Human touch can be a deeper form of communication than words. Researchers say it comes from the gut.
According to the Mayo Clinic health letter, healthcare providers sense that a compassionate touch can help alleviate pain and discomfort in their patients. A hand on the arm may provide motivation toward recovery.
More formal approaches to incorporating touch into medicine are complimentary therapies. Some focus on manipulating soft tissue. Most help you relax.
Massage therapy manipulates the muscles, skin and tendons. Almost everyone feels better after a massage. Studies show that massage can reduce anxiety, pain and fatigue.
Reike is an energy therapy where the practitioner's hands are placed on the recipient's body. Different hand positions are held about two to five minutes. Recipients describe a feeling of warmth and relaxation after a session. It's also used to treat stress and nausea from chemotherapy.
Everyone can use touch to comfort a person who faces an illness or who has lost a loved one.
Some people avoid touching to guard their own emotions, but a simple touch on the arm or shoulder can bring benefits to both you and the person in grief. So go ahead, touch that grieving person's arm.
Studies show that feeling isolated from others has negative health effects, like depression, cognitive decline and an increased risk of heart disease.
