How healing can happen through touching
Energy exchange with intention
When did everyone stop touching? Was it covid that scared people away from loving affection? No more hugs, no more hand shakes or fist bumps either. I have been in many rooms when introductions happen and people steer away from a simple handshake. But this isn’t really the touching I am referring to. When my daughter had her TBI, (you can read it here) there was so much going on with her little body. Weakness on her right side was a huge concern and she did not have the same sensations on the right. In fact, she did not feel much pain on that side either.
I was working with several groups who helped support families with kids who had developmental delays and disabilities. Early Start helps families with early intervention when a child is delayed in any milestones. They helped us find an OT to help with our daughter’s delays. The PACT program helped us with the evaluation and also helped us find a speech therapist and recommendations for sign language.
Just an FYI - I highly recommend this video for babies with or without disabilities. All my kids loved it.
During this time, one of the therapists mentioned using a sensory brushing technique on my daughter after baths and before bedtime. It was during this brushing that I started to use light massage and pressure point touch on her and noticed her responding really well to what I was doing. I would start with the brush and lightly go over her arms and legs. Then, using lotion, I would massage from her shoulders to her finger tips. Gently rubbing her muscles and thinking about how her muscles and nerves were healing. I would go from her outer hip to her toes with the same thoughts and intentions, imagining her body healing. I would use my finger tips to massage her scalp gently while imagining her brain injury healing and her brain talking to the rest of her body. As I did this, I would also ask anything that did not belong to leave. I believe a mother’s love is so strong her will can do the unimaginable.
Sounds kinda crazy right? I know. I also knew not to tell people. I knew no one would accept that I believed my love could help her heal. That I could listen to my heart and figure out what she needed.
We are told to listen to our pediatricians because they have the medical degrees. But what I have learned over this journey is that my instinct is strong. I feel things inside that western medicine wants to say is impossible.
Just today, I felt pressure in my ears and soreness in my neck. I asked my daughter, who is now 20, to do some massage on my face and neck. We put on some relaxing spa music and she used macadamia nut oil and massaged my face, ears and neck. She uses her own intuition and intentional thought while doing this. By the time she was done, it had alleviated my pressure and discomfort. I felt so good I decided to write this for all of you.
I have practiced touch healing on all of my family and some of my friends. After studying Rieki, I realized I had been doing something very similar for years. I also realized that anyone with good intention and intuition can do it too. You just have to feel the connection and energy. We are all connected. Energy is all around us. We can choose to use it wisely and it can be very healing.
A couple days ago I saw a video of a raccoon lying on a rock massaging its own leg. Instinctually. That raccoon knew. Do you? I started paying attention to every part of my body. How it felt when I ate certain things, used certain products and what areas of my body were affected by stress. Even how I felt after being around certain people. Our bodies are amazing. We need to give them the love they deserve and touch is included in that. Here is one touch practice you can try on yourself. Do it every time you shower for the next 30 days and see if you feel a difference.
You can do this in the shower or right after.
I use a jojoba oil or tallow. You can also use tallow soap while in the shower. I recommend this one.
Start by gently massaging right above and below the collarbone on both sides of your chest. I use my pointer and middle finger. Pointer finger above, middle finger below.
You can move fingers back and forth gently and in a circular motion. This opens the supraclavicular and cervical lymph nodes. I then use my finger tips to gently massage my face, under my chin, my neck, and down the front of my chest. I massage into my armpits and under my breast. This is a great practice for light lymphatic drainage. It can really help stagnant lymph nodes.
Another touch technique I use on myself is stomach massage. Laying down, I gently massage my stomach by placing my hands at the bottom of my stomach and stroke upwards towards my ribcage. Repeat 10 times. I then stroke my stomach in a circular motion. Using firm, deep pressure, I move my hands in a clockwise direction, starting in the lower right groin and moving up the abdomen towards the ribcage. Repeat for 2 minutes. You can finish by putting 5 drops of castor oil in your belly button. Castor oil can help your digestive system, it helps detox, and can help with menstrual pain.
I also regularly rub the arches of my feet. We carry ourselves all day on our feet and they are often neglected the most. I like to put eucalyptus spearmint tallow on my feet while applying hard pressure to my arches. This can alleviate tightness and soreness in your feet.
Whenever my kids are feeling sick, down or stressed, I always turn to touch. From a simple hair treatment to massage, I will help aid in my kids feeling better. I believe massage helps heal. It gets things moving and if you do it with love and healing intentions the person can start to feel better quickly.
Hair and scalp treatments became a regular thing my kids asked for. I loved this time with them too. They lay on my massage table (you do not need this) and I use a hallow tip comb to comb through their hair and gently comb their scalp. This comb removes dead skin on the scalp which can help promote hair growth and also helps alleviate dandruff. I then use a pesticide free rosemary hair oil. I add a few drops to their scalp and massage it in with my finger tips. As I massage their scalp, I use mindful thoughts and intentions. I usually have light music playing (I prefer spa or Reiki music) and I let my fingers find the areas that are in need of pressure or tapping. Sometimes this is by the temple, sometimes in the back of the ears or neck. I just sense it. I then comb through their hair and comb the scalp again. The oil works best if slept in or if it sits at least 2 hours. I recommend washing it out with a natural shampoo.
My kids and friends have had amazing results with fuller, healthier hair and fast hair growth. They also love the connection we have during the treatments. It is a wonderful way to spend time with someone you love.
Touching ourselves and others can be healing. It is something I suggest trying and practicing. Trust your intuition and let it guide you. Always make sure the person you are practicing on is comfortable with touch and I think it goes without being said.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Thank you for being here.