Laughter as Medicine

Years ago while working in a hospital's pain management facility as a massage therapist, a woman came to see me whom I'll refer to as PJ. 

The moment I began to work with PJ I knew there was something amiss, due to the presence of tears and unusually high anxiety.  Not easy to miss. 

So began an unusual relationship.  Within a few minutes it was obvious that PJ was very disturbed and unhappy.  Relationships.  What else?  She considered herself too old to do anything about her situation (late 60's, early 70's).  Doomed and Scrooged. 

I reminded her of Scrooge who thought he was too old to change.  She didn't get the anology.  I could tell she was borderline indifferent, a state of mind one may move into at any time that is the opposite of love, letting nothing in that is positive and closing the heart forever, thereby entering into a state of mind that is extremely difficult to get out of.  I knew I had to do something.

I remembered words of wisdom from Grandmother Pa'Ris'Ha during my time with her.  She always said, "As a medicine person you will have to do anything it takes to bring balance to a situation.  If you don't know what to do, call on me and just get out of the way."

I called out to Grandmother Pa'Ris'Ha and all the Grandmothers and Grandfathers to help this woman.  Then I just got out of the way.

I found myself saying something shocking to PJ.  I couldn't believe that I'd said it, but I did.  I only know it was way dirty and it even shocked me but I can't remember what it was.  Anyway, PJ's reaction, being totally shocked, was to laugh.  So I said something even more shocking.  Honestly, now, I don't even remember what I had said to her.  The whole conversation was a blur and I couldn't tell you later what it was that I'd said to her, not even minutes after I'd said it.  That is how spirit works when you get out of the way.

I was on a roll.  Shocking epithets issuing forth as though someone had turned on a faucet.  Within moments, PJ was transformed.  She was roaring with laughter!  For the next 45 minutes, PJ rocked and rolled on my table with laughter.  It never occurred to me that people may be in the outer office wondering what was going on inside my room.  PJ and I were having a ball.  She was now crying tears of joy whereas she came in all miserable and sad. 

Laughter heals the soul.  It had been a long while since PJ had laughed.  The sadness and the weight of the world, she carried.  The joy and the longing for love, she missed.  Her heart was heavy with dread because she kept looking back at what life had been.  Instead of looking forward to what life can be.  Many people look backward and it never is a benefit to do so.  You can drive yourself crazy looking back.  It is always better to look ahead.

I gave PJ the name of a counselor and her card to make sure she wouldn't forget.  PJ said she'd definitely go to see her and she made another appointment with me because she loved the whole session and also the massage.  She said she felt better than she had in years but she knew she had a long way to go.  Each time PJ came in she would laugh and laugh.  She came back for awhile and then I didn't see her again.

Later, I spoke to her counselor, there at the hospital.  I asked how PJ was doing and the counselor said she was coming along but she always cried.  "Hard Case".  I told her of my time with PJ and how I could get her laughing.  She just looked at me, incredulous.  "YOU GET HER LAUGHING???  How do you do that?"

All I could say was, "I don't know.....I just call on spirit and get out of the way."

Knee, Ankle, Foot Pain

Knee pain is a subject many people regard as simply ‘arthritis’. But when you consider that all the muscles of the lower leg as well as the muscles from the hip attach at that knee you may want to add muscular spasm into the equation.

Also, the patella (knee cap) floats above the knee and, as I’ve often found, may easily become ‘off track’. The trick is to gently maneuver the patella back on track and release the muscles that are in spasm around the knee. The work actually helps people control their pain and I’ve had many people experience immediate relief.

Another issue with the knee is instability which makes a person feel as though the knee will buckle or give out on them. The actual cause of this instability may well be that two muscles around the knee may be in spasm. Once these muscles are checked and the spasm relieved with either Neuromuscular release (painful) or positional release techniques (which are virtually painless) depending on the technique the therapist uses, you may experience immediate stability around the knee. You can put the walking cane in storage once these muscles are released!

Also, Dr. Max Collins, a brilliant Chiropractic doctor that I had to opportunity to meet in S. Carolina, suggests that knee pain may have causes in the gall bladder and liver and that it is most often associated with too much yeast or fungus in the system.


Ankle pain often signals weak muscles or muscles in spasm. If you have ever had ankle sprains or breaks the muscles in the feet and ankle most likely have gone into spasm. Never having had massage on the affected appendage, spasm may continue without any signs of discomfort for many years and then, it may appear that pain is sudden and from out of nowhere.

Dr. Max suggests another cause for ankle/foot pain may be related to weakened kidneys and adrenals.  Strengthening them requires a combination of lemon and olive oil for the kidneys and the 4C's (calcium/chlorophyll/cayenne/cider vinegar) taken all together for strengthening the adrenals.  (look for my upcoming e-book on Muscle Testing and Intuitive Development)

In many cases of sprain, if you catch it soon enough, a therapist may be able to stop the pain by releasing the injured muscle(s).

ALK fell off a roof and came limping into my office. “I landed on my feet! I think I really messed myself up. I can’t put any weight on my right foot.” The muscles of the back, hip and legs into the ankles and feet were systematically released and when ALK stood up, there was no pain. She couldn’t believe it and kept pacing around the office. “How the heck did you do that!?? I thought for sure I was going to have to walk with a cane!”

Another reason for ankle pain, as I found out by experience, is jewelry such as toe rings and ankle bracelets. These beauty adornments stop the flow of energy at the ankle and have caused me considerable pain within a short wearing time, enough for me to stop wearing them. They may not be a problem for those who don’t work with energetic modalities but they stop up energy and weaken structure for those of us who do on a daily basis.

So if you’re having knee, ankle or foot discomfort you may want to give massage therapy a chance to help release the muscles that may be the cause of all the discomfort. At least give massage a try before you give up altogether.

For those with persistent neuropathy, you may want to try the new device that opens up the pathways in the feet and legs, relieving pain and discomfort while it kills yeast, parasites, and fungus in the body. This device requires no effort on your part. All you have to do is put your feet on it and let it do the work of detoxing the body for you.