Healing power of touch
From prehistoric ages science believes that everything in the universe is composed of energy, and that the apparent differentiation between solids, liquids, gases, sound, and light is merely a difference in their vibratory rates. Likewise, from ages the world’s great religions state that all created things originate in the cosmic vibratory energy of ‘Aum’ or ‘Amen’. While allopathy, homeopathy, Ayurveda and many other treatments are available for curing ailments a lot of healing techniques are correspondingly available. Healing Touch or Healing power of touch is one of the popular therapeutic program. Many customary cultures recognize that a gentle touch is soothing to those who are ill.
More recently, studies conducted at the University of Miami’s Touch Research Institute have proven that touch is an essential part of human health. The TRI is the first center in the world dedicated solely to the study of touch and its application in science and medicine. The TRI distinguished team of researchers, representing Duke, Harvard, Maryland, and other universities, who strive to better define touch as it promotes health and contributes to the treatment of disease. Research efforts that began in 1982 and continue today have shown that touch therapy has numerous beneficial effects on health and well-being. Skin is the human body’s largest organ, containing millions of receptors that send messages through nerve fibers to the brain. A simple touch can reduce a person’s heart rate, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress levels.
The modern science believes in the Universal Power, call it by any name. YOU have healing power, literally at your fingertips. The simple act of touching with warmth, care and a good intention is so powerful that it can do instant wonders in improving the health of a patient, by strengthening his/her immune system. The healing power of touch is so necessary for life that babies who are not touched regularly don’t grow and develop normally, and children who are not lovingly touched enough are more likely to be violent as adults.
We have started living a robotic life; we live our lives in heads; we are constantly driven by the relentless chatter of to-do lists. Meetings, learning, networking, bargaining, negotiating, errands, worries, decisions, appreciations, criticisms so on and forth. We are not alone in our head, there is a clutter of people in various transactions of our lives. This mental chatter disconnects us from our body and diminishes our energy. In fact, it is just another form of stress that over time pulls the energy from our body and keeps it stuck in our head. When the time comes for rest and relaxation, we just cannot make our mind blank, we cannot stop our mind from thinking. Even sleep becomes difficult and lack of it further depletes our energy.
How touching helps: In one landmark study, 16 happily married women were subjected to the threat of a mild electric shock; touching their husbands’ hands brought immediate relief from the resulting anxiety. Even a stranger’s touch was somewhat calming. “We know that anxiety decreases immune function and makes you get sick more often,” says study author Jim Coan, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the University of Virginia. “If touch can help you be less anxious, you’re more likely to stay well.”
A soothing touch can decrease anxiety, increase the number of white blood cells, lower blood pressure, increase endorphin levels (the feel-good hormones), help sleep better. There are variety of therapies: Massage therapy for instance, energizes a person taking massage by making him more alert and reduces depression, it reduces fatigue and irritability. The healing power of touch extends across the life cycle – from helping babies grow and children concentrate at school to decreasing chronic illnesses and disease. A pat on the back, a gentle rub on head, pat on shoulder is so soothing. Even a firm shake hand does the wonder. We hug people when we meet them after some interval of time, it is so relaxing when we get hugged by a well-wisher. The hug gives reassurance.
For a healthy living, schedule regular therapeutic full-body massage, even 15 or 30 minutes makes a difference. Get foot massages or foot reflexology; it involves application of pressure to the feet and hands with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that purportedly reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work effects a physical change to the body. This foot massage allows your energy to move from your head into your abdomen, which is known as the “energy powerhouse.” Take a head massage, it invigorates blood circulation in nerves making you feel relaxed.
Solar Touch: Early in morning the sun’s rays are therapeutic. Enjoy the sun rise and soak in it completely in the morning before 8 am. It is natural source of Vitamin D. it is called “sunshine” vitamin and is a hot topic. The early morning sunlight stimulates the body to produce Vitamin D. It serves to increase calcium absorption in the gut and calcium transfer across cell membrane, so it can strengthen bones. Do you know that decreased sunlight is linked to seasonal depression, especially in the winter months?
Regular touch establishes our mind-body connection: clapping for 20 to 30 minutes in the morning keeps you fit and active. As mentioned clapping stimulates blood circulation, this blood circulation removes all obstructions in the veins and arteries. A simple high-five has tremendous strength to rejuvenate. Let us not underestimate the power of a touch. Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey.
