Medical Clowning Is Good Medicine

Guest post by Abigail Strubel, MA, LCSW

One of the most revered medical works of the Middle Ages was the Regimen sanitatis Salernitanum, or “Salernitan Guide to Health.” Written in verse, it addresses proper hygiene, diet and sleep practices, along with several outdated treatments such as bloodletting. While much of the text has been discredited, one verse in particular stands out:

“Use three physicians still; first Doctor Quiet, Next Doctor Merry-man and Doctor Diet.”

In other words, rest and appropriate nutrition are important to healing—and so is laughter.

Amusing Medicine

Writer and political activist Norman Cousins chose to battle heart disease and arthritis by adding Marx Brothers movies to his treatment regimen. He stated, “I made the joyous discovery that 10 minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.”

Another pioneer is maverick physician “Patch” Adams, who found the treatment he received for depression to be both impersonal and ineffective. While attending medical school, he developed a bedside manner that was loving and gentle, and intended to amuse as well as heal his patients.

To promote his “love and fun” strategy, Dr. Adams dresses in clown outfits every day and has brought clowning to hospitals and other institutions around the world. He has always encouraged clowns to entertain adults as well as children, and advises doctors to incorporate humor into their sessions with patients. (For example, he suggests: “Practice with various props. Farts are the only thing I’ve found to be universally funny in all countries. There are many little devices on the market, even a glorious remote-control farter.”)

The Benefits of Clowning Around

A Google search for “medical clowning” yields more than 34,000 scholarly articles. The demonstrated benefits include improving IVF fertility treatment success, easing children’s preoperative anxiety or distress during invasive procedures, and even extending the life span of geriatric home residents.

At Beth Israel Medical Center, medical clowns entertain and help heal children receiving neurological care. In New York City, the Big Apple Circus created Clown Care in 1986, a program whose participants conduct nationwide “clown rounds” totaling almost 225,000 visits per year. And, medical clowning is an international phenomenon.

Giggling Around the Globe

The Theodora Foundation trains “Giggle Doctors” in Switzerland, Spain, France, England, Italy and Turkey. Among their Giggle Doctors are actors, entertainers, teachers, magicians, musicians and singers who receive extensive training on such topics as child development, infection control and child bereavement.

The Ibtissama (Smile) Foundation in Lebanon drew on Theodora Foundation expertise in establishing their own program. Their objectives include: “To create an encouraging environment for hospitalized children and their families” and “To promote children’s interactive skills as well as their families.’”

Initiated in 2002, the Dream Doctors project now provides medical clowning at 20 Israeli hospitals and launched an academic program at Haifa University, through the drama and nursing departments. The program offers a bachelor’s degree in medical clowning and a master’s degree in expressive therapies.

Medical Clowning a Serious Therapy

Clearly, clowning is an adjunctive therapy that medical professionals should take very seriously. In my practice as a clinical social worker, I’ve seen how humor can ease tension or help people consider alternative points of view. Plus, making people laugh makes my job so much more fun!