Harness the benign powers of human touch

The moment a mother holds the continuously crying child in her arms, its pain subsides and a congenial grin permeates all around. Besides nutrition a breastfed child receives, it fares better on emotional scale and emerges as a rounded personality. Motherly touch lends instant relief to the young one struck with fear, premonition or anger, so benign is the power of human touch. A pat on the back of a student or player by father or master raises his morale and performance level. Human touch elicits quick response. It is an unfailing instrumentality to convey affection, intimacy, appreciation, approval and support. Friendly touch assuages mental problems more effectively than do the medications.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch,” said Leo Buscaglia, which has “the potential to turn a life around.” Among all senses, touch is the most intelligent because it is the most sensitive, said Aristotle. It can sense the attributes of the objects in contact like hot, cold or vibratory so the body can adjust accordingly. Touching one’s own arms, neck, face or other parts helps relax the body in stressful state. Touch power can distinguish between the well-meaning ‘good touch’ and mal fide ‘bad touch’. The good touch releases dopamine and cortisol hormones that help regulate blood pressure, anxiety, and blood sugar, among others. Dopamine can create motivation and pleasure.

Interestingly, the language of touch is also sensed by animals and birds. We witness jubilant and disciplined pets receiving human touch. Plants also relish it. Scientific studies have demonstrated that the particular plants being caressed undergo better growth than the neglected ones in the vicinity. Hand-written letters of fathers and other elderlies to their children, considered sacrosanct by many of earlier generations, were preserved by them. Imbued with intimacies, such letters carrying manual impressions tended to buttress the ancestral bonding and helped them stay on path of rectitude. Human touch is a vital feature of Sanathana culture. While seeking blessings from persons older in age, and superior in intelligence and knowledge, touching the feet is believed to transfer positive vibes to the recipient. Lack of human touch and widening interpersonal spaces are perhaps to be blamed for the erosion of relationships and rendering the man lonelier.