Lack of Touch

Ayurveda points out 10 reasons we get sick (see Ten things that affect our health). One of them is the wrong use of our sense organs which includes overuse, under use, and misuse of senses.  Interestingly enough, the Lack of touch can cause an imbalance of Dosha.

Scientists have shown that the amount of body contact (touch) plays a vital role in people’s mental and physical development as infants and in our happiness as adults. Touch is the first sense to develop in the womb and the last sense to leave at old age. It is essential to the health and well-being of human’s emotional, physical and mental development. Scientists say that human beings need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth.

Unfortunately in today’s world, we are getting less and less physical contact every day. With ATM, internet, online shopping, email and voicemail we are able to accomplish almost everything without actually seeing or talking to another person.

I addition, it is more common to hear about situations, where touch has been used negatively. The news reports on child abuse cases and sexual harassment suits. It has created a “touch phobic” society, where the most innocent touch can be misunderstood as sexual or inappropriate.

For thousand of years Ayurveda has known the value of proper use of the five senses. Abhyanga (daily oil massage) nourishes not only the skin but the nervous system as well. Happy relationships with loving touch allow us to use the sense of touch in a proper way and keep our Doshas in balance.

TODAY’S TIP: Hug your loved ones at least twelve times a day.