“The first sense to ignite, touch is the last to burn out …” Frederick Sachs
A child is yelling incessantly. Nobody knows ‘Why’. Then, the mother appears, and as she holds the child in her arms, the pain, anxiety or whatever subsides in no time, and a congenial grin permeates all around. Besides nutrition a breastfed child receives, it fares better on emotional scale – thanks to the human touch – and with years, emerges as a rounded personality. Motherly touch lends immediate relief to the young one struck with fear, premonition or anger. The parents assigning an exclusive room to their 4-year kid to study, play, dine and sleep deprive them of the immense benefits of human touch. Ditto with young ones sent to boarding schools. In later years, such children face mental issues on larger scale than the ones fed on intimate parental 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. In mental health conditions, a friendly touch assuages the suffering more effectively than do the medications. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch,” said the American author, motivational speaker, and Special Education professor at the University of Southern California, Leo Buscaglia, which has “the potential to turn a life around.”
Leaving aside intuition, 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.
Miracle of 20-second hug: It is estimated to take a 20-second hug for neurotransmitter oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’ to release. This duration is known to establish rapport between two individuals. As an effective modality of communication daily requirement of 4 hugs is laid for survival, 8 for maintenance and 12 for growth.
Emily Williams has highlighted benefits of hugging in reducing inflammation, lowering the craving for drugs, alcohol, and sweets, improving wound healing, boosting immune system, building & deepening relationships and eliminating stress.
Good touch vs bad touch : Touch power can distinguish between the well-meaning ‘good intent’ and mala fide or ‘bad intent’. The good touch releases dopamine and cortisol hormones that help regulate blood pressure, anxiety, and blood sugar, among others. Dopamine triggers motivation and pleasure. Interestingly, the language of touch is also sensed by animals & birds. We are witness to jubilant and disciplined pets which receive 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 Sanathani cult. While seeking blessings from persons superior in age, intelligence and dignity, touching the feet is said to transfer positive vibes to the recipient. Lack of human touch and widening interpersonal spaces are to blame the erosion of relationships and rendering the man lonelier. Deploring the trend of being struck in one’s ivory shell, the two times former US Surgeon-General Vivek Murthy has proclaimed loneliness as an emerging epidemic not less challenging than diabetes or hypertension. As way out, he suggests staying connected.
For sure, the distinct taste & flavour in the meals prepared at home by your wife, sister or mom is missing in packed food of the market. The ‘home cook’ has put her soul into it. Similarly, the home inmates clean the floor better and responsibly than the maid does. There is grace in your body that imparts divinity to what you do yourself. Your palm itself is the seat of Lord Vishnu. Look at it with reverence as you awake like certain people do. For a good day ahead!
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A shorter version of this article was published in Deccan Herald under Oasis column on 26 Sept 2025, the Friday with the title, ‘Harness the benign powers of human touch’. Link of article in online edition- https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/harness-the-benign-powers-of-human-touch-3743416
An enlightening article for someone who really cares the benign blessings of the almighty of which human touch is a sureshot modality.
Sir, Emotions expressed wonderfully here. Your words bring out the profound power of human touch. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful blogs.
Positive human touch has ever been used to express care, support & best emotional connection, transfer of positive vibrations from one human soul to another… .