2024-07-23 10:00:02
Author: Isabel Rusuli/July 23, 2024/ 32 views
Dear friend, dear friend,
For a long time I was unwilling to touch others, nor was I willing to be touched by others.
I’m like a wild animal, I like to keep a certain distance between others and me.
However, that era is over.
Since getting married and having my son, I have relearned how to communicate through physical touch.
Today, I can no longer live without these sweet daily gestures that quietly say “I love you”, “You are important to me” or “I am happy when you are around me”.
These loving gestures became crucial to me.
If I keep them mostly for my family, I sometimes find myself touching the wrists or shoulders of my friends or people I spend time with.
Mediterranean people often do this.
They do this in a disturbingly natural way.
They are right.
Because touching others gently and kindly does them good.
At least that’s what science says.
a recent scientific discipline
It was not until the 1990s that scientists became interested in physical contact (1,2,3).
They specifically spend time observing how the body and brain respond to gentle gestures, massage, and caress (4,5).
They used brain imaging to analyze the effects of these behaviors on the brain (4).
They looked at brain waves.
They measured the physiological effects of gentle gestures: heart rate, body biochemistry, stress levels, and more (4,5,6,7).
They have also conducted studies in animal models (8,9).
All of these studies confirm the critical importance of physical contact in humans and mammals (8,9).
For now, however, the hypotheses proposed remain highly controversial and continually evolving.
Specific nervous system for gentle or pleasant physical contact
In the 1990s, Swedish neuroscientist Ake Vallbo first described a nervous system specialized for gentle or pleasurable touch (4,5,6).
In the scientific literature we find expressions like “gentle touch” or “emotional touch” which can be translated as gentle physical contact or affectionate physical contact.
This nervous system is called C-touch.
The neurons that make up this system (C-touch) form a huge network under the skin that connects to the central nervous system.
But the two nervous systems are different.
Hands and feet have excellent sensor density.
Your hands contain approximately 17,000 afferent nerves connected to sensory receptors. Your feet are also very sensitive(2).
If your child likes to walk barefoot, let him do this if possible: it will do him a lot of good (2.8)!
Body language is designed to create connections between people
C-Tactile is not used to obtain external information (4).
It has a social function.
It’s useful in a relationship, but it has a much wider use.
It is used in relationships between parents and children, within families, between friends, or within the human community (4).
Gentle or affectionate physical touch can strengthen the connection between those in contact.
It is activated when humans come into contact with 3 to 10 cm of skin within one second (8,9).
It was a brief but real encounter. He is not secretive or evasive (4,8,9).
Its ideal activation temperature is 34°C, which is exactly the same temperature as the tip of your hand. Very beautiful, isn’t it (8)?
first moments of life
When born, the baby has just spent 9 months of warm time in the mother’s womb.
He is constantly embraced and protected until he is born, where he discovers a world without permanent contact.
When babies are born, their vision and hearing are limited (4).
For them, touch is the most developed sense (4).
This is why physical touch is so important to comfort them when they cry.
Breastfeeding both feeds the baby and maintains the all-important physical contact between mother and child.
For babies, especially small mammals, physical contact in the first few weeks is critical to the survival of the little animal.
For example, physical contact even accompanies certain basic biological functions.
For infants, it specifically allows (4):
Stabilize breathing, stabilize body temperature, regulate blood sugar levels
This is even necessary for their development.
Among primates…
Studies of primates that are genetically very close to humans have shown that young without regular physical contact quickly lose their vitality (4,8,9).
Their mortality rate is much higher than that of other young people (4).
If they survive this deprivation of physical contact, their physical and cognitive abilities are still very apparent.
Therefore, small primates lacking physical contact would be (4):
Underdeveloped, weaker, less immune to disease, unable to learn certain behaviors.
Their brains may even shrink.
In short, these small primates, deprived of physical contact, have no chance of surviving to adulthood even if they survive childhood.
Touch that is viewed as a reward by the body
How do primates maintain connections with each other? They spent time delousing each other.
Humans do not get rid of lice on their own.
But this connection is essential.
It is achieved through this gentle and pleasurable touch, which can be expressed through caresses, carefully placed hands, soles of feet or shoulder massage…
This mild physical contact is (4,8,9):
Relaxing, soothing, comforting, soulful.
It can alleviate or prevent (4,8,9):
Physical and mental pain, depression, anxiety, addiction.
It regulates stress and brings a sense of well-being (4,8,9).
It enhances the cognitive abilities of the brain.
It extends lifespan and strengthens immunity.
Thanks to it, you can share the hormones of happiness and enthusiasm with your loved ones.
Gentle physical contact ensures the free distribution of endorphins and oxytocin.
These hormones keep you happy and connected.
You have a treasure at your fingertips!
It’s designed for sharing.
Of course it’s yours,
Augustine of Liva
1721902342
#Institute #Natural #Health #Conservation #Power #Gentle #Affectionate #Gestures
