HUGe benefits

Mona

These are the times when most communication has gone virtual; sadly, it is face-to-face communication that has suffered the most. Result: one is more alienated than ever before. Science advocates hugging, not only to improve emotional health but also physical. An effective stress-reliever, boost to immunity, good heart health and pain relief, hugs are often labelled as universal medicine for more ailments than one!

“In the excessively hostile world that we live in today, hugs can be the simplest cure,” says psychiatrist Dr Sachin Kaushik. One proven benefit of hugging is the release of happy hormone oxytocin. “Also called ‘cuddle’ hormone, its release helps drop the heart rate and boost serotonin, which promotes the feeling of well-being.” Recent scientific studies have shown that hugs not only boost oxytocin, but also cut cortisol. Dr Anuneet Sabharwal explains, “Cortisol is the cause of all major ills today, right from depression to inflammation to cancer and many other issues. But a simple hug can bring cortisol levels down while promoting health — physical and psychological.”

Getting enough hugs?

Those who get regular hugs are less likely to feel stressed. According to family therapist Virginia Sat, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” Sociologist Suman Rao points out that while cuddling and hugging is a given when kids are small, during teenage the frequency is reduced drastically. “While I am all for taking permission of the child before taking him or her in an embrace, in your close circle it’s important to provide that tacit support via an embrace.”

While in the West there have been ‘free hug’ campaigns in public places, Dr Sabharwal advises some caution, “As a mental health professional in a country where most sexual assaults happen from someone known, one should be rather wary. Be it child tantrums or teen troubles, as effective it is to hug it out, do give due importance to body autonomy and teach kids how to refuse a hug,”

In most cultures, hugging or any other form of body contact – shaking hands or touching feet is a given but now it is even backed up by science. According to researcher Michael Murphy, in Carnegie Mellon University’s Laboratory for the Study of Stress, Immunity and Disease, hugging might be an effective way of supporting both men and women who are experiencing conflict in their relationships.

“Research has proved that a hug lasting 20 seconds has beneficial effects ranging from pain relief to reducing social anxiety,” points out Dr Kaushik. Any kind of relationship — parent-child, siblings, friends, couples —grows deeper with frequent hugs and cuddles. Dr Sabharwal calls hugs a universally designed wonder formula to forge bonds, “Kangaroo care is scientifically proven to increase chances of survival in pre-term babies.” The skin-to-skin contact makes the basis of kangaroo care and hugs are one best form of skin-to-skin care. He adds that hugging benefits aren’t restricted to humans. “Cuddling your pet, say a dog, helps as much as say a friend.”

So, are you ready to hug?