7 Reasons You Need at Least 8 Hugs a Day

While my 11-year-old son might not admit to it, most people appreciate a hug from a family member or friend and the warm and fuzzy feelings that come along with it. But hugs are more than just nice gestures, they are absolutely necessary to bond with other human beings and boost our emotional and physical health. Virginia Satir, respected psychotherapist, says “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”

Research shows that hugging leads to physiological and biochemical reactions in the body that can greatly improve a person’s physical and mental health because they do the following:

1. Make us feel good – Hugging someone causes the levels of oxytocin, the “love hormone” to increase. Oxytocin makes us feel good inside and instills feelings of trust, loyalty, bonding and safety. Hugs held for an extended period of time increase a person’s level of serotonin which also improves his or her mood and creates happiness.
2. Ease depression – Hugs can heal feelings of loneliness, anger and isolation.
3. Lower blood pressure – When someone touches your skin, the sensation activates receptors which activate the area of the brain responsible for lowering blood pressure.
4. Lower heart rate – The University of North Carolina conducted an experiment involving stress and found that the heart rate of participants who hugged their partners increased by 5 beats per minute, while those who did not have contact with their partners had increased heart rate of 10 beats per minute on average.
5. Relieve aches and pains – Hugging can relax muscles, causing increased blood circulation in soft tissues, which then decreases tension and relieves aches and pains.
6. Boost the immune system – Slight pressure applied to the sternum creates an emotional charge. Such pressure activates the solar plexus chakra which stimulates the thymus gland. This gland regulates the production of white blood cells in the body, which keeps a person disease-free and healthy.
7. Relieve stress – Hugging causes the level of cortisol, the “stress hormone”, to decrease and calming messages to be sent to the brain.

Hugging is just as beneficial for the “hugger” as the “huggee” demonstrating the reciprocal nature of touch. Neurologist, Shekar Raman, MD, commented on this subject saying, “A hug, pat on the back and even a friendly handshake is processed by the reward center in the central nervous system, which is why they can have a powerful impact on the human psyche, making us feel happiness and joy…And it doesn’t matter if you’re the toucher or touché. The more you connect with others – on even the smallest physical level – the happier you’ll be.”

Happy Valentine’s Day — be generous with your hugs today and every day!

Big group hug to everyone who reads this!