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The Healing Power of Touch

© Gretchen Malik

Touching can make your immune system stronger and your mood lighter. The more touches you give or receive, the better you feel. Touching is a necessity for a healthy life. When we touch, be it a gentle pat, hug or massage, we receive various benefits. A half-hour massage can boost your immune system and lessen stress making you feel calmer, happier.

Touching is an easy way to add comfort to your life. And all women appreciate touches because our skin is more sensitive than a man's. Since we experience a higher level of stress and lower levels of the chemicals that combat stress, our benefit of physical touch is very appreciated. The effects of touch are less obvious, but very powerful and necessary.

Our need for human contact is necessary. Babies who are not touched fail to grow normally. Children, who are not lovingly touched often, grow up to be more physically violent. And that's a shame because our society is starting to become a "hands to ourselves" environment.

Are you interested in learning how to include touch in your life? Here are a few beginning tips:

1. Start by kissing friends hello on the cheek. If that makes you uncomfortable, try hugs. A good hug is a quick, anti-stress remedy, as spiritually healing as hours of meditation. The person you are hugging has the power, with their touch, to free you from the tyranny of your restless mind.
2. As most of us are realizing, our society does not have a very affectionate culture (except during a tragedy) but you can overcome this. Begin with a friendly pat on a person's back. Walk arm and arm with a friend. When talking to someone, gently touch his or her arm or hand during the conversation. Small touches can go a long way to making a person's day.
3. We all know that gently touching a child can help them to develop into loving, caring adults, so spend more "touching" time with them. Snuggle with your children while watching television. Tackle them just for the fun of it, and even rub their backs while they sleep. I know not everyone is into the Family Bed, but for the first two years of each of my children's lives, they slept with me. It was crowded and inconvenient on occasion, but wonderful. They slept all night and woke each morning in a pleasant mood.
4. Rub your husband/partner's back for 30 minutes, and then insist on receiving one in turn. Try to do this each night instead of having a cocktail. The benefits are long lasting. Even a self-massage has wonderful benefits.

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