December 2021 Issue 157

Page 59

Will you MERRY me?

Dr Bill Nielsen has been practising in Duncan for thirty years

‘T

is the season to be jolly, to pour slow joy over a Sundae of mirth and glee. Nothing shines brighter in our dreary northern twilights than the laughter of a child, convulsing in unabashed merriment. It is that very primitive and contagious response to happiness our bodies crave. Laugh and the world laughs with you – cry and you cry alone: the familiar old saying is more than wise counsel. It is also sound medical advice. The powerful physical and psychological benefits from laughter have been good tidings forever. Now the twenty-first century has opened a door to scientific research quantifying the biochemical and hormonal details of the physiology of laughing. Of course emotion and the heart are intimately enmeshed. Negative sentiments and life’s stresses increase circulating cortisol and adrenaline. The inner lining of your blood vessels reacts, becoming inflamed. This leads to higher blood pressure, more heart attacks and susceptibility to infections and even cancer.

But on the other hand, laughter makes hearts happier and healthier. Levels of the stress hormones plummet. Inflammation is reduced, the immune system returns to a healthy status. Laughter has been shown to increase nitric oxide so blood vessels widen, bringing more oxygen to heart muscle. Less inflammation means less clotting and fewer strokes. The mirthful old Ho Ho Ho charges your brain’s happy centres through Mu 3 opiate receptors. Simply put, Jolly is literally a drug. Which explains the popularity of healthy hilarity - comedy clubs, girls’ weekends away or laughter therapy in cancer. Yep, it’s clinically proven in Norway: laughter makes people with cancer live longer and feel better. In social situations, humour attracts us to others, strengthens relationships and promotes group bonding. Isn’t it nice we have an entire season every winter, dedicated to decking the halls with boughs of jolly holly. And that Fa la la la la is merely a long group laugh cleverly disguised as a chorus. Try singing it without at least smiling. So, in this season of sugar plums, Wassail and glad merry glee, and especially given the health benefits of laughter, of course I will MERRY you.

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59


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Articles inside

Adding Lightness to the Season with Flower Remedies

7min
pages 75-76

December Forecasts

6min
page 77

Anemones in the Bay

2min
page 72

Akido For You

3min
page 69

Winter the Season of Yin

3min
page 68

Alistair Macgregor

2min
page 67

Women in Trades Training VIU

2min
page 66

Cowichan Employer Resource Guide

1min
page 65

Ranking Your Goals: A smart move

3min
page 64

Why We Should Read: Split Tooth

2min
page 62

Culinary Explorations With Tea

4min
page 63

November Arts Events

1min
page 61

Will you Merry Me?

2min
page 59

Everywhere Beyond the Horizon Art Show

2min
page 60

Tis the Season

2min
page 58

The Gift of Hearing

1min
page 57

Joy Gives Us Wings

2min
page 55

Berberine

2min
page 56

Climate Change and Hope in the Cowichan Valley 50 The Spirit of Giving Cowichan NonProfits

5min
pages 52-53

The Winter Garden

2min
page 51

Christmas Pantomime Tom Thumb The Shawnigan Players

2min
pages 46-47

Shut the Front Door

3min
pages 35-36

Best of Cowichan 2021 Gift Guide

8min
pages 40-44

Microneedling: A Modern Twist on an Ancient Practise

2min
page 33

The Traditions of Fruitcake

5min
pages 31-32

Taste the Spirit of Hawaii at Aloha Bowl

4min
page 25

Fill Your Winter Basket with Local Art, Food and Cheer

2min
pages 26-27

Butter Oil Cinnamon Rolls

1min
page 24

Holiday Recipes from Soda Exchange

1min
page 22

Turkey Roll

2min
page 21

History Glass Hot Milk Punch

2min
page 23

Pappy’s Creton A Quebecois Tradition

1min
page 20

Small Works and Big Hearts on display at Rainforest Arts

2min
page 13

Cowichan Camerata String Orchestra Fills your Winter Musical Cup

2min
page 7

Join Us at the Cowichan Station Winter Market

1min
pages 16-17

Some Chef Tips for Easier Holiday Cooking

2min
page 18

Pizzeria Prima Strada Grab and Goin Cobble Hill

1min
page 19

December Events

2min
pages 5-6

The Future of Six Mountains is ours to Decide

1min
page 11

Farnsdale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery

1min
page 9
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