The rocking chair was part of colonial life;
it was an American phenomenon. Although it came
to the colonies by way of England as a garden
chair, new Americans quickly moved it into their
homes as a cradling device for mother and child.
The rocking chair grew so popular among the
colonists that by 1750 the American Windsor
Rocking Chair, built in Philadelphia, became
known worldwide.
Generations of Americans grew up with the
rocking chair; it was a common and functional
piece of furniture in almost every home. A
rocking chair provided the means to help a fussy
child to sleep; soothe emotional wounds; and
provide comfort in times of illness. But the
rocking chair’s purpose was mainly used to
ensure an emotional bond between mother and
child.
A baby that’s rocked to sleep benefits
greatly; the infant isn’t alone in a cradle; his
mother IS the cradle; back and forth; back and
forth; slowly picking up a rhythm, with the
sound of humming or a sweet lullaby. The neural
network of the infant’s brain is taking in
signals; all is well; I’m with you; we’re moving
together.
Most children never get that signal. They’re
placed into their cribs with a bottle or
pacifier and expected to sleep. Some will cry;
others will stare at inner space; but that
crucial intimate message is never received.
Emotional stability is lost.
Today we’re discovering how important the
rocking chair is for psychosocial well-being;
its use has spread far beyond the mother/child
cradle, and can be a cure for a wide range of
health problems.
Studies by the University of Rochester’s
School of Nursing and the Center for Clinical
Research on Aging have shown the gentle motion
of a rocking chair releases endorphins; a
chemical known to improve mood and lessen pain.
The study confirms that Rocking Chair Therapy
increases the quality of life for people
suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The Medical College of Virginia conducted a
study that shows the calming movement of a
rocking chair can dramatically speed up the
healing process in severely ill patients. In
addition, the rocking chair is now being used as
therapy for post-surgery recovery.
According to Dr. Heinrich Addleheim of the
Kinetic Therapy Clinic in Berlin, Germany, the
rocking chair is simply amazing, “We’ve seen
cases of patients recuperating from heart attack
and stroke – without any trace of permanent
damage – simply because they used a rocking
chair while they were recovering. I’ve seem
people bedridden with arthritis who were up and
around inside a week after regular use of the
rocking chair. . . it’s not just a piece of
furniture; it’s a remarkable medical device.”
Rocking Chair Therapy is being applied to the
following:
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s
• Autism
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Stuttering
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Heart Disease
• Surgical Recovery
• Mental Illness
In closing, let’s not forget the people who
have felt a great affection for their rocking
chairs; Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain,
Bertholt Brecht, Pablo Picasso, John F. Kennedy,
Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and Benjamin
Franklin.
The American colonists bestowed upon us many
gifts; a great Republic, and a great chair.