Humans are created to be in relationships. There is a reason the old hermit in the woods is crazy, without interaction with another person his sanity slips away. Ward Hazell wrote an entertaining list of 10 Hermits if you want to check it out here.
If a baby is not touched or held enough they can die, and unfortunately, this does happen in other countries. Ty Gibson documents an experiment gone wrong, where babies taken from their mothers in the thirteenth century were not touched or talked to, and none survived. You can read that article here. Modern medicine calls it, “Failure to thrive.”
But there is now published research to support hugs and physical touch for healing. The National Library of Medicine has found that human touch, when prescribed in the form of hugs, can treat depression as well as support mental stability and physiological growth (Mooney, 1995).Four hugs per day is a bare minimum and eight hugs are better, but to significantly improve health twelve hugs seem to be the magic number. On Oprah Daily, Kory Floyd, PhD, and Anna Lena Duren, PhD, discuss five benefits of hugging.
Hugging lowers blood pressure.
Hugging boosts immunity.
Hugging someone else makes you feel better, too!
Hugging for 10 seconds is more beneficial than hugging for 3 seconds or less if the other person also wants to be hugged. It is not beneficial if they do not want a hug.
Hugging a pet works, too!
My official job title is a massage therapist, and massage therapy is one of the best forms of physical touch for health and wellness! Along with Chiropractic adjustments, getting your hair done, and Manicure/Pedicures. All of these things have a price, but with your friends and family, hugs are always free.In honor of Valentine’s Day, make a healthy choice and hug your loved ones, your galentines, and your bros. Make hugging a habit and enjoy a little more happiness!
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