Touch is an essential human need. It is important for us to experience touch such as a hug or a caress, every day.

     Scientific studies have shown that people improve their physical health when they regularly receive hugs. That’s because a good hug can soothe you for several hours, lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and even protect you from getting sick.

     Even better than a  good hug is a good massage. It can do more than relieve muscle tension and help heal injuries. It can also improve your heart health.

    You can try a weighted blanket which can offer deep pressure stimulation that feels like a firm hug or massage.

     Holding hands with another person is considered to be one of the most powerful forms of touch because it can have profound health benefits.

      Touching and hugging is very effective when it comes to relieving physical pain. Massage therapy can be a great way of soothing all kinds of aches, from headaches to back pain. , too.. However, you do not necessarily have to go to a massage parlor in order to experience the pain-soothing benefits of touch. A friend can give you soothing touch. too.

     An article which appeared in the journal Scientific Reports in 2017 — showed that touch actually diminishes the sensation of pain.  Holding hands  also eases pain, say two studies published in two consecutive years, both of which were covered on Medical News Today

     To improve your mind and body just try this simple activity: Just hold hands, hug, and touch. We strongly encourage you to be more affectionate.

     As human beings, we’re naturally inclined to connect with other people through physical touch. But lately we’ve become so obsessed with using cell phones, tablets and computers to connect with other human beings that many of us have neglected to make physical touch a priority. It’s important to be mindful of how important hugging and holding hands can be for a person’s well-being. 

Touch starvation

     Humans are wired to be touched. From birth until the day we die, our need for physical contact remains. After all, people who are deprived of physical touch are reportedly more likely to experience depression, anxiety disorders and difficutlies in relating effectively with other peopleo.Touch starvation can cause your heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and breathing rate to go up, with bad effects for your immune and digestive systems. These things can lead to worse quality of sleep and a higher risk of infections and, in rare situations, it can lead to death

     Being touch starved — also known as skin hunger or touch deprivation — occurs when a person experiences little to no touch from other living things.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have lost out on workplace handshakes, friendly hugs, or pats on the back, which can result in touch starvation.

     For some, the pandemic has also brought a decline in all kinds of sensual touching, such as back rubbing and foot stroking, too.

     But research from 2014 has found that missing out on regular human touch can have some serious and long-lasting effects.