Meet The Woman Who Cures Asthma And Depression With Laughter

A mother Lynette Webbe claims she cures asthma and depression with laughter after she struggled with the disease for six years and has advised medical personnel to refer patients to her classes.

The Daily Mail reports:

Lynette 59, suffered with the respiratory condition for six years before she started holding laughter therapy classes. A year on, she said her doctor has noticed a huge difference in her condition and thinks the NHS should refer other patients to her classes. She also says the classes, which involve giggling, storytelling, dancing and child’s play have helped her overcome depression.

Miss Webbe, from Pill in Wales, said: I went for a check-up recently and was told that my health was much better and I believe laughter is the reason. ‘It opens up the lungs, so I can breathe more easily, and gets endorphins pumping around the body, physically I feel much better and leave my classes feeling amazing.

‘ I see my classes as a fun way of shaking off the cobwebs. Laughter is like a medicine that doctors can’t provide, I think it’s important to laugh and play. It’s good for stress as well and if you can get rid of that and anxiety, you can prevent bad mental health too, I’d really like doctors to start referring patients to me to treat.’

Miss Webbe said she started her laughter therapy classes as she herself suffered from mental health problems herself. She said: ‘After years of mixing with the wrong crowd as a teenager, then losing my parents and my sister, I got so depressed I started to drink and self-medicate.

‘Another year I was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and had to be fitted with the first of three pacemakers. For years I struggled to breathe and my lungs kept getting infected. After smoking since I was 13 I was told I had asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.’

In January 2013 Miss Webbe got in touch with mental health charity, Mind, who counselled her. That year she also looked for a natural treatment for her depression and anxiety and was referred for laughter yoga classes.

She said: ‘They involved breathing and relaxation exercises. I found laughing increased my blood flow and opened up my lungs. I felt happy and left feeling much better.’

Miss Webbe was so impressed by the workshops that in 2014 she started helping to run classes in her local area.

Then earlier this year she opened up her own classes. She has been travelling around offering sessions ever since. She said: My classes combine breathing exercises, laughter, clapping, dance and jokes, to help people de-stress, have child-like fun, and leave feeling energised. People come and make each other laugh. When we run out of jokes I tell everyone to start fake laughter.’

‘Basically, fake it until you make it, but you do laugh and this makes you feel better. I believe my workshops make people feel amazing. I’ve been working with people with Alzheimer’s and after a class everyone was happy and smiling. We dance at my classes so people get some exercise.’

‘Everyone tells stories, which make them realise we’ve all got problems and things can get better. I share my story as I think this helps people feel they can share. People leave feeling less alone. My workshops gave me a reason to get up and go out. Now they’re giving others one too.’