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While professional massage is known for providing pain relief and improved mobility by relaxing tight, knotted muscles and increasing blood flow, a lesser known benefit is the simple act of human touch. If you’re not receiving enough touch through personal relationships and social interaction, massage can help bridge the gap by supporting not only the body but also the mind and spirit.
The Importance of Touch to Physical and Mental Health
According to research, if you’re not getting daily hugs and comforting cuddles, your health could suffer. Touch is an integral part of human health and well-being, and a lack of it has dramatic physical and psychological effects on people of all ages. For example, when there weren’t enough caregivers to oversee Romanian orphanages after Ceausescu’s fall, the children were hardly ever touched during the day. As a result, they developed emotional and cognitive problems, mental illness and a wide range of physical ailments.
Experiments conducted by the University of Miami’s Touch Research Institute found that touch reduced pain, improved growth rates in children, lowered blood sugar and improved immune and pulmonary function. Despite its importance, many people simply do not get the amount of human touch that is required for optimal health. By the time children reach their teen years, they receive only half as much touch as they did as small children. Adults touch even less. Sadly, the elderly are often the least likely to receive touch, and studies have shown that cognitive and physical decline can be slowed when seniors are given more physical affection.
Home Massage Provides Healing Touch Throughout Life
You can gain healthy benefits through massage at any age and during any part of your life, and sometimes you may need them more than others. When you’re in pain, a massage offers symptom relief while providing physical touch that soothes and relaxes you and connects you to another person’s empathy and compassion. During pregnancy, massage eases discomfort and gives you emotional support and nurturing to help you maintain balance. When you’re finally entering your golden years, massage provides much-needed physical touch to keep your body healthy, your mind sharp and your emotions connected to the world around you. If you enjoy your massages at home, you’re even more at ease and able to respond to healing touch.
