HOW IMPORTANT IS TOUCH?
Our sense of Touch
Of all the senses touch is something we experience almost without thinking about it. We may ruffle a child’s hair, place a comforting arm on someone’s shoulder if they are upset or hug a loved one. All of these illicit an emotion and a response, and all involve touch.
Our skin is the largest organ in our body, the oldest and the most sensitive of our organs. The whole body is covered by it, even the cornea of the eye is overlaid by a layer of modified skin. It turns inwards in to all our orifices and in the evolution of the senses touch was undoubtedly the first to come into being. Though its structure and functionality change as we age, touch remains a constant, the foundation upon which all the other senses are based.
Through the skin we learn about our environment and our body adapts accordingly. An area the size of a penny contains more than 3 million cells. The enormous amount of receptors present receives stimuli of heat, cold, pressure and pain. It has the ability to repair itself and we shed loads of it every day, we all know the statistics about household dust! The skin is a picture of life’s experiences from the radiance of youth to the wrinkled visage resulting from the passing years.
But how important is this sense?
Well in my opinion extremely! There is actually a condition called Marasmus, where children actually fail to thrive if they are not held or cuddled. It’s rare, but it was prevalent in the great depression of the 1930’s in America and also in Romania during the awful atrocities of Ceauşescu dictatorship when hundreds of infants were orphaned.
We live in a society now where are children are constantly reminded of ‘stranger danger’, where are the positive messages about touch? Having regular massage, whether it be from a professional or from a loved, one is a powerful tool. It is a well known fact that massage makes you feel good, and if you feel good you are able to cope with all sorts of pressures and tensions that modern life throws at us.
Research has shown that when we are massaged we increase the production of natural painkillers and give our immune system a boost. It lowers our blood pressure and respiratory rate, which improves the function of our heart and lungs. Excess fluid and metabolic wastes are pushed back into the circulation for removal. Muscles are warmed up and stretched, and given more space to move.
The soothing effect of touch sedates our body and calms our nervous system, resulting in us feeling calmer and less stressed and anxious.
So next time you rub someone’s shoulders or even stroke your cat just think about all the good you are doing. Touch is wonderful and therapeutic, easy to do and appreciated when given.
from the seed offers holistic care from conception to baby and beyond…..