The term ‘Touch Therapy’, an American term for therapeutic massage is essentially used to refer to a specialized method of treating people who have experienced trauma. Touch Therapy may help in the following cases –

·         Mood Swings

·         Body image disturbances

·         Insomnia

·         Anger

·         Anxiety

·         Touch aversion

Touch Therapy is a combination of progressive, gentle and non-invasive methods helping to effectively reclaim one’s personal space and comfort to deal with physical trauma.

Post-trauma, a person can develop both physical and psychological implications. Psychological effect such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or any habitual disorder may not be effectively dealt with solely by Touch Therapy. It is only effective while dealing with physical implications of post-traumatic experience.

What is Therapeutic Touch?

Touch Therapy combines multiple touch mechanisms such as massage and energy consuming tasks to alleviate harrowing experiences. Though, not embraced by conventional school of medicines, people have reported benefits of this alternative healing method.

After zeroing in on the root cause behind the discomfort of the patient or victim, remedial touch mechanisms are applied to their rescue. This modern approach to Touch Therapy helps the patients regain their spiritual and physical balance.

What is the history behind it?

The origin of Touch Therapy may be traced to the central Asian cultures. Qigong, a system of Chinese meditational breathing exercises to achieve and maintain good health, is somewhat similar to the modern Touch Therapy. Mesmerism, an act of inducing hypnosis, is also sometimes linked as the German predecessor to the modern Touch Therapy.

During 1970s, Dora Kunz, a natural healer, and Delores Krieger, the professor at New York University (NYU) made significant achievements in developing Therapeutic Touch. Krieger was the classmate and colleague of Kunz during those times.

Today, over hundred educational institutions across the globe teach and practice Touch Therapy. According to a survey conducted at a U.S. hospital, in the year 2005, over 30 percent out of 1400 participating hospitals offered Touch Therapy. Both professionals and non-professionals are involved in practicing the tactics since years.

What is Healing Touch Therapy?

Healing Touch Therapy emphasizes on the compassionate approach towards achieving harmony and restoration of balance amongst mind, body and spirit. It delves upon the notion that the human body is surrounded by a field of energy. The intention of the practitioners of Healing Touch Therapy is to positively affect this field of energy to restore calmness and tranquility.

A symbiotic relationship between the practitioner and the patients while delivering the Healing Touch Therapy. This method can be administered along with conventional medicines. This integrated healing approach helps in the holistic curing of the patients.

Empirical researches in the field suggest that Healing Touch Therapy highly promotes the following benefits –

  • Mind-body relaxation,
  • Pain reduction,
  • Enhancement of immune function, and
  • Stress management

Healing Touch Therapy sessions assists patients to address the emotional turbulence experienced by them.

Who Can Benefit From Healing Touch Therapy?

Healing Touch Therapy sessions have addressed the following:

·         Cancer

·         Depression

·         Back and neck pain

·         Arthritis

·         Fibromyalgia

·         Anxiety

·         Headaches

·         Bone fractures

Benefits of Healing Touch Therapy

Various benefits of healing touch therapy include:

·         Earlier recovery from surgery and chemotherapy

·         Beneficial to those in drug treatment

·         Muscles, joints, and nervous system benefits

·         Helps in trauma recovery for those with inhibited emotional trauma

·         Helps in developing individual well-being

·         Lessened chance for severe depression

·         Reduction in stress

·         Lower anxiety levels

·         Decreased need for pain relief pills

·         Peace given to those in the dying process

·         Healing of pain and sickness

·         Strengthening the immune system

·         Better blood circulation

·         Increased relaxation

·         Furthered spiritual links