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Health Column | Annapolis July 2009

By Sarah Hagerty

The Science of Scratching that Itch

Thanks to chicken pox, measles and a particularly nasty case of poison ivy, I was an itch expert by the age of four. Caladryl was my scent of choice in those days. (A whiff of that stuff now is like déjà vu in a bottle.) I was old enough to know that scratching really felt good; but I was too young to know why. Turns out, nobody really knew why scratching provides relief...until very recently.

Neuroscientists at the University of Minnesota decided to investigate the question and came to some fascinating conclusions. Their findings, published in the April 2009 issue of Nature Neuroscience, show that the act of scratching shuts off particular neurons in the spinal cord and that the "itching signal" slows down or disappears for 30 to 40 seconds following the scratching. Amazing. Prior to this study, many believed the itch-scratch signal was based in the brain.

There is, however, an intrinsic problem with scratching: further scratching can actually cause further itching and a vicious cycle begins. For patients with certain aliments, this can be a living nightmare. Atopic eczema, AIDS, chronic kidney problems, liver disease and lymphoma, for instance, can cause intense itching. Some patients claim it is far more difficult to tolerate than pain because you can take medication for pain. Itching is much harder to control. And that is exactly what the researchers at the University of Minnesota hope will change. If scientists can better understand this spinal cord reaction, harness it, and activate it without scratching (with a drug, for example), patients could receive relief without the harmful, and ultimately inadequate, effects of scratching.

That New Couch May Be Too New

You’ve waited patiently through back orders, special fabric requests, and more than one between-8 a.m.-and-noon missed appointment. But it has finally arrived: your brand new couch. It’s even prettier than you remembered. But what’s with that "new couch" smell?
Believe it or not, that odor may be formaldehyde. Yes, the stuff undertakers use for embalming. Formaldehyde, a member of a chemical family known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is present in many everyday items... from plastic shower curtains and household cleaners to carpeting and building materials to cosmetics and new clothes. You know how that new blouse or shirt always "loses something" after it’s been washed for the first time, and that it never looks quite as good? Well what it’s lost is probably formaldehyde. It possesses a preservative effect (remember those morticians?) and it has many applications...including use in some of the components of new furniture.

Exposure to formaldehyde can, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cause "irritation of throat, nose, eyes, and skin. This upper respiratory tract irritation can potentially exacerbate asthma symptoms and other respiratory illnesses.” the CDC takes it a step further and adds, "chronic exposures in occupational settings also have been extensively studied. Respiratory symptoms of chronic runny nose, chronic bronchitis, and obstructive lung disease all have been suggested."

We do, however, have some control over the situation. The first thing we can do is open a window. Formaldehyde can and will dissipate over time. Our hermetically sealed society (not a window opens here at the offices of What’s Up?, for instance) has exacerbated the problem of indoor air pollution. We were actually better off (toxin-wise) in those drafty, inefficient homes 50-plus years ago. Of course, we can also stop buying stuff with formaldehyde in it. But this isn’t quite as easy as it sounds since most of the things it is in are not compelled to list their ingredients...and even when they do, formaldehyde is often part of another ingredient so it doesn’t show up. There are manufacturers, however, that donor go the formaldehyde route at all. The funeral business, for example, is using it less and less. Just do your homework...in this environmentally aware age, you’ll find them. Any company that has gone to the trouble of not using formaldehyde in its merchandise will probably toot its horn loudly.

Clench to Relax

Managing the stress in our lives is one of today’s greatest challenges. Stress is believed to be a major contributor in a list of ailments that ranges from high blood pressure, asthma, backaches, and headaches to sleep disorders, obesity, and acne. We know we have to reduce our stress...or at least our reaction to it. But it can be stressful just trying to find a way to de-stress. "I don't have time to go to a gym." "I can't afford a weekly massage." "I don't want to be reliant on prescription drugs."

Well, how would you like a no-frills, fast, easy and effective way to chill? We may have found just that.
It’s called Progressive Muscle Relaxation and it’s a terrific technique to dial down the tension. The Mayo Clinic Guide to Alternative Medicine (© 2007 Time, Inc.) gives step-by-step instructions, but the gist is this: Select a comfy, quiet spot (it could be anything from the living room sofa to a park bench, your choice). This method can be performed either seated or lying down, but any tight clothing should be loosened or removed (if you’re at home, of course). Start with your feet and work your way up through the major muscle groups in your body to your head and neck. Tense each muscle group for at least five seconds. Repeat before moving to the next muscle group. According to the Mayo Clinic Guide, "it's recommended that you perform progressive muscle relaxation at least once or twice each day to get the maximum benefit. Each session should last about 10 minutes."

We like a version of this routine that includes three or four minutes of deep, slow breathing thrown in at the end. You’ll be amazed how good you feel.


Sarah Hagerty, Health Editor at What’s Up?, believes in a common sense, all-things-in-moderation approach to well being. She also thinks that laughter is life’s best medicine.

What’s Up? Annapolis does not give medical advice. This material is simply a discussion of current information, trends, and practices. Please seek the advice of your physician before making any changes in your lifestyle or health routine.

Tags: scratching formaldehyde volatile organic compounds Progressive Muscle Relaxation

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