Wow! Remember Primo incense? You either loved it or hated it. It was great for
the frats at MIU when we first moved in to help cover the smell of rotting mice
in the walls, especially during the winter. So I always associate Primo incense
smell with rotting mouse flesh!
--- On Mon, 7/21/08, curtisdeltablues [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
From: curtisdeltablues [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Break out the old Primo Insense man!
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, July 21, 2008, 10:43 AM
(the question marks are an artifact of copying the email,
sorry.)
Incense Soothes the Minds of Mice #133; and Men?
Scientists finds that brain-mood benefits lie behind the
ancient
spiritual use of incense
by Craig Weatherby
Spiritual seekers of all stripes have long employed
incense as a
soothing, renewing, inspiring balm for the soul. And scent
scientists
note that aromas light up the olfactory bulb #133; the
only part of the
human brain that extends beyond the skull. In this sense,
they say
that scents can literally change your mind. Now,
biologists may have
learned one reason why. An international team of
researchers from the
U.S. and Israel report that burning frankincense #150;
resin from the
ancient medicinal Boswellia plant #150; activates ion
channels in the
brain in ways known to alleviate anxiety and depression
(Moussaieff A
et al. 2008).
Key Points
Study in mice indicates how and why compounds in incense
fumes
alleviate anxiety and depression.
Aromatic agent in Frankincense affected mouse brain areas
involved in
emotions and nerve circuits affected by anxiety/depression
drugs.
Frankincense agent also activated a protein that plays a
role in the
skin's perception of warmth.
According to co-author Raphael Mechoulam, 'We found
that incensole
acetate, a Boswellia resin constituent #133; lowers
anxiety and causes
antidepressant-like behavior.' (FASEB 2008)
When the researchers administered incensole acetate to
mice, it
significantly affected brain areas involved in emotions and
nerve
circuits affected by current anxiety and depression drugs.
Specifically, incensole acetate activated a protein called
TRPV3,
which is present in mammalian brains and known to play a
role in the
perception of warmth of the skin.
This finding suggests that relief from depression and
anxiety #150; and
possible sources of new drugs to combat these conditions
#150; may lie in
this ancient, aromatic element of myriad churches, temples,
and yogi
caves.
As the authors wrote, 'Our results #133; may
provide a biological basis
for deeply rooted cultural and religious traditions.'
Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB
Journal, which
published the study, made this comment in a press release:
'The discovery of how incensole acetate, purified from
frankincense,
works on specific targets in the brain should also help us
understand
diseases of the nervous system. This study also provides a
biological
explanation for millennia-old spiritual practices that have
persisted
across time, distance, culture, language, and religion
#151; burning
incense really does make you feel warm and tingly all
over.' (FASEB 2008)
Indeed, ancient tradition suggests that perfumed smoke may
lift our moods.
Before reaching for marginal, potentially problematic
medicines like
Prozac, it seems worth trying incense #133; plus
omega-3s, exercise,
positive thinking, and socializing!
Sources
Moussaieff A, Rimmerman N, Bregman T, Straiker A, Felder
CC, Shoham S,
Kashman Y, Huang SM, Lee H, Shohami E, Mackie K, Caterina
MJ, Walker
JM, Fride E, Mechoulam R. Incensole acetate, an incense
component,
elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the
brain.
FASEB J. 2008 May 20. [Epub ahead of print]
FASEB. Incense is psychoactive: Scientists identify the
biology behind
the ceremony. Accessed online July 12, 2008 at
http://www.fasebj.org/Press_Room/07_101865_Press_Release.shtml
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