For the past several weeks, I have been writing about pain, including a variety of methods for pain relief , the connection between trauma and physical pain, and the research that supports these methods.
At its most basic level, Healing Touch works because it is a gentle effective way to elicit the “relaxation response,” a termed first used by Herbert Benson, MD, founder of Harvard’s Mind/Body Institute. This phenomenon is known to promote a whole cascade of psychological and physiological benefits, including pain relief.
Carol Komitor, one of the elders in the Healing Touch Program, created a great illustration of the relaxation response.
This graphic shows how the simple act of relaxing in fact has a domino effect on multiple physical levels. Healing Touch encourages your body to relax, which in turn releases endorphins in the brain. The endorphins work to relax the muscles, which leads to more space between cells, resulting in increased circulation.
An increased blood flow elevates oxygen levels throughout the body and allows nutrients to be absorbed more efficiently. This supports the production of enzymes for proper digestion and regulates hormones to strengthen the body’s constitution.
Increased blood flow also releases toxins from the body. In this environment, healthy cells begin to regenerate and a sense of well being is established, which promotes healing.
When the body has a stable physiology, the immune system is regulated. The resulting stability within the immune system affects every aspect of your energy field: the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Self healing occurs in a wonderfully dynamic, intricate way and all you have to do is put your feet up, RELAX, and let Healing Touch facilitate the process!
(Additional Sources: Healing Touch Program Level 1 Notebook, 7th edition and Komitor Healing Method, Inc.)
