To download the 2010 AGM Presentation in pdf format, please CLICK HERE.

LAUGHTER IS THE JEST MEDICINE       

MEL BORINS M.D.

Mel Borins is a family physician and a public speaker. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and on staff at St. Joseph's Health Centre. Author of the books “Go Away Just for the Health of It” and "An Apple a Day- a Holistic Health Primer", he has lectured to medical audiences in Canada, U.S.A., India, Japan, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Korea and New Zealand on health and healing. His new book “Photos and Songs of a Pronoic Physician will be re-released in 2009.

Visit www.melborins.com

We often take ourselves too seriously. The emotions of sadness, anger, guilt, and hate can have destructive affects on health.

Feeling joy, bliss, ecstasy and laughter can release stress and be therapeutic.

When we laugh, our whole body laughs and it’s hard to feel pain

We contract the muscles in our chest, abdomen, shoulders, upper arms, face and neck

Tension in the muscles decreases after the laugh is over

We expel the residual air or the dead space in our lungs

Our heart beats quicker during the laugh and afterwards slows down below the starting rate

Neurotransmitters like noradrenaline, catecholamines and dopamine are released

Concentration of immunoglobulins (IgA) in the saliva increases and links a positive emotional state and healing

Laughter can relieve anxiety, discharge hostility, release guilt, build rapport, break down barriers, and strengthen the will to live

DR. MEL BORINS' LAUGH PRESCRIPTION

Never make irreversible negative statements about your ability to be funny.

Learn one new joke a day, write it down and practice telling it.

Take a two week break from sadness, violence and fear. Read, listen and watch only funny books, movies & T.V. shows.

If you find someone laughing and it's not putting someone else down or downgrading, join in and laugh.

Wear a funny article of clothing for tense days.

Have a joke area in your home with favourite funny books, tapes, videos, joke collection, funny sayings, etc.

Create joy in the workplace -joke contest, theme day, silly dress-up, bulletin board of jokes.

When you are sick that's the time to start paying attention to laughter and play. A smile is your umbrella.

Stop telling everyone to stop being so silly. Be silly too

Laugh for no reason daily.

No substitution

Repeat p .r. n.

            

Mel Borins, M.D.

Click here to view or download the 2008 AGM Presentation in pdf format.