Various studies have proved the healing power of touch. A subtle stroke, gentle pat on the back and tight hug are signs of appreciation as well as human bonding. Such gestures activate pleasure hormones in body. Recently, researchers based at the University of Gothenburg, found that such gestures also possess healing power. Another study by the Swedish researchers has shown that the healing power of touch helps in relieving p.

The study showed that gentle stroking activates pleasure nerves or C-tactile fiber nerves that teem up the skin, thus stopping other fiber nerves from delivering messages of pain to the bra

Professor Francis McGlone, a neuroscientist at Liverpool University, said: "The picture that is emerging is that there are two separate nerves for painful and pleasurable touch. They also seem to mediate each other, so rubbing does make pain feel better. "

Researchers found that people who were exposed to painful temperatures on the surface of their skin felt less pain if they were stroked at the same time.

Investigating the ‘right way of touching’ researchers developed a stroking machine that can provide specific speeds and pressures required for a healing stroke. The study showed that the most pleasurable way to touch someone was to stroke at around two inches per second across the skin and applying pressure equivalent to a third of the weight of a five pence coin.

Trails showed that when the machine stroked volunteers, using a camel hairbrush, at this optimum setting, their pleasure nerve cells went wild with activation and sent signals to the pleasure centers of the brain.

Researchers used brain scanning while exposing volunteers to painful temperatures. The brain scans of the study subjects showed that less pain was experienced by the people who were being stroked, as compared to those not being stroked.

Professor McGlone added that touch is crucial for children as they develop and insufficient physical contact while growing up, could be implicated in the risk of depression in later life. He said that human bodies were covered in pleasure nerve fiberss, known as C fibers, with highest concentration being in the palms of hands and soles of feet.

Researchers believe that findings from this research could be used to find new treatments based on healing power of touch to treat conditions like chronicitching and depression. Healing touch of loved ones can cure various diseases without medication.