Laughing and health are two concepts historically thought to be interrelated. Science is demonstrating that good humour and laughing can be very positive elements: laughing is healthy for our physical, psychological social and spiritual health.
The aim of this article is to present a retrospective examination on the origin and evolution of “laughter therapy” and to present the available scientific evidence on the effects of laughing, with a description its indications. A second aim is to describe how laughing and good humour could become a part of nursing care.
In our setting, the application of laughing and good hum or must be carried out in an intelligent manner and at the right time, creating a beneficial framework for the therapeutic relationship and constituting a powerful therapeutic tool that reinforces other forms of therapy. Given the closeness established between patient and nurse, it is the nurse who holds the key for the implementation of this therapeutic modality.