Laugh in the Face of Allergies

Research at Japan's Unitika Central Hospital demonstrated that allergic reactions could be reduced by the healing power of laughter.

26 patients with allergies to dust mites were given an injection of allergen in order to produce a skin rash. Subjects were then shown a video for 87 minutes. Some of the group were shown 1 1/2 hours of weather news, while the rest watched a Charlie Chaplin classic comedy film.

The size of each allergic reaction was measured before and after the films. Skin welts shrank in the patients watching Chaplin, but not in those that were forced to watch the weather reports.

Scientific evidence already exists to suggest that stress weakens the immune system, whilst laughter reduces the effects of stress.

So can laughter really fight allergies, or are we just allergic to bad news?

Tuesday, 27 February 2001