance.

How Charlie Health can help

If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health disorder, Charlie Health is here to help. Charlie Health’s virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides more than once-weekly mental health treatment for dealing with serious mental health conditions. Our expert clinicians incorporate evidence-based therapies into individual counseling, family therapy, and group sessions. With treatment, managing your mental health is possible. Fill out the form below or give us a call to start healing today.