Mental and Physical Benefits of Tattoos

Physical Benefits of Tattoo

The world's earliest known evidence of tattoos comes from more than fifty line and cross tattoos on Ötzi's body. Most of them are tattooed on his spine, knees and ankles. And these tattoo locations are very neatly aligned with traditional Chinese acupuncture points, especially those used to treat back pain and upset stomach. Modern X-rays showed that Ötzi had arthritis in those tattooed areas; in addition, the forensic doctor found whipworm eggs in Ötzi's stomach - known to cause severe abdominal pain. So it's possible that Ötzi's tattoo did have some therapeutic effect.

Lawrence Island off the coast of Alaska, healing tattoos have also been found. Lars Krutak discovered that Yupiget uses a form of tattooing called skin stitching. He found that most of these suture patterns were around the joints. Probing further, Klutak discovered that whenever someone sprained a joint, dots were placed on the swollen area to promote healing.

In addition, there are theories that people need to have a strong immune system to survive the danger of infection after their skin is inked. If you survive, it could be a sign that you have good genes to pass on to your children, which acts as a fitness signal, making you more sexually attractive.
Of course, back in the day, contemporary research showed that tattoos are now strongly associated with mental health. "Tattoos can be a huge boost to people's mental health, especially in the weeks after they get tattooed," Swami said.

Mental benefits of Tattoo

Around 20% of adults in the UK now have at least one tattoo, and the proportion is likely to increase. Among those with tattoos, 92 percent said they were satisfied with their body art. Research has found that when people see their favorite patterns tattooed on their bodies, their anxiety and dissatisfaction with their bodies will immediately disappear. Not only that, but for the next few weeks they'll be in high spirits, happy and appreciative of their art.

Additionally, memorial tattoos can also help survivors recover from trauma. There was once a couple who lost their son in a car accident. They put a lot of pressure on their son about his tattoo. However, shortly after his son's death, the father went to the same tattoo artist and got the same tattoo as his son. Both parents now have multiple tattoos related to their son so they can remember their loved one as if his son never left.

Perhaps most intriguingly, tattoos are increasingly being used to help the wearer overcome past traumas. Tattoo artist Paul Booth explains: "Surviving, enduring pain, and ultimately having the image of that experience as part of your past is what heals. The result is something that makes you feel empowered because you went through it and you recovered.”