Laughter is the best medicine

Posted by ESC October 20, 2009 at 18:16In reply to Laughter is the best medicine posted by Victoria S Dennis on October 14, 2009 at 17:52:

Laughter is the best medicine: does anyone know where this originates from? I know there is a reference in the bible, but not sure if there is any other information out there.

I am afraid I don't know the origin, but it isn't true. It's not a patch on Pethidine.

Sorry, I'll get my coat...

DFG

For years Reader's Digest had a feature called "Laughter is the Best Medicine."

I suspect you're thinking of Proverbs xvii. 22: "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations and Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable both agree that the saying in its present form don't pre-date the 20th century. (VSD)