Healthy living
Body matters
Rub it better
A gentle rub really can help take the pain away, say scientists
Researchers reporting at the British Association for the Advancement of Science at Liverpool University. Researchers have discovered that the skin is full of pleasure receptors, also known as C-fibres, which can help to soothe pain.
These special touch-sensitive nerves, which were not known about before, are found all over the body except on the soles of the feet and palms of the hand.
In collaboration with Swedish scientists, researchers from the UK conducted a series of tests on human volunteers. They heated the skin to the point of pain, and then gently caressed the person with a brush. The team found that the volunteers reported less pain when stroked. The team believe that the stimulation of these special pleasure receptors or C-fibres overrides the pain sensation.
Team member Professor Francis McGlone of Unilever and Liverpool University said that the best way to stimulate the ‘pleasure’ nerves was with a slow, light caress. McGlone believes that this research helps explain why comforting someone with hugs and cuddles is beneficial and he suggests that these pleasure sensations are part of a basic human need.
‘With pain it has been clearly established that without such a sense we would not survive, and now we are beginning to understand that without a sense of "pleasure", or as we prefer to call it "reward", behaviours that we take for granted like the caress between lovers and the nurturing of babies - all driven by skin-to-skin contact - we would also not survive?’
McGlone believes that touch is essential for healthy human development and children who are denied physical contact like hugs and cuddles from parents may be more likely to suffer from depression later in life. He also argues that activities like grooming are not just about staying clean but also about stimulating these ‘pleasure’ nerves. He points out that depressed people often neglect their grooming rituals.
And it is not just young people who benefit from tactile stimulation - McGlone and his team are also very interested in the importance of touch as we get older.
‘Many elderly people live is isolation and therefore do not get adequate access to affiliative or affectionate touch - one reason why owning a pet can be so palliative, or a visit to the hairdressers - we have shown that stroking the scalp activates all the brain's pleasure networks.’
The team hope that this research will help scientists gain a better understanding of how human pleasure and pain mechanisms work and may lead to the development of new treatments options for conditions ranging from chronic pain to depression.
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
