Re: hoping to initiate a discussion about touch

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Posted by Kree Arvanitas on January 09, 2000 at 21:36:06:

In Reply to: hoping to initiate a discussion about touch posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on January 07, 2000 at 20:35:24:

HI CATHERINE! Don't know if these comments are helpful, but the issue of touch has been a really important one for me as a henna artist. Many henna artists work across tables or up on stools, etc. where there is not much touching involved. I decided from the very beginning that I would not do that, but would try to do it up close and personal the way henna has always traditionally been done. We avoid the use of tables as much as possible and sit very close to our customers, using our laps and legs to balance body parts whenever possible. Crossing over that touch barrier also confers a lot of trust on the henna artists because many people are averse to being touched especially by a stranger. I know from your earlier comments, Catherine, that you don't like the use of clove/eucalyptus oil before henna but I use it religiously and part of that has nothing to do with the results of the henna -- it has to do with establishing a bond with the client. I spend quite a bit of time massaging the oil into the skin simply to relax the client, and create that little zing between us that will help me do a much better job on the henna design. It also eases the anxiety of people who have never had henna done before.

: Working on a book on henna, history traditions and why it's endured
: for at least 9000 years .... one thing I need to address is "Touch"

: My favorite massotherapist, to whom I usually go with such questions,
: is very ill, and I don't feel I can encumber her with a lot of
: iuquiries (Pause to publicly thank Natasha, Kenzi, Anon (Eliz), and
: Jeremy for their great help when I ask them questions).

: I've got some fairly general books that say that when one person
: touches another 1) social hierarchy is established, 2)endorphins are
: released 3)immune system is strengthened, 4) trust is
: enhanced, 5) the relaxation response is enhanced ...... and there have
: been studies that show that when one person touches another honesty
: and trust are enhanced, and a general feeling of well-being and
: positive response towards a specific location (where the touch was
: experienced) occur, babies gain weight faster if touched and all that
: jazz.

: Some of ya'll MUST have had a psych class more recently than I, (circa
: 1967). Not to mention that I know several of you have some
: massotherapy instruction. Can anyone help me out here? My premise
: is that henna is not, in an of itself, deeply magical but the
: situation of two women touching each other for an extended period of
: time in a celebration of "rite of passage" "festivity" "socially
: meaningful exchange" "celebration of beauty and sexuality" is
: extremely powerful, especially if the henna is strongly scented....and
: the practice is repeated frequently in the community (re-enforced with
: regular marriages, eids, circumcisions and all that....)

: Can anyone respond, particularly if they can aim me at a bibliographic
: source, with a properly controlled test of "touching"? I know everyone
: has anecdotal bits about how wonderful people feel being
: hennaed....and I'd love to hear that, but I REALLY need any
: double/blind scientific studies that show that touching vs not
: touching makes a difference in health, sense of well being
: and trust, behaviour, status and longevity.

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Re: hoping to initiate a discussion about touch Kenzi 23:29:58 1/11/00 (0)

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: HI CATHERINE! Don't know if these comments are helpful, but the issue of touch has been a really important one for me as a henna artist. Many henna artists work across tables or up on stools, etc. where there is not much touching involved. I decided from the very beginning that I would not do that, but would try to do it up close and personal the way henna has always traditionally been done. We avoid the use of tables as much as possible and sit very close to our customers, using our laps and legs to balance body parts whenever possible. Crossing over that touch barrier also confers a lot of trust on the henna artists because many people are averse to being touched especially by a stranger. I know from your earlier comments, Catherine, that you don't like the use of clove/eucalyptus oil before henna but I use it religiously and part of that has nothing to do with the results of the henna -- it has to do with establishing a bond with the client. I spend quite a bit of time massaging the oil into the skin simply to relax the client, and create that little zing between us that will help me do a much better job on the henna design. It also eases the anxiety of people who have never had henna done before. : : Working on a book on henna, history traditions and why it's endured : : for at least 9000 years .... one thing I need to address is "Touch" : : My favorite massotherapist, to whom I usually go with such questions, : : is very ill, and I don't feel I can encumber her with a lot of : : iuquiries (Pause to publicly thank Natasha, Kenzi, Anon (Eliz), and : : Jeremy for their great help when I ask them questions). : : I've got some fairly general books that say that when one person : : touches another 1) social hierarchy is established, 2)endorphins are : : released 3)immune system is strengthened, 4) trust is : : enhanced, 5) the relaxation response is enhanced ...... and there have : : been studies that show that when one person touches another honesty : : and trust are enhanced, and a general feeling of well-being and : : positive response towards a specific location (where the touch was : : experienced) occur, babies gain weight faster if touched and all that : : jazz. : : Some of ya'll MUST have had a psych class more recently than I, (circa : : 1967). Not to mention that I know several of you have some : : massotherapy instruction. Can anyone help me out here? My premise : : is that henna is not, in an of itself, deeply magical but the : : situation of two women touching each other for an extended period of : : time in a celebration of "rite of passage" "festivity" "socially : : meaningful exchange" "celebration of beauty and sexuality" is : : extremely powerful, especially if the henna is strongly scented....and : : the practice is repeated frequently in the community (re-enforced with : : regular marriages, eids, circumcisions and all that....) : : Can anyone respond, particularly if they can aim me at a bibliographic : : source, with a properly controlled test of "touching"? I know everyone : : has anecdotal bits about how wonderful people feel being : : hennaed....and I'd love to hear that, but I REALLY need any : : double/blind scientific studies that show that touching vs not : : touching makes a difference in health, sense of well being : : and trust, behaviour, status and longevity.

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