Top 10 Benefits of Hugs
Exercise & Nutrition aren’t the only important factors for good health. Hugging is extremely effective at healing sickness, disease, loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress.
Top 10 benefits of hugs are:
- Hugging lifts serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.
- Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells > keeping you healthy and disease free.
- Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which reduces feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger.
- Hugging relaxes muscles by releasing tension in the body. Hugs can take away pain & soothe aches by increasing circulation into the soft tissues.
- Hugs balance our central nervous system between action and rest. The skin’s tone and texture for both people hugging changes, increasing in moisture hydration and electricity in the skin, showing more parasympathetic (relaxation) activity.
- The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust & a sense of safety, which helps with open & honest communication for all ages.
- Hugging boosts self-esteem & shows us that we’re loved & special. The associations of self-worth & tactile sensations from our early years of life are still embedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our parents growing up actually remain ‘imprinted’ at a cellular level & hugs remind us of this comforted feeling, connecting us to our ability to self-love.
- Hugs teach us how to give and receive in an exchange of energy. There is equal value in receiving and being receptive to warmth, as to giving and sharing.
- Hugs are much like meditation and laughter. They teach us to let go and be present right now. Hugs get you out of your predictable circular thinking patterns and connect you with your heart, your feelings & your breath.
- Hugging helps relationships encouraging empathy & understanding. And, it’s synergistic, which means the whole it win-win for both people!
To learn more on how to further improve your health, book a consultation with Dr Rachel Murphy (Osteopath, Clinical Nutritionist) at the Family Wellness Group .
Call 9898 0222 or book online by clicking here.
Dr Rachel Murphy
In clinical practice, I continue to pursue passion for treating infants and children as well as pregnancy care, including pre and postnatal support. I have a strong belief that environment plays a crucial role in health and well being, and therefore treatment management must also include advice on exercise and nutrition, ergonomics, stretching, rehabilitation and lifestyle modification.
> View profile
How to De-Stress with Fitness
Here’s how to use fitness to de-stress and improve detoxification: Stay in the now- When’s the last time you tuned in to your body as you were exercising, rather than tune out by distracting yourself such as with music? You can experience the benefits of mind/body...
The Benefits of Stretching
Stretching can serve to enhance your quality of life at every age! Top benefits of Stretching include: Improved circulation Stretching improves circulation of blood to the muscles and joints. Increased blood circulation, of course, brings nutrients to our cells and...
Headaches and Migraines
While lying down and shutting your eyes may help to ease a headache or migraine, it’s not usually a preferred solution when you have a busy life to lead and things to do. When a migraine hits, the only thing that it’s poor sufferer really wants is a remedy that will...
Excessive Sweating
Sweaty palms, feet, face or torso? Excess sweating can often be linked to an overactive sympathetic nervous system associated with too much internal heat in the body with strain on the digestive system and liver detoxification pathways, therefore initiating sweating...
Children’s Concentration
Concentration is like a muscle that requires regular exercise to strengthen. All children can learn strategies and engage in practices that help improve their ability to focus and sustain their attention. This is a very important skill for kids to acquire. Most...
Tips to reboot your Energy for the New Year
To detoxify means to give new life, vitality and vigor. Fortunately, our bodies are naturally equipped to detoxify and regulate optimum circulation for our health. Nothing fancy or expensive needs to be taken, or applied to ‘kick start’ a detox for your body, there...
5 steps to educate children against relationship violence
We all need a vision to strive for, a dream to take action towards & a purpose to live for! Do your children see you continuing to learn new skills, show commitment to your health, and set goals to work towards? BE what you want your children to BE- every day they...
Simple ways to increase physical activity
We might all be ‘busy’ but do we prioritise ‘activity and exercise’? Here’s a great list of simple ways to increase your physical activity.
Best Foods for healthy Teeth
How well do you take care of your teeth? Do you know which foods keep our teeth and gums in their best condition throughout life, leading to improved overall health! When it comes to stains and discolouration of teeth, coffee, black tea and smoking the...
Why exercising in cooler weather helps your metabolism
Did you know your metabolism works 5 TIMES more efficiently when exercising in cooler weather? Benefits include Increased oxygenation to your red blood cells to activate muscle spindle fibre activation- toning muscle quicker Stimulation of your body cells to produce...
