Tears are made up of 98.5% water, along with small amounts of protein, salt, minerals, and fat.
There are three types of tears. The first is basal tears, which are released about every five seconds when we blink. These keep our eyes moist and protect them from viruses. On average, a person produces about 1 gram of basal tears per day. The second type is reflex tears, which are triggered by physical irritants like dust, wind, strong smells, or smoke. These tears help flush out harmful substances and protect the eyes.
The third type is emotional tears, which flow in response to feelings such as joy, sorrow, gratitude, or deep emotion. Unlike the first two, these tears are controlled by the brain. When strong emotions trigger chemical reactions in the brain’s frontal lobe, the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated, causing tears to form. These emotional tears help release catecholamines—stress hormones that, if built up in the body, can lead to various health problems. In this way, tears help calm and heal both body and mind. That’s why some doctors refer to emotional tears as “God’s natural anti-cancer medicine.” In Japan, there are even groups where people gather to talk or watch emotional videos together and cry as a form of healing.
When emotions become too strong to express in words, tears speak for us. That’s also why tears shed for others are more beautiful than any jewel.