Cuddle Therapy: The Healing Power of Touch Can Help Protect Against Flu

There is natural power, and there is spiritual power. In the old
days, my people did not separate daily life in the world from spiritual
life. Everything was spiritual, our attitude was spiritual and Wakan Tanka was involved in everything we said and did.
– Fools Crow, Teton Sioux, 1975

Touch therapy boosts the immune system with no side effects (except love) -- and looks to be even more important than diet, exercise and vitamin therapies when it comes to protecting against 'bugs' and helping to overcome chronic health challenges. ‘Inoculate’ loved ones now against the flu, by incorporating healing touch into your daily routine.

Liberally indulge in massage, cuddling, hand-holding, and good-old hugs. College students and singles can book themselves into a massage school to receive full body massages at a fraction of the cost of a professional one. Visits to the chiropractor also help to strengthen immune response and are often covered by health insurance.

Try incorporating healing touch 'games' into your next party: Host a 'pot luck' healing circle and have everyone bring their favorite therapy, back rub technique, or ginger compress. Play 'musical massage' or spin the bottle (using mini-neck and shoulder massage as the prize).
Remember the elderly. Seniors are actually the least-touched group in our culture. When visiting nursing homes, hold hands with residents while chatting and sharing stories. Bestow generous 'hello' and 'good-bye' hugs.

Young people under the age of 24 may be especially vulnerable to this latest 'bug.' Spend extra time with children now to protect against the flu once school starts. Incorporate serious cuddling into their TV-time routines. If younger family members are resistant to formal massage, offer foot rubs, pedicures and manicures and massage their limbs. Trimming hair can also lead to head-stroking, which releases beneficial hormones.

In his book ‘ Quantum Healing,' Dr. Deepok Chopra, M.D., cited a study where rabbits were fed extremely toxic, high-cholesterol diets. Consistent results emerged confirming the damaging effects of the high fat diet, except for one group – which strangely displayed 60% fewer symptoms. Nothing in the rabbits' physiology could account for their high tolerance to the diet, until it was discovered that the student who fed this group of rabbits enjoyed fondling and petting them. He would hold each rabbit lovingly for a few minutes before feeding it the poisonous diet. Repeat experiments displayed results confirming that holding rabbits lovingly even for a few minutes before feeding, enabled the animals to overcome the toxic diet.