Toxic tears: How crying keeps us healthy.

Did you know that tears contain toxins? Sounds like crying may remove byproducts of stress from the body. What does this mean for mind-body health?


Humans are the only animals who shed tears of emotion. Why do we cry? Are there any physical or health benefits from crying?

Throughout history and in every culture, people cry. Weeping often occurs at precisely those times when we are least able to fully verbalize complex, overwhelming emotions and least able to fully articulate our feelings. Crying can also be an escape; it allows us to turn away from the cause of our anguish, and inward toward our own bodily sensations. Scientists feel that weeping is probably necessary because no human behavior has ever continuously evolved unless it somehow contributed to survival.

Tears are secreted through a duct, a process much like urination or exhalation. It is believed that like these other processes, tearing may be involved in removing waste products or toxic substances from the body. Perhaps that is why so many people report feeling better after crying. Not only is the venting of emotions liberating, but the actual chemical composition which is known to be different from tears produced from cutting onions may be involved in this increased feeling of well-being.

Crying is natural, healthy and curative. Crying should be the most natural, accepted way of coping with pain, stress, and sorrow is hardly mentioned in psychiatric literature. Now we seem to finally recognize that crying is good for people.

In simpler words...

When we become upset, our brains and bodies overreact and work overtime by producing chemicals and hormones.

Crying helps eliminate these extra chemicals that we don't need.

The chemicals and hormones disappear from our body in the form of tears. As our tears flow, they sooth our sadness and distress by withdrawing these chemical agents. Which is why many people feel calmer or more refreshed after crying; because tears get rid of these hormones which are produced when we are sad, happy, or distressed.

So, if you're sad or distressed, please cry your heart out. You'll feel better.