Laughter has long been touted as the best medicine — and a seminar today is aiming to prove this.

The benefits of a good giggle can help those suffering from a range of conditions, including cancer and addictions, according to host Stephanie Hill, of laughter therapy group Grin and Tonic.

She is introducing the concept of “Laughtercise” to Bermuda and believes it offers physiological and psychological benefits for everything from dementia to depression.

“Laughter goes across race, gender, age and ethnicity, which is why it can be such a fabulous way to re-energise, de-stress, and ground people,” Ms Hill said.

“I have worked with teachers and children, executives and management teams, along with patients, support groups and several other organisations who needed to galvanise or de-stress or simply have a really good energiser.

“In Bermuda, I work with a vast array of different people, from those with dementia to children to those who are visually impaired.

“I have worked with people who have depression to those who simply need something to help them de-stress.”

Laughtercise has been developed from laughter yoga, which was created by medical doctor Madan Kataria in Mumbai, India.

The unique routines combine group laughter exercises with yoga breathing. The movement, which started with just five people in a public park in Mumbai in 1995, has grown into more than 6,000 Laughter Yoga clubs in more than 60 countries.

Ms Hill said a “great many people” were now studying the benefits of laughter as a therapeutic tool.

Among the hospitals to embrace this growing trend in integrative medicine is Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, which hosts regular sessions.

Experts at the hospital’s Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine reported that laughter decreases stress hormones.

Ms Hill said laughter has been found to lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, increase muscle flexion and boost immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T cells.

It also increases levels of disease-fighting proteins called gamma-interferon and B cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies.

“Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being,” Ms Hill said.

“Hospitals around the world are bringing formal and informal laughter therapy programmes into their therapeutic regimens.”

Ms Hill emphasised that the therapy was designed to be complementary to any prescribed medical treatments and not a replacement, but that patients and their families and friends had praised the benefits.

“In the UK I have been working with many cancer patients and their families as a way to help all of them through cancer,” she said.

“This isn’t just about the patient, it’s about the family, the friends and the medical community, who can all use these proven techniques to deal with cancer and a variety of other conditions.

“A friend of mine with breast cancer is my biggest advocate and spokesperson. She had cancer twice before and told me she wished she had laughter exercises then for herself and others — it released tension and gave her a level of control.

“Laughter quickly boosts our immune system with fast increases of levels of antiviral and anti-infection cells and cells that fight cancer.

“It unwinds the negative effects of stress by reducing stress-related hormones and peptide levels. Cortisol levels can drop significantly.

“It also releases endorphins, which stimulate feelings of caring and forgiveness in addition to acting as a natural painkiller. Endorphins create a positive state of mind and boost optimism, confidence and feelings of self-worth.”

Ms Hill has only been hosting Laughtercise sessions on the Island for about four weeks but it is already proving popular.

“The response in Bermuda has been phenomenal,” she said.

“Already people are asking me to come and work with their companies and groups.

“There will always be cynical people and the vast majority of people laugh.

“Give it a go is all I have to say — many who were sceptical have now become my biggest advocates.”

The seminar, Take Laughter Seriously, is free and will be at Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre from 5.45pm today. All are welcome.

“Anyone who is open to finding a really lovely, free and simple way of helping themselves and others should attend,” Ms Hill said.

To register, call 236-1001 or e-mail glandy@chc.bm

For more information about Grin and Tonic or to contact Ms Hill, visit www.grinandtonic.org.uk.