Video: Jtube: Patch Adams

Published: March 5, 2011

Is laughter truly the best medicine?

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Visitor Comments: 25

(24) Anonymous, June 20, 2011 2:35 PM

Good job!

Well done. I believe this is 100% true - that laughter affects our body in wonderful ways.

(23) intrigued, May 24, 2011 6:32 PM

Hes doing more for the patients than all the doctors in the world. Hashem decides whose going to live, but at least we can help them enjoy life day by day

(22) Rivka Ben-Ari, April 27, 2011 1:40 PM

If only laughter could be adopted by all, imagine what a beautiful world this could be!!

(21) Bernard Yablin MD, April 17, 2011 2:53 PM

Laughter as medicine

I only wish that it could have a longer lastng effect..

(20) Bill Gross, April 8, 2011 6:08 AM

Yes...

Yes. Laughter is the best medicine. That and Antibiotics.

(19) Sharon, March 10, 2011 4:28 PM

Brilliant

All I can say is that was heart wrenching, wish I had a center close enough to help out doing that much good. :-)

(18) Rosemarie, March 10, 2011 12:06 PM

Yes, laughter is the best medicine.

(17) Rose, March 9, 2011 7:07 PM

Patch Adams

so often we see the truth displayed through a film. I am so glad to read the above comments which educated me about actual hospitals where therapy includes humor, and the clowns are given the respect they deserve. I have visited sick people in hospitals and nursing homes, and not always have I been treated with much respect or dignity by the "powers in charge". Compassion - what an important word for adminisstrative types to learn!

Dina, March 24, 2011 11:19 AM

there are hospitals who offer medical clowns

Here in Israel most hospitals offer 'medical clowns' to help children. Our most recent experience was at Hadassah hospital in JM where the medical clowns would come at LEAST once a day and walk around cheering the kids up. he also assisted us with difficult procedures by keeping the child's attention away from the scary equipment. Somehow, in our child's hospitalizations in the States we did not find the clowns (though there sometimes were) to be as much part of the system as they are here.

(16) Susan, March 8, 2011 11:36 PM

Laughter is Good Medicine

We could use more doctors who have a healthy sense of humor. A spoon full of good, fun humor really does help the medicine go down. :-)

(15) Joshua, March 8, 2011 10:39 PM

Por supuesto que sí!

I believe that laughter is good medicine! and not just laugh! favorable subjective beliefs but not necessarily as adjusted to reality, is beneficial! we should all give the opportunity to hope for the best of life, of God, and enjoy to the extent that increases our effectiveness for our beliefs! : shalom!

(14) Yocheved49, March 8, 2011 7:37 PM

G-d said it first......

Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

(13) Devorah, March 8, 2011 4:12 PM

Yeah, "Smart Clown."

One of the biggest new innovations in Medicine is actually the role of hospital Clowns. There are teams of clowns that circulate amongst different hospitals and make a rotation of appearances. They bring surprises, glee, cheer, and most definitely, all those endorphins and cardivascular benifts that Patches listed, among others. They naturally focus mainly on the children, but you will see them in every wing, on up to geriatrics. Then there are the in-house clowns that are employed full-time at one site, such as exist in a couple of Hospitals in Israel. Those clowns are, fortunately, recognized and valued by these hospital directors and doctors for the enormous role they play in the healing process, both physically and emotionally, to the extent that they are in fact included in Medical team meetings when planning a protcol of difficult treatment. I believe some have degrees in social work, beyond actual clown-school training. This is the real thing! Then let us not forget the innovative contribution of Norman Cousins a"h, who basically cured himself of a hopeless disease through his own formulation of Laughter Therapy, which has since turned into a movement. So there, you mean old grouchy doctor!

(12) Miriam Lea Levy, March 8, 2011 3:16 PM

Bringing some happy moments to a sick person,gives them a better chance to outlive his sickness much better and forget for an amount of time about his or her pain I even think its a good Mitzve , its a privilege to make a person laugh look howe it makes you feel,it makes you better to!!!!!!!.......

(11) aliza, March 8, 2011 3:01 PM

awesome!

patch adams is an awesome film that shows the miracles laughter can create and how sad it is that people didn't used to understand this. making someone happy and have fun when they are in pain is the best thing you can do for them! thank you!

(10) yehudis, March 8, 2011 2:56 PM

would that everyone involved in healing took a lesson from Robin! Maybe society's comedians are the real healers; at the very least they help us not take ourselves too seriously...

(9) Bob, March 8, 2011 2:44 PM

So true

Think of the last time you laughed so hard you couldn't breathe. The afterglow of that experience is certainly healing of body and mind!

(8) Simon, March 8, 2011 1:59 PM

Rejoice in the LORD always, again l say rejoice.

When people are happy they rejoice, they laugh and praise God. Why would anybody rejoice on a hospital bed or some other painful or restricting problems? It is not possible to truly rejoice in such conditions or may not be sustainable. When we talk to God and thank Him for being what He is to us, He responds, His word says He supplies us with peace that passes all understanding, why? because we trusted on Him and did not focus on our condition, trust is the key plus being aware of His presence.

(7) Chavi, March 8, 2011 3:51 AM

Is laughter truly the best medicine?

There is none better!

(6) Louise, March 7, 2011 11:27 PM

Laughter: GREAT MEDICINE FIR THE SOUL

We need laughter to help lighten up our souls. God has got to enjoy it when we, His children, laugh. It does aid in healing: physical and mental. Were we not created to laugh. As were we are created in God's image, do we ever consider that God laughs too? Patch Adams is a true movie. Unfortunitately, some did nto understand the value of the joy that he brought with him. The best medicine? It is a good place to start. Thanks for the reminder: laugh.

(5) Semyon, March 7, 2011 9:44 PM

Lufter

It looks like some doctors don't like to be helped. Sad.........

(4) Anonymous, March 7, 2011 9:37 PM

Patch Adams shows a sample of the benefits of laughter.

Laughter does many things. It relieves stress, generates positive self-talk, and opens the door for an individual be be their real self.

(3) Lyone, March 7, 2011 5:44 PM

Still So Many

.....doctors need to learn the lessons of Basic Humanity 101. I have met so many that are just so BAD, simply because they have no bedside manner whatsoever. Men, women, young and old--why can't doctors learn to treat their patients with some warmth? It would go such a long way in improving health care! Patients would feel freer about asking important questions, and would actually retain the information they get better.

(2) Chaya Sarah Stark, March 7, 2011 3:22 PM

This was so inspiring. Great idea for Purim.

(1) hensen, March 7, 2011 1:16 PM

too much, eh?

cum on. laugh its good, healthy, jolly, puts people in good moods whatever way you want to say it. its definitely a positive act, just make sure not at your rabbi's funeral.

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