The Sense of Touch: Healing through Feeling

Jan. 10, 2010

In 1964, the year the Beatles came to America and the author of this essay came into this world, the notion that something called "aromatherapy" would come to be recognized as a means of promoting healing, peace of mind and overall well-being might have seemed more than a little farfetched. But not anymore. Aromatherapy is a multimillion dollar industry, and things that seemed outlandish or futuristic in the mid-1960s are commonplace today.

Just as aromatherapy makes use of the sense of smell to contribute to the healing process, touch-based therapies -- massage, reflexology and acupressure, for example -- make optimal use of the body's own sense of touch in facilitating its return to a state of fully functioning self-support.

When we remember that touch is, in fact, a sense, we have another context with which to understand the healing power inherent in massage therapy. Prolonged exposure to any kind of unpleasant stimuli -- the stench of burnt eggs, the incessant sound of a malfunctioning car alarm, a bright glare on the windshield while driving -- can lead to both physical and mental stress, which can lead to unwanted physical and mental conditions ranging from mild irritation or anxiety to more serious problems. Doctors readily acknowledge that a large percentage of illnesses have their origins in stress.

In contrast, take a moment to think about how much better and more relaxed you feel when your senses actually enjoy the various stimuli they are processing: the scent of your favorite tea wafting through the mid-morning kitchen; the sound of your favorite music filling the house; the sight of a rainbow after the storm has passed.

When viewed with a perspective toward holistic-based approaches to health, the sense of touch can be seen as another natural conduit by which relief is delivered and one's life experience enhanced.

Would you rather feel tense muscles in your upper back, rock-like from another stressful day at the office, or would you prefer the soothing contact of a massage therapist's skilled touch to help your back and neck release the tension?

Would you rather feel the pinch of tight shoes restricting your toe movements and leaving you footsore, or the practiced, empathetic touch of a reflexologist helping your feet feel as good as they would feel walking barefoot along the beach or on soft ground?

We can nourish our whole being with aromatic fragrances, beautiful music, glorious natural vistas and delicious, nutritious food. We also can be good to ourselves holistically through the sense of touch. Seen in that light, massage therapy and reflexology make more sense than ever.

Please visit http://www.gstouch.com for more information.