Natural killer cells have the role of seeking out and destroying tumour cells in the body, as well as battling the latest cold- and flu-generating viruses and other foreign organisms. These cells destroy tumour cells and viruses by releasing a toxic substance. They are part of the body’s first line of defence, and can attack foreign organisms even if they’ve never seen them before.

Among cancer patients, reduced natural killer cell activity is associated with an increased rate of spread of tumours. The finding that humour’s ability to boost natural killer cell activity is greatest among those with lower levels of natural killer cell activity is especially important for cancer patients. This is one reason oncology units of hospitals have become so interested in humour as a form of therapy. This exciting data is part of the broad new area of medical research called psychoneuroimmunology.

It is now clear that your daily attitude and your emotional state have an important impact on your body’s basic health and healing mechanisms. We have known for years that stress and chronic negative emotion have a suppressive effect on your immune system. This new research on humour shows that building more humour and laughter into your life has the power to boost your immune system, enabling it to be more effective for what it is designed to do – protecting you against infection and illness.

Dr Peter Spitzer, Medical Director

Ref: Dr. McGhee Health, Healing and the Amuse System: Humor as Survival Training. Published by Kendall/Hunt, 1999.