How Hugs Heal — Have You Had a Hug Today?

February 9th, 2018

By Dr. Joseph Mercola

Contributing writer for Wake Up World

From the time you were born until the day you die, touch is an important part of your emotional and physical health. Infants deprived of touch grow up with developmental and cognitive delays, attachment disorders and higher risk of serious infections.1 On the other hand, premature infants who are held skin-to-skin exhibit better cognitive skills, are more resilient to stress and have more organized sleep patterns, even 10 years later.2

These early touch-based interventions demonstrate the need for touch in psychological regulation. The benefits of touch don’t diminish with age. The late Virginia Satir, psychotherapist and generally acknowledged as a pioneer in family therapy,3 spoke about the importance of touch and hugs as it relates to a person’s emotional health, saying:

“We need [four] hugs a day for survival. We need [eight] hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” 4

This may represent the minimum and optimum thresholds to generate sufficient oxytocin, a hormone released by your pituitary gland in response to physical touch. The simple act of hugging may not only increase your bond with others, but may also boost your physical and emotional health.

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Recommended articles by Dr. Joseph Mercola:

• Why Depression is NOT Caused by a Chemical Imbalance
• The Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
• Can a Hug a Day Keep Infection Away?
• The Harmful Effects of Electromagnetic Fields Explained
• The Magic Healing Power of Mushrooms
• 13 Mind-Body Techniques That Can Help Ease Pain and Depression
• The Cancer Revolution: A Helpful Program to Reverse and Prevent Cancer
• Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy Correlates to Lower IQ in Their Children

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