The AromaTouch Technique is all about creating an emotional connection and the science behind that connection is as validated as it is compelling. Tactile communication is our first form of communication. We begin receiving tactile signals in the womb, and then touch plays a critical role in parent-child relationships before verbal communication is possible. It is, in essence, the first sense we acquire and it is astonishingly effective. In recent studies, researchers have shown that emotional communication is very effective through touch, nearly as effective as words and facial cues. Not only is touch able to communicate the tone of emotion (whether it is positive or negative, intense or subtle), but it may also allow for precise differentiation between types of emotion. With voice and facial cues, we can identify just one or two positive signals that are not confused with each other. Research has exhibited that touch can communicate multiple emotions—love, gratitude, sympathy, fear, anger— with astounding exactness. This effect isn’t just limited to loved ones; another study found that touch communicates emotion nearly as effectively when it occurs between strangers. While our understanding of the mechanisms involved with touch and emotional messaging is still limited, we do know that it can be more effective than even verbal communication in strengthening existing bonds and developing new ones.

Along with the emotional component, gentle touch can also influence physiological responses in ways other communication simply cannot. Unlike massage, which involves powerful hand movements that are focused on specific outcomes (breakdown of muscular adhesions, stimulating the central nervous system, aiding recovery, etc.), the gentleness of an AromaTouch Technique has a much different spectrum of benefits. Tender touch almost instantaneously activates the release of oxytocin (often referred to as the “love” or “hug” hormone), decreases heart rate and blood pressure, and has a beneficial influence on multiple other stress-sensitive systems. Furthermore, the person initiating the contact generally experiences the same response as the person on the receiving end. Unlike a massage, the benefits of giving an AromaTouch Technique to someone can be just as powerful as receiving one.