You know that
curiosity killed
the cat?
But no worries, we are happy to
answer your questions.
But no worries, we are happy to
answer your questions.
Reduction of Stress Hormones
Laughter reduces at least four of neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress response. These are epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.
Pain Reduction
Laughter (or even smiling) triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins can temporarily relieve pain, allows a person an overall increased sense of well-being.
Immune System Enhancement
Clinical studies have shown that humor strengthens the immune system.
Respiration
Frequent belly laughter empties your lungs of more air than it takes in, resulting in a cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing. Especially beneficial for patients who are suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments.
Cardiac Exercise
A belly laugh is equivalent to ”internal jogging." Laughter can provide good cardiac conditioning especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercises.
Blood Pressure
When laughing we are preventing hypertension. Women seem to benefit more than men for not known reason.
Laughter boosts the immune system
Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
A belly laugh results in Muscle Relaxation
While you laugh, the muscles that do not participate in the belly laugh, relax. After you finish laughing those muscles involved in the laughter start to relax. So, the action takes place in two stages.
Laughter makes you feel good
And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter subsides.
Humor helps you keep a positive,
optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.
Laughter helps you relax and recharge
It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.
Humor shifts perspective,
allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light.
A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Laughter is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun - which help you stay emotionally balanced & healthy.
Incorporating more humor and play into your daily interactions can improve the quality of your love relationships as well as your connections with co-workers, family members, and friends. Using humor and laughter in relationships allows you to:
- Be more spontaneous
Humor gets you out of your head and away from your troubles.
- Let go of defensiveness
Laughter helps you forget judgments, criticisms, and doubts.
- Release inhibitions
Your fear of holding back and holding on are set aside.
- Express your true feelings
Deeply felt emotions are allowed to rise to the surface.
Humor and playful communication strengthens our relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection.
When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment.
Laughing with others is more powerful than laughing alone. Shared laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting.
Humor is a powerful and effective way to heal resentments, disagreements, and hurts.
All emotional sharing builds strong and lasting relationship bonds, but sharing laughter and play also adds joy, vitality, and resilience.
Laughter unites people during difficult times.
PUBLICATIONS and SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH on Benefits of Humour and Laughter in Medicine and Healthcare 1940-2014
2014
Smiles are Everywhere: Integrating Clown-Play into Healthcare Practice Prof. Warren, Bernie and Dr. Peter Spitzer. London & N.Y.: Routledge, 2014
Audacity and Insane Courage – Dream Doctors' Secret Remedies Prof. Citron, Atay in Performance Studies in Motion: International Perspectives and Practices in the Twenty-First Century. Atay Citron, David Zerbib, Sharon Aronson-Lehavi, eds., London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama
The Humor Code: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny Dr. McGraw, Peter and Joel Lerner. N.Y.: Simon & Schuster
2013
How To Raise A Smile: The Sydney Multi-Site Intervention of LaughterBosses and Elder Clowns Australian Journal of Dementia Care Vol. 1, No. 1 June/July, pp. 22-25
2012
Drama Therapy Role Theory as a Context for Understanding Medical Clowning Grinberg, Zohar, Suzana Pendzik et al. The Arts in Psychotherapy 39, 42-51.
Still the Best Medicine, Even in a War Zone: My Work as a Medical Clown Raviv, Amnon. TDR: The Drama Review. 56:2 (T214) 169-177.
2011
The Effect of Medical Clowning on Pregnancy Rates After in vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer Friedler S, Glasser S, Azani L, & al Fertil Steril. 95(6) 2127-30.
The Rise of Performance Studies: Rethinking Richard Schechner’s Broad Spectrum (James Harding & Cindy Rosenthal, eds.) London & New York: Palgrave Macmillan
2010
Laughing to longevity—the work of elder clowns Bernie Warren and Peter Spitzer, The Lancet: 378, 9791
2009
Non-pharmacological interventions for assisting the induction of anesthesia in children Yip P, Middleton P, Cyna AM, Carlyle AV. Cochrane Database Jul8;(3):CD006447.
Serious Play: Modern Clown Performance Peacock, Louise, Bristol, UK and Chicago USA: Intellect.
2008
A positive stress-reducing response from laughter listeners Dr. Bachorowski JA, Dr. Owren MJ.Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA.
Healing Laughter: The Role And Benefits Of Clown-Doctors Working In Hospitals And Healthcare In Prof. Warren, B., (Ed) Using The Creative Arts In Healthcare And Therapy, Routledge, London & New York pp 213
Hospital Clowns – Modern-Day Court Jesters at Work Dr. Spitzer, Peter. Lancet 2006; 368: S34-S35.
Hospital Clowns Working in Pairs – In Synchronized Communication With Ailing Children Linge, Lotta. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being. 2008: 3, 27-38.
2007
The Definition of the medical clown's role with adult patients Scheyer R, Nuttman-Shwartz O, Ziyoni H, Harefua (in Hebrew), 147 (1): 25-9, 95.
