touch

Touch: more than just skin deep

By Barry Bittman, MD

Everyone loves a great back rub.

Yet, what most of us do not realize is that massage is one of the oldest and simplest forms of medical treatment with soothing and healing properties that have been known for thousands of years. In the 5th century BC, Hippocrates, "the father of medicine" wrote, "The physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing." While touch is perhaps the most ignored of our five senses, its role in conventional medicine is receiving renewed attention based upon research that is shedding new light on its value as an effective therapeutic tool.

The skin is by far our largest sensory organ. From the slightest hint of air flowing across its surface to the perception of excruciating pain, the sensations we receive from our skin serve to guide and protect us in many ways. Most basic biology courses teach that the skin serves as a protective envelope for the body, blocking the entrance of offending organisms. Recent research, however, in the field of psychoneuroimmunology, the science that links emotions with nervous system, endocrine and immune function, is revealing a host of far-reaching insights that have important therapeutic implications.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to interview Tiffany Field, PhD, the director of the world-renowned, Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. The Touch Research Institute is the world's leading scientific research and treatment center for testing the effects of touch and massage in children and adults.

Dr. Field, along with Dr. Saul Shanberg of Duke University School of Medicine, are the pioneer researchers who originally showed that touching and holding premature infants dramatically accelerated their growth and shortened hospital stays. The savings estimated from such practices in hospitals throughout our nation is estimated in the realm of billions of dollars each year. The implication of their finding for raising children is of utmost importance— touch is necessary for normal growth and development.

Over the years, Dr. Field's research has also extended into other childhood issues and illnesses. Recent data is showing promise for the inclusion of massage treatments in infants adopted from eastern Europe who experience a host of challenging adjustment disorders.

Breakthrough research is also extending into the treatment of AIDS victims. Increased Natural Killer Cell activity (white blood cells capable of seeking out and destroying viruses and tumor cells) has recently been discovered in AIDS patients who received massage. It is altogether possible that such boosts in immune function could lead to fewer infections with resultant improvements in quality of life and survival times.

Exciting insights for massage at the corporate level are also surfacing. In this arena, Dr. Field's group performed a simple experiment testing the effects of 20 minute massages for corporate executives. It was exciting to learn that after receiving massages, these individuals were able to perform twice as many mathematical problems with approximately one half of the errors compared to prior attempts.

In essence, the common denominator for massage's role in health and performance is the reversal of the classical stress response that I have discussed in this column on several occasions in the past. By relaxing the individual, the release of cortisol and stress hormones is substantially reduced, thereby enhancing immune function and mental focus. As demonstrated through a number of other approaches such as humor and music, the reversal of the stress cascade has important practical implications for enhancing health and well being.

Next time you experience a sore muscle and instinctively begin to rub it, know well that you are activating one of nature's most basic and comprehensive healing mechanisms with far reaching positive effects. Yet also realize that sudden or persistent pain is sometimes a warning sign to seek out appropriate medical care that can uncover its cause.

Consider massaging your children or loved-ones on a regular basis, and realize the ultimate value of touch as an essential element of nurturing. Remember, if you're stressed out, pressured, and functioning at less than your optimal capacity, consider taking time out for a great massage— Mind over Matter!