LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE
Sometimes the most powerful remedy doesn’t come in a bottle Over the past few months, we have explored how our bodies function as interconnected systems — from the origins of early humans along our own Southern Cape coastline, to the role of biotics, and more recently, the conversation between the gut and the brain. This month, the lesson arrived in a far less scientific — but far more joyful — way.
As grandparents, my wife (Granny) and I (Grandpa), both proudly over 70 and very much part of the baby boomer generation, were given the exquisite privilege of looking after our 20-month-old granddaughter, Aurora, while her parents set off on a five-day hike along the Otter Trail. For five days, we revisited something we had not experienced in decades — the full, uninterrupted rhythm of caring for a small child.
On day two, Aurora introduced us to a game she had invented. We named it PEGS. The rules were simple. Granny and Grandpa sat on the deck beneath the washing line. Aurora would then launch a bucket of clothe pegs into the air, sending them crashing down around us. This was followed by suitably dramatic exclamations from the grandparents — which, in turn, triggered uncontrollable belly laughter from Aurora.
This cycle repeated itself… again and again and again. At times, Aurora would pause mid-game to deliver a high five, followed by a hug and a kiss — before returning to the serious business of PEGS. It is a small miracle the neighbours did not call emergency services. Moments like these remind us that joy, connection and human interaction are not separate from health — they are central to it.
As we explored in our previous article, the gut and brain are in constant conversation. Laughter, emotional connection and positive experiences influence this dialogue in ways science is still working to fully understand. Stress softens. Breathing changes. The body settles.
Unconditional love from a grandchild, paired with shared laughter, may not come with a label or dosage instructions — but it has a way of restoring balance that few modern interventions can match. Perhaps the old saying holds more truth than we realise. Because sometimes, the best medicine is not something we take. It is something we share “Unconditional love, shared laughter, and a handful of pegs — sometimes that’s all the medicine we need.”