2006
Laughter can trigger energy inside a person's DNA potentially helping cure disease
It's been said laughter is the best medicine, but no one has so far proved it. Now a Japanese scientist is unlocking the secrets of the funny bone, which he believes can cheer up people's genes.
Geneticist Kazuo Murakami has teamed up on the study with an unlikely research partner: stand-up comedians, who he hopes -- no joke -- can turn their one-liners into efficient, low-cost medical treatment. Genes are usually regarded as immutable, but in reality more than 90 per cent of them are dormant or less active in producing protein, so some types of stimulation can wake them up.
Murakami's tentative theory is that laughter is one such stimulant, which can trigger energy inside a person's DNA potentially helping cure disease. "If we prove people can switch genes on and off by an emotion like laughter, it may be the finding of the century which should be worth the Nobel Prize or even go beyond that," said Murakami, 70, director of Japan's Foundation for Advancement of International Science.
Three years ago, Murakami and Yoshimoto Kogyo Co Ltd, a leading entertainment company, jointly carried out their first experiment to let diabetics laugh at a comedy show performed by the firm's top stand-up comedians after listening to a monotonous college lecture. The two-day experiment showed that their blood glucose levels -- a key gauge for development of diabetes - became lower after they laughed compared with after listening to the yawning lecture.
His latest experiment with the entertainment firm spotted at least 23 genes which can be activated. Eighteen of them are designed to work for immune response, signal transduction and cell cycle, while functions of the remaining five others are still unknown. The findings, which Murakami says are the first of their kind, are scheduled to be published in January 2006 by Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, a US academic journal.
"A laughing therapy has no side-effect, meaning it is an epoch-making treatment for clinical medicine," he said. "One day it won't be a joke to see patients receive a prescription for a comedy video at a pharmacy for medical treatment.
Having a good laugh has long been thought of as therapeutic. Laughter has been taught by yoga masters in India, home to a growing number of "laughing clubs" whose members get together just to enjoy a chuckle. Expectations from Murakami's research are particularly high in Japan, where medicare costs are increasing year after year as the country rapidly ages.
Even with the research still in its early stages, a Japanese medical publisher, under the editorial guidance of Murakami's research team, began selling DVDs last year instructing patients with diabetes on how to laugh.
Laughter in hospitals reduces the health insurance costs
The ministry of economy, trade and industry believes that laughter therapy could be put to good use in a project as demand grows for preventive medical care. "If the relation between laughter and health is proved scientifically, it may have a big impact on ways to improve health," said Hikaru Horiguchi, an official of the ministry. "We also hope that a new type of industry will be created by linking the two different fields -- laughter and medical treatment," Horiguchi said.
With the ministry's financial support, Osaka Sangyo University in western Japan formed a joint venture with researchers, firms and doctors in 2004 to provide elderly people with a complete medical care program combining physical training and laughter therapy. "It was the nation's first attempt to launch a medicare business with laughter in collaboration with the government, industry and academe," said Mitsutoshi Nishikawa, a university official in charge of the "Daito Dynamic Project" based in Daito city in Osaka.
Nishikawa said Osaka was an ideal location to launch the project as the city is famous for its humour culture, with residents here said to be less hesitant to laugh in public than more taciturn Tokyo. "We believe there is a big business chance here," Nishikawa said. "With the project, we can expect a reduction in medicare and nursing costs," he said. "Moreover, it is important for elderly people to live long with good health." In the program, participants receive a medical check-up and gymnastic exercises while enjoying a comedy show performed by professional comedians.
"I used to laugh a lot when I was young, but I realized that I had not laughed much since getting older," said Kiyomi Yamanaka, a 61-year-old housewife participating in the program. "But after attending the event, my blood flow has become smooth and I can now get down on my knees, which I couldn't do before." According to project officials, the 92 participants polled said their combined annual medicare costs fell 23 per cent to 2.26 million yen ($A26,256) after they joined the program. Nishikawa said: "In the future, we want to make medical treatment something not gloomy but fun. That's our goal."
2005
Clown Doctors as Treatment for Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Randomized, Prospective Study Vagnoli l. & al, "Pediatrics, 116, 4, 1013, 2005.
2004
The Clown Doctor Chronicles Simonds, Caroline and Bernie Warren. Amsterdam & N.Y.: Rodopi
Bring me sunshine: the effects of clown-doctors on the mood and attitudes of health care staff Prof. Warren, Bernie In Twohig, P. & Kalitzkus, V., (Eds.)
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Health Illness and Disease Trumble, Agnus, Rodopi: Amsterdam, New York
A Brief History of the Smile, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest Australia
2003
Laughter therapy against depression, anxiety, hypertension and diabetes Dr J. Sales, Jornal Hoje, Brazil
2002
Positive emotions and laughter help to control spikes in blood sugar levels Hayashi K, Hayashi T, Iwanaga S, Kawai K, Ishii H, Shoji S, Murakami K., Diabetes research team, Nagoya
Humor Tickles Drug Center that Gives Hedonistic High Pearson H., Nature 2003, vol. 426.
