The Power of ‘VITAMIN T'

Did you know that you have healing power, literally at your fingertips? The simple act of nurturing TOUCH is so powerful that it has scientifically proven abilities to not only assist in physical healing, but mental and emotional healing as well.

“Gentle, compassionate touch has as much healing power as any mighty spoken word.”
—Steven Thompson

Scientists have found that there are tangible changes in brain pattern activity during healthy touch. Even the simplest forms of caring touch reduces the stress hormone cortisol and releases oxytocin, known as the “feel-good” hormone, (the body’s natural pain killer and anti-depressant) promoting positive thinking, positive biological changes and a reassuring, optimistic outlook that fosters an overall sense of well-being and change of perception and condition.

Positive physical touch also increases the levels of dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that help regulate your mood, balance your hormones and help your body naturally relieve stress, tension and anxiety.

During these unique times, with fewer get-togethers and less human interaction, some people globally are experiencing new symptoms and “mystery conditions” the medical community cannot explain. Reports of loneliness, feelings of isolation, increased feelings of stress; depression, anxiety and uncertainty have created waves of new manifestations physically, mentally and emotionally to varying degrees.

Social distancing, the lack of visible smiles due to masks in public, and limited contact with others, even with loved ones, have left many in need…… of a hug…… of a smile…… of tender touch.

“Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
—Leo Buscaglia

Additionally, healthy physical touch naturally improves your immune system, lowers your blood pressure, increases your number of healthy white blood cells, helps your body heal and fight off viruses and infections, improves overall circulation, aids in better sleep and brain function, eases pain, reduces inflammation, expedites wound healing, increases relaxation, peace of mind, general comfort, well-being and more!

Even a simple hug creates a calming, healing effect in the thalamus, the emotional hub of the brain, which then sends “peace and balance is within you” messages and signals throughout the brain and the entire body. A hug or consensual, healthy affection for a mere twenty seconds, science shows, is the only time it takes for full, feel-good effects and healing to take place.

A health conference in Chicago revealed the neuroscience of hugging, where neurologists, therapists, and psychologists looked at the effects of hugging throughout the body. One of the main discoveries was that hugging for that simple twenty seconds puts your body and brain in complete balance! They proved it calms stress and anxiety, lifts depression, boosts your immune system, and lowers high blood pressure. The eye-to-eye contact, comforting touch, and warm embrace had undeniable powerfully healing effects throughout the entire system!

“Touch stimulates the release of endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers and anti-depressants). There are approximately 5 million touch receptors in our skin and 3,000 in each fingertip”.
–Harvard Health

Nurturing touch is in fact so important physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically, that prolonged absence of human touch, known as “touch starvation,” can be detrimental to our health. Medical communities have found that insufficient amounts of caring touch and affection can even result in stunted growth in children and even death in infants!   As adults we still need this critical caring contact! 

When healing, struggling with symptoms or chronic illness or under stressful or new circumstances, we are in need of this compassionate interaction even more!

Healthy, consenting touch can be romantic, intimate—or as simple as holding hands, giving a hug or rubbing one’s back. It can involve a massage with one whom you feel comfortable with, or enjoying a relaxing pedicure. There are many ways to reap the many healing benefits of positive touch. 

As you touch, or are touched, be fully present to the sensations you feel. Whether you’re hugging your spouse, petting your cat or dog, holding hands or massaging a muscle, bring all of your awareness to the profound sensations of contact. Let everything else fall away, and be consciously present with those sensations.

“Nothing is so healing as the human touch.”
—Bobby Fischer

This Spring, as you soak in some essential Vitamin D out in the warm sunshine,  take a mere 20 seconds, as often as you'd like daily, to allow some essential “Vitamin T”, to warm your heart, touch your soul, heal your being, elevate your vibration and allow you to become more and more Superhuman!

Sending you a big, virtual hug,

Mrs. Neo

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