RECENTLY the Rusea's Old Students' Association vigorously applauded Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for defending her fondness for hugging and kissing, suggesting that her style helps combat the coarse sensibilities of much of the population. Well, I, for one, am right behind Rusea's old students and the PM.

Mind you, I'm not so sure about combating the coarse sensibilities, because unfortunately it might encourage a lot of unwanted coarse hugging and kissing. But she is on the right track, according to all the evidence. Researchers in the United States say we need eight a day for maintenance and l2 a day for maximum benefit.

Humane Medicine health care journal lists 2l reasons why hugging is good for your health. Many are frivolous - hugging is non-polluting and tax-free - but the key ones include the fact that hugging relieves tension, improves the blood's circulation and even combats depression.

As you would expect, the medical researchers have even determined that hugging can help your heart, particularly in the case of women. Hugging releases oxytocin, a "bonding hormone", which cuts the risk of heart disease by reducing stress and lowering the level of cortisol , the stress hormone, in the body.
In this day and age of political correctness and sexual harassment you've got to be careful who and how you hug. To quote one nervous male, "hugging could lead to slugging". Nevertheless, here are some useful pointers.

. Begin the hug with eye contact to communicate the spirit in which the hug is being given, and even if the hug is brief (a truly therapeutic hug should last 20 seconds), make sure your total energy and focus is on the person you are hugging. Men, be gentle - a hug is not the start of a wrestling contest.

. If you are taller than the other person customise your hug by bending your knees slightly to make it more comfortable for both of you. If you are hugging a child get on your knees to be at eye level and, if the child is really small, pick him or her up.
. Of course you can actually benefit from hugging yourself. Sit on the floor, cross your legs and hug yourself tightly. Rock side to side gently to invigorate your body to give yourself a light massage to relieve back tension.

. Now, like the Prime Minister I am quite willing to hug up a few politicians if it's going to help the country heal itself. But I draw the line - perhaps with one or two exceptions - at kissing them.
. Actually, the PM's kissing is generally more a polite, mainly fleeting gesture of affection than anything that has a positive impact on either participant's health.

. Kissing is divided into three categories: lust - the craving for sexual gratification that is triggered by testosterone; romantic love - the euphoria caused by dopamine and norepinephrine; and attachment - the security you feel in a long-term partnership when oxytocin and vasopressin create a sense of calm. This all makes your realise that the human body is one big chemistry lab experiment. Better to think of it as what the late Marvin Gaye called "getting it on".

You can look at kissing from an aerobic standpoint. Fifteen years ago Alfred Kinsey reported that a passionate kiss burns 6.4 calories (compared with ll.2 calories when you jog on a treadmill) so you need to do a whole heap of passionate kissing for significant weight loss. Kissing can also slow the ageing process by toning your jaw and cheek muscles thereby reducing sagging. Actually a skilful French kiss engages as many as 34 face muscles. It's also good for your teeth - saliva destroys plaque - but it's not something you want to contemplate when moving into a kiss. So much for the health benefits.

My only advice to Madam PM is to launch a national campaign encouraging hugging and kissing but not the fenky-fenky stuff, the real thing. And as we work towards adopting the bonobo chimpanzee 's philosophy of life we will gradually become one big, loving family. Surely it's worth a try.

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