2001
Effect of humour on allergen-induced wheat reactions. Laughter help relieve hay-fever symptoms Kimata, H., Journal of the American Medical Association 2001 Feb 14; 285(6):738.
Is Humour Medicine? Dr. Spitzer, Peter, The Australian Family Physician journal Vol30, No.1, Jan The lead
Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World. Otto, Beatrice K. Chicago & London: The university of Chicago Press, 2001
Tragedy, Laughter, and Survival Wooten, P. & Ed Dunkelblau. Nursing Spectrum (online)
Using Humor in Crisis Situations Sultanoff, Steve. AATH (online).
How Can You Laugh at a Time Like This? Klein, Allen. AATH. Oct. 2001 (online).
2000
Funny Faces, Bubbles, Gags: The Newest Treatment for the Smallest Patients Dr. Hyde, Michael. The Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 22-25.
Laughing reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease Dr. Michael Miller, the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore (online)
Emotional states and physical health Salovey, P., Rothman, A., Detweiler, J. B., & Steward, W. T. American Psychologist, 55(1), 110-121.
The Neural Ecology of Consciousness and Healing. Winkelman, Michael. Wesport, CT: Bergin & Garvey
Positive psychology: An introduction Seligman, M. & Csikszentmihalyi, M. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5
The healing effect of laughter and positive emotions Andrew Steptoe of University College London, UK,.
Adaptive mental mechanisms: Their role in a positive psychology Valiant, G. E. American Psychologist, 55
1999
Preoperative Clown Therapy for Pediatric Patients Smerling AJ, Scolnick E, Bagiella E & al, Anesthesia & Analgesia 88
Humor, Laughter and Play - Maintaining Balance in a Serious World Wooten, Patty Holistic Nursing Handbook. Dossey and Keegan, L (eds.). Baltimore, Aspen Publishing
Examining the Research on Humor: Being Cautious About Our Conclusions Sultanoff, S. The "President´s Column" in Therapeutic Humor, Publication of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor, Vol. XIII, 3
1998
Humor and well-being in spouse caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease Buffum, M. & Brod, M. Applied Nursing Research, 11(1) pp. 12-18.
Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life Seligman, M. New York: Pocket Books.
Humor and pain management Matz, A. Brown, S. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 16 (1) 68-75.
The Courage to Laugh Klein, Allen. Los Angeles, Tarcher,
Rx: laughter McGhee, P., RN, 61 (7), 50-53.
Clown and Trickster, an Encyclopedia of Tradition and Culture Christen Kimberly A., Denver Co, Santa Barbara CA and Oxford, England: ABC-CLIO
Humor and Wellness: Melding the Present and the Future Humor and Heart Disease Sultanoff S., "Therapeutic Humor, XII, 1-2, 1998.
1997
Changes of immunoregulatory cells associated with psychological stress and humor Dr. Kamei, T., Kumano, H., & Masumura, S. Percept Mot Skills, 84 (3 Pt 2), 1296-1298.
Humor and laughter in palliative care Dean, R. A. J Palliat Care, 13 (1), 34-39.
Clowning on Children's Wards Oppenheim, D, Simonds C, Hartmann, O. Lancet, 20-27;350(9094):1838-40.
You´ve Got to be Kidding! Humor Skills for Surviving Managed Care Wooten, Patty Dermatology Nursing 9,
Physician-patient communication; The relationship with malpractice claims among primary care physicians and surgeons Levinson, W., Roter, D., Mullooly, J., Dull, V., & Frankel, R. Journal of the American Medical Association 277(7)
Managing to Have Fun - Therapeutic Humour Skills and Development Weinstein, Matt. New York: Simon & Schuster
Humor Works Morreall, John. Amherst, MA: HRD Press, Inc.
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Fadiman A. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
1996
Points of correspondence between humor and psychotherapy Richman, J. Psychotherapy, 33(4), 560-566.
Is humor only fun, an alternative cure or magic? The cognitive therapeutic potential of humor Gelkopf, M. & Kreitler, S. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 10(4), 235-254.
Humour: An antidote for Stress Wooten, P. Holistic Nursing Practice. 10 (2).pp. 49-56
Compassionate Laughter Wooten, Patty. Utah: Commune-A-Key.
Health, Healing and the Amuse System McGhee, Paul Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.
Hospice: humor, heartache and healing Showalter, S. E., & Skobel, S. Am J Hosp Palliat Care, 13 (4), 8-9.
