The Power of Touch

Massage has long been an important aspect of healing, but how exactly? Ultimately, it all starts with the natural release of oxytocin in the body. Oxytocin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body and it helps with both physical and mental healing. It works through the blood stream and nerve branches to produce both psychological and physiological balance. Touch can stimulate the body to increase the release of oxytocin in the body which can lead to a feeling of balance and well-being.

Many horses live stressful lives. Though we do everything for them and pamper them, they are still horses living in a human world. Their physiological, and ultimately their psychological needs, are much different than ours. They are creatures of BEING. Humans in the modern culture are creatures of DOING. Add physical stress such as training and competition to this and you can have a propensity for high levels of stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, to be circulating in the body. As the body releases stress hormones it begins to accumulate and show up in the physical being.

Touch has been proven to reduce stress hormones in the body, with cortisol being on the top of this list. Massage can lower cortisol levels up to 30%! Amazing. And what happens in the body when these stress hormones are lowered? The nervous system can shift from "fight or flight" to "rest and digest". The immune system receives a boost from this shift in the nervous system as well, and with this boost comes the body's ability to heal. Lowering stress hormones also increases the body's release of serotonin, a major neurotransmitter in the body, which can aid in pain relief, nervousness and well-being.

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