The Power of Human Touch
Schools of nursing began teaching their students about the value of the human touch decades ago and now research to be published this year in a professional journal (Psychological Science) outside nursing has proven what the nurses knew all along; a human touch can soothe a lot of jittery nerves.
Psychologists, too, have noted the effects of human touch and healing and an article in Families, Systems & Health (23(3), Fall 2005, 251-260) discusses how many cultures have used this healing touch in healing ceremonies.
In some countries, people believe that healing and calming can be achieved by simply sitting close to someone. I had one of my students tell me that while in a Latin American country a family got on the bus with them and the mother sat close to my student's husband. My student thought it might have been because of the tight seating, but the woman's husband explained that his wife knew the student's husband had been sick and she wanted to provide her healing power to him. The student's husband was recovering from a heart attack, in fact, but they hadn't told anyone on their trip about it.
This latest research seems to indicate that neurons actually respond positively to human touch in anxiety-evoking situations. The researchers saw positive proof on an MRI of how dramatically human touch can even blunt physical pain and the anticipation of it. So, when faced with a threatening encounter of any type, make sure you have someone to hug or hold you beforehand. It's not a prescription, but seems like sound advice for people with close relationships.
Related Topics: Does Prayer Help Others Heal?, Massage, Chiropractic Top Medical Alternatives
Technorati Tags: healingtouch, alternativetherapy, stress
Psychologists, too, have noted the effects of human touch and healing and an article in Families, Systems & Health (23(3), Fall 2005, 251-260) discusses how many cultures have used this healing touch in healing ceremonies.
In some countries, people believe that healing and calming can be achieved by simply sitting close to someone. I had one of my students tell me that while in a Latin American country a family got on the bus with them and the mother sat close to my student's husband. My student thought it might have been because of the tight seating, but the woman's husband explained that his wife knew the student's husband had been sick and she wanted to provide her healing power to him. The student's husband was recovering from a heart attack, in fact, but they hadn't told anyone on their trip about it.
This latest research seems to indicate that neurons actually respond positively to human touch in anxiety-evoking situations. The researchers saw positive proof on an MRI of how dramatically human touch can even blunt physical pain and the anticipation of it. So, when faced with a threatening encounter of any type, make sure you have someone to hug or hold you beforehand. It's not a prescription, but seems like sound advice for people with close relationships.
Related Topics: Does Prayer Help Others Heal?, Massage, Chiropractic Top Medical Alternatives
Technorati Tags: healingtouch, alternativetherapy, stress
5 Comments:
Dr. Farrell,
Interesting but what about those people who don't have close relationships? They may be needed that hugging/holding the most.
It is hard to imagine receiving benefits from "touch" that is not really touch but a hovering action. Why can't we just acknowledge that touch it touch is touch. And touch is soothing physically as well as, or even especially, emotionally.
One of my greatest and most soothing memories is of a warm firm hug given to me by a psychiatric nurse after the diagnostic interview she did with me as I was starting treatment. I draw on it for a feeling of calm and of being cared for. It was years ago, but it is still that memorable.
I can't, on the other hand, recall simply being near someone having that kind of an effect.
That tells me that the 'hovering' kind of healing touch is not what it is touted to be. I think it may be just the personal attention the patient receives and the benefits that come with that, similar to the personal attention and being heard by a therapist.
I think actual touch as a part of therapies, physical and emotional, could improve healing and well being. Too bad that we are such a sexually-focused society that it could never happen.
I am also reminded of the boys featured in a documentary who came to the U.S. from an African (I think) nation. In their culture it was completely natural for the men to hold hands at any time. It was one of the things (besides the cold weather where they relocated to) that they had a hard time getting used to. They could not easily understand why it was not acceptable behavior. Intersting.
~Tasker
I agree that touch isn't always beneficial and that there are special cases where it can be. Like most of the research, it fails to see that basic human kindness, shown in a caring touch, can be helpful no matter from whom it comes.
I've seen very special relationships formed between staff on hospital wards and seriously ill patients. The nurses and docs weren't afraid to touch or soothe the patient and even a gentle touch on the hand was very reassuring. Certainly, I've seen this in nursing homes, too, where patients were experiencing a sense of total detachment from all they had formerly held as familiar and precious. Panic set in and the staff was quick to intersede not with medication but kindness and touch.
Yes, I remember the African boys story. Unfortunately, I don't believe it turned out as well as everyone thought.
Dr Farrell;
I have to add a comment based on a recent experience.
Several days ago I had a pancreatic EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound) done outpatient. I was very nervous about it, as tumor immunoassay labs were done also so I knew they were looking for possible tumor(s) in the pancreas.
The nurses in pre- and post-op took great care of me, but the one who put me at ease the most was the surgeon himself, who came to my bedside and in his quiet manner (he is Indian or Pakistani, not sure which), and giving me a gentle touch on my forearm, he told me what he saw during the procedure (no tumors). The touch was wonderful and reassuring. I'm sure I'll remember it for a long time to come. You might say it is memorable because I got good results; however, even with the good news I was not relieved (was depressed, teary actually) because I did not have an answer to my health problem. So I believe the touch stands alone as a positive experience.
Just wanted to share that with you.
~Tasker
I hope everything does work out well for you and I'm glad that physician knew that it's okay to use therapeutic touch.
Could you please cite the source of the neuron study relating to them responding positively to human touch in anxiety-evoking situations
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