Now You are fit to Live: humour and health Dossey, L. Alternative Therapies 2,p.8-13, 99
The Performance of Healing Laderman, Carol & Marina Roseman, eds.London: Rotledge
1995
Survivor Humor and Disaster Nursing - Nursing Perspectives on Humor. Ritz, Sandy in Buxman, K. (ed), Staten Island,NY: Power Publications
The lifesaving function of humor with the depressed and suicidal elderly Dr. Richman, J. Gerontologist, 35
Play and Laughter, Moving towards harmony Dossey, B.M., Keegan, L., Guzzetta, C.E., Kolkmeier, L.G. in eds. Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice, Kolkmeier L.G., Gaithersburg M.D., Aspen Publishers, , p. 31
Hostility, Anger, and Humor-Coping in Schizophrenic Patients Gelkopf, Marc, and Mircea Sigal. International Journal of Humor Research 8.3: 273-284.
The effects of humour on Secretory Immunoglobin A levels in school aged children Lambert, N.K., Lambert, R.B. Pediatric Nursing 21 p. 16-19
Clown Doctors: Shaman Healers of Western Medicine Van Blerkom, Miller Linda, Medical Anthropology Quarterly, New Series 9 (4), 462-475.
Nursing Perspectives on Humor Buxman, Karyn (ed.). Staten Island, NY: Power Publishers
Shining through: the humor and individuality of persons with Alzheimer´s disease Hall, G. R., Buckwalter, K. C., Gerdner, L. A., Stolley, J. M., Kudart, P., & Ridgeway, S. J, in Gerontology Nursing, 21 (3), 11-16.
Humor as a cognitive technique for increasing pain tolerance Weisenberg, M., Tepper, I., & Schwarzwald, J.
How to be Funnier, Happier, Healthier and More Successful Too! Bates, Roger, Minneapolis: Trafton Publish
1994
Therapeutic uses of humor Sultanoff, S., The California Psychologist, Publication of the California Psychological Association, 25.
The Biology of Humor Dr. Fry, William, Int. Journal of Humor Research 7.2 111-126.
Humor and the Mental Health of the Elderly The Handbook of Humor: Clinical Applications to Psychotherapy Volcek, Mary Kay., Malabar, FL: Krieger, 111-122.
Humor: a nursing intervention for the elderly Hulse, J. R. Geriatr Nursing, 15 (2), 88-90.
The Use of Humor in the Treatment of People Kisner, Bette. The Handbook of Humor: Clinical Applications to Psychotherapy. Malabar, FL: Krieger, 133-156.
Laughter Therapy Goodheart, Annette, Santa Barbara, CA: Stress Less Press
Humor at Work Blumenfeld, E., & Alpern, L., Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers
Clowns of the Hopi Wright, Barton. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland
1993
Advances in Humor and Psychotherapy Fry, William & Waleed A. Salameh, Professional Resource Press
Effectiveness of the use of humor in the rehabilitation of people with SCI: a pilot study. Kennedy, P., & Marsh, N. J., Am Paraplegia Soc, 16 (4), 215-218.
Humor as a nursing intervention for cancer units Hunt, A. H. (1993). 16 (1), 34-39.
Humor as a Religious Experience Eberhart, Elvin (Cy). Eds. Fry, William F., Waleed A. Salameh. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press, 97-120
Managing Humor: When Is It Funny - And When Is It Not? White & Howse. in Nursing Management, 24 (4)
The Political Exploitation of the Clown Figure in Traditional and Popular Theater in Asia Epskamp, Kees P. International Journal of Humor Research 6.3, 271-284.
1992
The physiologic effects of humor, mirth, and laughter Fry, W.F., Journal of the American Medical Association
Humor as therapy for patient and caregiver Wooten, Patty in Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Guidelines to Success. Philadelphia PA: J.B. Lippincott Co.
Clowning as Critical Practice, Performance Humor in the South Pacific Mitchell, William E. ed., Pittsburgh and London: University of Pittsburgh Press, p. viii.
Humor in Counseling and Psychotherapy: A 20-Year Retrospective Shaughnessy, Michael F., and Terresa M. Wadsworth. Psychological Reports 70 (1992): 755-762.
Horrific Humor and Festal Farce: Carnival Clowning in Wape Society Mitchell, William E. " in William E. Mitchell, University of Pittsburgh Press, pp. 145-166.
1991
Humor Appreciation and Mood in Stroke Patients Gillikan, L. S., and Peter Derks. " Cognitive Rehabilitation
Humor and the Health Professions Robinson, Vera, 2nd ed. Thorofare, NJ: C.B. Slack.
Laughter in hell: the use of humour during the Holocaust Lipman Steve, Northvale, N.J:J Aronson Inc.
A qualitative investigation of the use of humor by emergency personnel as a strategy for coping with stress Rosenberg, Lisa, Journal of Emergency Nursing, 17:4.
They Used to Call Me Snow White: Women´s strategic use of humor Barreca, Regina, NY: Viking-Penguin
1990
Humor and immune system functioning Lefcourt, H., Davidson-Katz, K., & Kueneman, K., International Journal of Humor Research, 3 (3), 305-321.
Does the use of humour as a coping strategy affect the stresses associated with emergency work? Moran, C., Int. Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 8, 361-377.
Treating those who fail to take themselves seriously: pathological aspects of humour Marcus, N., AJP 44(3)
Feeling Good: Humor in the facility Green, L. Journal of Long Term Care Administration, Fall, 5-8.
