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Joy!
Joy is a wondrous emotion / expression. It can brighten your day and bolster your health. It is a true renewable resource to be shared with all.
There are countless examples of the health benefits of joyful living. Some of you may have heard of Norman Cousins. He was a renowned journalist who, in 1964, was given just a few months to live because he had contracted a terminal illness. When it became apparent to him that his doctors were resigned to watch him die as they had pronounced, he fired them. He then checked out of the hospital, that he viewed as having a culture of defeat and over medication…not conducive to health. He then checked himself into a hotel and proceeded to watch funny movies (Marx Brothers) all day long, submerging himself in joy. He noted that 10 minutes of good “belly laughter” could give him two hours of pain-free sleep. Joy facilitated recovery. He laughed himself back to health. He chronicled his experience in a book called “Anatomy of an Illness.”
Everyday existence is forged by the emotions we inhabit. There was a brilliant Hungarian doctor from the early part of the last century by the name of Hans Selye who recognized the role that joy plays in health, writing several books on the subject starting with the ground-breaking “The Stress of Life.” He noted that persons who carry stress with them throughout life are prone to illness.
It is well known that the adrenal glands are the conduit through which persons process stress. It is also well known that these glands are programmed for 20 to 30 minute bursts of expression during which time one is to process the significance of the stressor and the options for addressing it (the “fight or flight” response). Those individuals that get locked in this response for years are recognized as having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Conversely, persons that carry joy with them throughout the day (or at least a good portion of the day) are more apt to be healthful…due in part simply because their stress is not blocking, or getting in the way of, their immune and healing responses.
Laughter is an expression of joy. It works by relieving stress (the stress of life) and releasing endorphins. Physiologically it boosts the immune system in many ways. It increases Natural Killer Cells that fight viruses and cancer. It increases T-cells that fight viruses. It increases Immunoglobulin A antibodies and gamma-Interferons. All this by way of saying that when you relieve stress you open the natural pathways used to rectify ailments.
Have you ever noticed that you can be smiling because you are happy AND you can be happy because you are smiling? There is a great TED Talk by Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert that suggests that joy and happiness can be synthesized. It is not found or created but is allowed and accepted.
There are some internet videos being viewed recently that have captured the public’s interest. They show people in crowded commutes where one individual starts to chuckle, then laugh uproariously. It is infectious. You can’t help but respond, as the other on-lookers, with increasingly broader smiles.
You may notice that the world seeks to be around joyous individuals. People appreciate a connection to joy. In the subway, the infectious nature of joy transforms the passengers…out of their solemn commuter trances into joyous levity. And so…their immune systems are freed to do their job.
Let’s all have a healthful, joyous day!
Dr. Miles is a naturopathic physician practicing at the Catalina Clinic of Integrative Medicine in Catalina.
Dr. Michael Miles is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in psychology and pre-med, he completed his studies in medicine at the highly regarded Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Miles offers a holistic, integrative general practice, which focuses on treating chronic and degenerative diseases, digestive disorders and hormonal imbalances, as well as allergies and infections of all kinds. He holds a special interest in chelation therapy used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. He is also very active in cancer research. He prefers non-toxic treatment techniques that include botanical medicine, clinical nutrition and homeopathy, but will offer pharmaceutical remedies when appropriate. You will find Dr. Miles to be compassionate, sincere and a strong advocate for your health. He is opening a new office in Catalina in June of 2014 which will feature hyperbaric oxygen therapy in addition to his normal services. www.catalinaclinic.com
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