blog
january 01, 2010 04:53pm
The Importance of Touch
We all are faced with the difficult task of offering words of encouragement to those who are ill, or as a way to convey good will to the elderly. However, in many cases our attempts are feeble and can seem meaningless more often than we care to remember. Sometimes the best way to make someone feel better is with a warm hug or a gentle hand on the shoulder. The touch of another human being is a primal human need which also contributes to the acceleration of the healing process occurring after a physical injury or an extended illness.
Living in a mechanized world for the past few decades has taken a toll on the general health of individuals in modern societies and we are just now becoming acutely aware of the negative affects associated with the absence of touch. However, through the resurgence of touch-based therapies like massage we have come full circle back to the roots of healing and good health.
Massage therapy has begun to help us reclaim our natural instinct to nurture each other with touch. This is especially true as seen with the benefits of healing and compassionate care for the elderly. From pet therapy, we have learned that blood pressure and blood sugar levels improve when a dog or cat is held and stroked, which is true for the young, old and every age in between.
We're also reclaiming our instinct to nurture the ill and dying through gentle touch, both in an attempt to revive health and to offer transitional compassion. The relaxation achieved through a gentle foot or back massage has amazing pain relieving results and time free from pain and discomfort allows the body to use its internal resources for healing. Touch is natural, with few, if any, side effects, and it allows us to reconnect with our natural ability to heal.
Massage has proven to be especially physically beneficial for the elderly, as it improves circulation of both blood and lymph, stimulates the nervous system, softens tight muscles, and enhances function of the digestive and respiratory processes. Administering touch to the elderly can also increase appetites, decrease the need for pain medications, calm agitated states, promote restful sleep, and decrease post-surgical recovery.