Contributions of humor as perceived by the terminally ill Herth, Kaye, Am Journal of Hospital Palliative Care
The Light Touch Kushner, Malcolm, NY: Simon & Schuster.
By Means of Performance Schechner, Richard and Villa Appel, Cambridge University Press
1989
Humor: a therapeutic approach in oncology nursing Bellart, Judy, Cancer Nursing, 12:2.
Neuroendrocrine and stress hormone changes during mirthful laughter Berk, L.S., Tan, S.A., Fry, W.F., Napier, B.J., Lee, J.W. Hubbard, R.W. Lewis, J.E. & Eby, W.C., American Journal of the Med. Sciences. 298
Eustress of mirthful laughter modifies natural killer cell activity Berk, L. & Tan, S. Clinical Research, 37, 115.
Humor techniques for oncology nurses Simon, J.M. Oncology Nursing Forum, v16, 667-0
Making Things Better by Making Them Worse Fay, Allen M.D., NY: Hawthorne Books
Healing Power of Humor Klein, Allen, Los Angeles CA: Tarcher
Head First: the Biology of Hope Cousins, Norman, NY: Dutton
Making Humor Work Paulson, Terry, Los Altos CA: Crisp Publishing
1988
Mirthful Laughter and Blood Pressure Simon, Jolene M "Humor and Its Relationship to Perceived Health, Life Satisfaction, and Morale in Older Adults". Issues in & Mental Health Nursing, v11, 17-31.
Humor and the older adult: Implications for nursing Simon, Jolene M., Journal of Advanced Nursing, v14
Therapeutic Humor: Who´s fooling who? Simon, Jolene M. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Service,
Sense of humor, hassles, and immunoglubulin a: evidence for a stress-moderating effect of humor Martin, R.A. & Dobbin, J. P. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 18(2), 93-105.
Neurophysiology and the Curative Possession Trance A. Ruskin, Tara L., Medical Anthropology Quarterly, New Series Vol. 2, No. 3, Health and Industry pp. 286-302
A Laughing Place Hageseth, Christian. Fort Collins CO: Berwick Pub Co
Gallows Humor for a Scaffold Setting: Managing aggresive patients on a maximum security forensic unit Kuhlman, Thomas Hospital & Community Psychiatry, v39, 1085-90
1987
Does sense of humor moderate the impact of life stress on psychological and physiological well-being? Porterfield, A.L., Journal of Research in Personality, 21, 306-317.
That´ll Be Five Cents, Please!´: Perceptions of Psychotherapy in Jokes and Humor Dunkelbau, Edward. Handbook of Humor and Psychotherapy. Eds. William Fry and Waleed Salameh. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Exchange
The ´Conspirative Method´: Applying Humoristic Inversion in Psychotherapy Titze, Michael. Handbook of Humor and Psychotherapy. Eds. William Fry and Waleed Salameh. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Ex.
Handbook of Humor and Psychotherapy: Advances in the Clincial Use of Humor Fry, William F., and Waleed A. Salameh. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Exchange
Humor in Provocative Therapy Farrelly Frank, and Michael Lynch. Handbook of Humor and Psychotherapy. Eds. William Fry and Waleed Salameh. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Exchange, 81-106.
The therapeutic value of humor in aging adults Simon, Jolene M. J of Gerontological Nursing, 14:8, 9-13.
1986
Leffcort, Herbert M. and Rod A. Martin. Humor and Life Stress: Antidote to Adversity. New York & Berlin: Springer Verlag
Dillon, K.M., Minchoff, B., & Baker, K.H. (1985-86). Positive emotional states and enhancement of the immune system. International Journal of Psychiatry, 15(1), 13-18.
Rosenheim, E. & Golan, G. (1986). Patients´ reactions to humorous interventions in psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 40(1), 110-124.
1985
William Guinee, ‘Confrontation and the Creation of Balance: Ritual Clowning Among the Zuni’. Folklore Forum, Vol. 18, No. 1–2 (1985), pp. 113–35.
Achterberg, Jeanne, Imagery in Healing: Shamanism and Modern Medicine, Boston: New Science Library
Schechter, Joel. Durov’s Pigs: Clowns. Politics and Theatre. New York: Theatre Communications Group.
1984
Prerost, F. J. "Evaluating the Systematic Use of Humor in Stress Situations." Journal of Adolescents 7 267.
Black, Donald W. (1984) "Laughter". Journal of the American Medical Association, 252:21, 2995-8.
1983
Martin, R.A., &. Lefcourt, H.M. (1983). Sense of humor as a moderator of the relation between stressors and moods. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 520-525.
McGhee, Paul E.; & J.H Goldstein (eds). (1983) The Handbook of Humor Research (Volumes I & II). NY: Springer-Verlag.
1982
"Liminal to Liminoid, in Play, Flow, Ritual" in From Ritual to Theatre, The Human Seriousness of Play, New York City: Performing Arts Journal Publications, 1982, pp. 20-60.
