Psychologists at the Univ of Sydney found that hugging lowers the stress hormone cortisol and boosts the immune system. Research from the Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that couples who embrace and hold hands for twenty seconds in the morning experience stress levels which are half that of couples who don’t. Hmmm…

I sort of new that, and I always love it when science confirms what we instinctively know. P.s. my GP ends every consultation with “give me a hug,” which we do.

The power of a hug when especially snug well it acts like a drug
Practice with partner or practice with spouse don’t be shy don’t be a mouse
A handshake’s too formal a fist bump to brief, make sure you don’t get in to any mischief
And those who don’t care for a touch of such sort
Well they are only selling themselves short
We could all use less cortisol, and less of that alcohol
When the stresses of life attack like a knife
With arms wrapped in place, you’ll light up the space
And though brief in duration it’s pure medication that needs no translation.
Hug away my friends!