Turner, Victor, From Ritual to Theatre, The Human Seriousness of Play, Performing Arts Journal Publications
1979
Cushing, Frank Hamilton. Zuni. Lincoln & London: University of Nebraska Press, 1979.
1978
Moody, Raymond, Laugh After Laugh: The Healing Power of Humor, Jacksonville, FL: Headwaters Press.
1977
Fry, William. The Respiratory Components of Mirthful Laughter. The Journal of Biological Psychology 19 39
Killinger, Barbara. "The Place of Humour in Adult Psychotherapy." It´s a Funny Thing, Humour. Eds. Antony Chapman and Hugh Foot. NY: Pergamon, 1977, 153-56.
Grossman, Saul A. "The Use of Jokes in Psychotherapy." It´s a Funny Thing, Humour. Eds. Antony Chapman and Hugh Foot. NY: Pergamon, 1977, 149-52. Haig, Robin Andrew. The Anatomy of Humor: Biopsychosocial and Therapeutic Perspectives.
Turner, Victor. "Frame, Flow and Reflection: Ritual and Drama as Public Liminality" in Performance in Postmodern Culture, Michel Benamou & Charles Caramello, eds., Madison, Wisconsin: Coda Press, pp. 33
1976
Cousins, Norman. (1976) "Anatomy of an Illness". New England Journal, Springfield, IL: Thomas
Anisimov, A.F. "The Shaman's Tent of the Evenks," in Schechner, Richard and Mady Schuman, eds. Ritual, Play and Performance, Seabury, 1976, pp. 125-138.
Towsen, John H., Clowns, New York, Hawthorn Books, 1976.
Schechner, Richard and Mady Schuman, Ritual, Play and Performance, Seabury, 1976.
1975
Kirby, E.T., Ur Drama: The Origins of Theatre, New York University Press, 1975.
1974
Farrelly, Frank and Jeff Brandsma. Provocative Therapy. Capitola, CA: Meta Publications, 1974.
Carmody, Denise L. Shamans, Prophets and Sages: an introduction to world religion. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub. Co.
Myerhoff, Barbara, Peyote Hunt, Cornell University Press
Myerhoff, Barbara. The Peyote Hunt: The Scared Journey of the Huichol Indians. Ithaca & London: Cornell University
1972
Castaneda, Carlos, Journey to Ixtilan: The Lessons of Don Juan, New York: Pocket Books,
1971
Fry, William F. Laughter: Is It the Best Medicine? Stanford M.D. 10 16-20.
Fry, William F. Mirth and Oxygen Saturation of Peripheral Blood. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 19 76
Kubie, L. (1971). The potential of humor in psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychiatry, 127, 861-866.
1970
Makarius, Laura. “Ritual Clowns and Symbolical Behavior”. Diogenes 1970 18: 44.
1969
Berk, L.S., Tan, S.A. Nehlsen-Cannarella et al, Humour associated laughter decreases cortisol and increases spontaneous lymphocyte balstogenesis. Clinical Resident 36
1968
Rappaport, Roy. Pigs for the Ancestors: Ritual in the Ecology of a New Giunea People. Yale University Press
1967
Lommel, Andreas, Shamanism: The Beginnings of Art, New York: McGrow-Hill, 1967.
1964
Cousins, Norman. Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient, New York: W.W. Norton, 1964.
Kiev, Ari, Magic, Faith and Healing, The Free Press, 1964.
1963
Michael, Henry, Studies in Siberian Shamanism, University of Toronto Press, 1963.
1960
Belo, Jane. Trance in Bali. New York: Columbia University Press, 1960.
1941
Honigmann, John J. An Interpretation of the Social-Psychological Functions of the Ritual Clown. Character and Personality 10: 220-226
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The following terms and conditions govern all use of the Time Smiles Ltd. website and all content, services, and products available through the website, including, but not limited to, the client area (collectively referred to as the Site).
The Site is owned and operated by Time Smiles Ltd. (collectively referred to as the Operator). The Site is offered subject to your acceptance without modification of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules, policies including, without limitation, the Operator's privacy policy and procedures that may be published from time to time on this Site by the Operator (collectively, the "Agreement"). The Site is offered subject to your acceptance without modification of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules, policies including, without limitation, the Operator's privacy policy and procedures that may be published from time to time on this Site by the Operator (collectively, the "Agreement").
Please read this Agreement carefully before accessing or using the Site. By accessing or using any part of the website, you agree to become bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access the Site or use any services. The Site is available only to individuals who are at least 15 years old.
Client area account
You are responsible for maintaining the security of your client area account, and you are fully responsible for all activities that occur under the account and any other actions taken in connection with the account. You must immediately notify the Operator of any unauthorized uses of your account or any other breaches of security. The Operator will not be liable for any acts or omissions by You, including any damages of any kind incurred as a result of such acts or omissions.
Contribution to website
If you leave comments anywhere on the Site, post material to the Site, post links on the Site, or otherwise make (or allow any third party to make) material available by means of the Site (any such material, "Content"), You are entirely responsible for the content of, and any harm resulting from, that Content. That is the case regardless of whether the Content in question constitutes text, graphics, audio, or computer software. By making Content available, you represent and warrant that:
- Downloading, copying and use of the Content will not infringe the proprietary rights, including but not limited to the copyright, patent, trademark or trade secret rights, of any third party
- You have fully complied with any third-party licenses relating to the Content, and have done all things necessary to successfully pass through to end users any required terms
- The Content does not contain or install any viruses, worms, malware, trojan horses or other harmful or destructive content
- The Content is not spam, is not machine or randomly generated, and does not contain unethical or unwanted commercial content designed to drive traffic to third party sites or boost the search engine rankings of third party sites, or to further unlawful acts (such as phishing) or mislead recipients as to the source of the material (such as spoofing)
- The Content is not pornographic, libelous or defamatory, does not contain threats or incite violence towards individuals or entities, and does not violate the privacy or publicity rights of any third party
By submitting Content to the Operator for inclusion on our Site, you grant the Operator a world-wide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, modify, adapt and publish the Content for the purpose of displaying, distributing, promoting, marketing or any other lawful use.
Without limiting any of those representations or warranties, the Operator has the right (though not the obligation) to, in the Operator's sole discretion (i) refuse or remove any content that, in the Operator's reasonable opinion, violates any policy or is in any way harmful or objectionable, or (ii) terminate or deny access to and use of the Site to any individual or entity for any reason, in the Operator's sole discretion. The Operator will have no obligation to provide a refund of any amounts previously paid under these circumstances.
What information do we collect?
We may collect personally identifiable information from you in a variety of ways, including through online forms for contact, ordering products and services, and other instances where you are invited to volunteer such information, including, but not limited to, when you register on our site, place an order or subscribe to our newsletter. When ordering or registering on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your: name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number or credit card information.
What do we use your information for?
Any of the information we collect from you may be used to personalize your experience, improve our website, improve customer service, process transactions, send periodic emails. The email address you provide for order processing will only be used to send you information and updates pertaining to your order. If you decide to opt-in to our mailing list, you will receive emails that may include company news, updates, related product or service information, etc. If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, we include detailed unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of each email.
How do we protect your information?
We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information when you place an order or access your personal information. We offer the use of a secure server. All supplied sensitive/credit information is transmitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and then encrypted into our payment gateway providers database only to be accessible by those authorized with special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. After a transaction, your private information (credit cards, social security numbers, financials, etc.) will not be stored on our servers.
Payments and refunds
The Site offers products and services for sale. The Site does not handle payments for these products directly but rather refers these payments to a secure third-party payment processor which handles all aspects of the payment process. Any payment issues or disputes should be resolved directly with the payment processor. Once we have been notified by the payment processor that a payment has been made, and that the payment has successfully passed a fraud review, access will be granted to the product or service being purchased as soon as possible, however, we make no guarantees of timeliness or immediacy. Free accounts are provided with a limited access to the Site that allows the user to test all available services prior to making a payment and determine if the offered services meet users needs. You may request a refund within 7 days of the payment only if your browser does not support javascript and you're not able to use our policy generator, otherwise, no refunds will be offered. Note that our system keeps track of your browser name, version and javascript support so we will verify each request for legitimacy.
Responsibility of website visitors
By operating the Site, the Operator does not represent or imply that it endorses any or all of the contributed content, or that it believes such material to be accurate, useful or non-harmful. You are responsible for taking precautions as necessary to protect yourself and your computer systems from viruses, worms, trojan horses, and other harmful or destructive content. The Site may contain content that is objectionable, as well as content containing technical inaccuracies, typographical mistakes, and other errors. The Operator disclaims any responsibility for any harm resulting from the use by visitors of the Site.
Do we disclose any information to outside parties?
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information, except to provide products or services you've requested. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others rights, property, or safety. However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
Copyright infringement and policy
As the Operator asks others to respect its intellectual property rights, it respects the intellectual property rights of others. If you believe that material located on or linked to by the Site violates your copyright, you are encouraged to notify the Operator in accordance with common DMCA policies. The Operator will respond to all such notices, including as required or appropriate by removing the infringing material or disabling all links to the infringing material. In the case of a visitor who may infringe or repeatedly infringes the copyrights or other intellectual property rights of the Operator or others, the Operator may, in its discretion, terminate or deny access to and use of the Site. In the case of such termination, the Operator will have no obligation to provide a refund of any amounts previously paid to the Operator. You further agree not to change or delete any proprietary notices from materials downloaded from the site. You must retain our copyright notice in the policy you create unless you have purchased a premium policy in which case you may remove our copyright notice from your generated policy.
Do we use cookies?
Yes, we use cookies (which are small pieces of information that your browser stores on your computer's hard drive) to help us remember and process the items in your shopping cart, understand and save your preferences for future visits and compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future. We may contract with third-party service providers to assist us in better understanding our site visitors. These service providers are not permitted to use the information collected on our behalf except to help us conduct and improve our business.
Third party links
Our site may contain links to third party sites. These third party sites have separate and independent terms of service and privacy policies. We, therefore, have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these sites.
Intellectual property
This Agreement does not transfer from the Operator to you any of the Operator's or third party intellectual property, and all right, title and interest in and to such property will remain (as between the parties) solely with the Operator. The Operator logo, and all other trademarks, service marks, graphics and logos used in connection with the Operator, or the Site are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Operator or the Operator's licensors. Other trademarks, service marks, graphics and logos used in connection with the Site may be the trademarks of other third parties. Your use of the Site grants you no right or license to reproduce or otherwise use any the Operator or third-party trademarks.
Changes
The Operator reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or replace any part of this Agreement. It is your responsibility to check this Agreement periodically for changes. Your continued use of or access to the Site following the posting of any changes to this Agreement constitutes acceptance of those changes. The Operator may also, in the future, offer new services and/or features through the Site (including, the release of new tools and resources). Such new features and/or services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Termination
The Operator may terminate your access to all or any part of the Site at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice, effective immediately. If you wish to terminate this Agreement you may simply discontinue using the Site. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you have a client account, such account can only be terminated by the Operator if you materially breach this Agreement and fail to cure such breach within 14 (fourteen) days from the Operator's notice to you thereof; provided that, the Operator can terminate the Site immediately as part of a general shut down of our service. All provisions of this Agreement which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity and limitations of liability.
Disclaimer of warranties
The Site is provided "as is". The Operator and its suppliers and licensors hereby disclaim all warranties of any kind, express or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. Neither the Operator nor its suppliers and licensors make any warranty that the Site will be error free or that access thereto will be continuous or uninterrupted. You understand that it is your responsibility to ensure that the policy you create is complete, accurate, and meets yours and your company's specific needs. We are not liable or responsible for any policies created using our services, and we give no representations or warranties, express or implied, that the policies created using our service are complete, accurate or free from errors or omissions.
Limitation of liability
In no event will the Operator, or its suppliers or licensors, be liable with respect to any subject matter of this agreement under any contract, negligence, strict liability or other legal or equitable theory for: (i) any special, incidental or consequential damages; (ii) the cost of procurement or substitute products or services; (iii) for interruption of use or loss or corruption of data; or (iv) for any amounts that exceed the fees paid by you to the Operator under this agreement. The Operator shall have no liability for any failure or delay due to matters beyond their reasonable control. The foregoing shall not apply to the extent prohibited by applicable law. The Operator shall not be liable for any special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the services and products offered on this site, or the performance of the services and products.
General representation and warranty
You represent and warrant that (i) your use of the Site will be in strict accordance with this Agreement and with all applicable laws and regulations (including without limitation any local laws or regulations in your country, state, city, or other governmental area, regarding online conduct and acceptable content, and including all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United States or the country in which you reside) and (ii) your use of the Site will not infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property rights of any third party.
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Operator, its contractors, and its licensors, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any and all claims and expenses, including attorneys' fees, arising out of your use of the Site, including but not limited to your violation of this Agreement.
Miscellaneous
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Operator and you concerning the subject matter hereof, and they may only be modified by a written amendment signed by an authorized executive of the Operator, or by the posting by the Operator of a revised version. Except to the extent applicable law, if any, provides otherwise, this Agreement, any access to or use of the Site will be governed by the laws of New Zealand, excluding its conflict of law provisions, and the proper venue for any disputes arising out of or relating to any of the same will be the state and federal courts located in Auckland, New Zealand.
If any part of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, that part will be construed to reflect the parties' original intent, and the remaining portions will remain in full force and effect. A waiver by either party of any term or condition of this Agreement or any breach thereof, in any one instance, will not waive such term or condition or any subsequent breach thereof. You may assign your rights under this Agreement to any party that consents to, and agrees to be bound by, its terms and conditions; the Operator may assign its rights under this Agreement without condition. This Agreement will be binding upon and will inure to the benefit of the parties, their successors and permitted assigns.
Changes to our terms and privacy policies
From time to time we may make adjustments to this policy. Changes will be made at our sole discretion. Site's users are encouraged to check this policy for such changes. Your continued use of this site following changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.
Contacting us
This Site is owned and operated by Time Smiles Ltd. If you require any more information or have any questions or suggestions with respect to this terms of service or our privacy policies, please feel free to contact us by email at smile@clowndoctors.org or you can also contact us by mail at:
Time Smiles Ltd. 27 Belleview Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Christchurch 8081, New Zealand or our European office: Auf der Mauer 9, 88131 Lindau, Germany.
This document has been last modified on 01 June 2025
Thanks to:
- Smile Times Ltd.
- Starship Foundation
- The Selwin Foundation
- Wellington Hospital
- Christchurch Hospital
- Princes Margaret Hospital