How scratching can stop an itch

How scratching can stop an itch
Monday, 6 April 2009

Posted on 04/06/2009 6:54:13 AM PDT by JoeProBono

Scientists have shown scratching helps relieve an itch as it blocks activity in some spinal cord nerve cells that transmit the sensation to the brain.

However, the effect only seems to occur during itchiness itself - scratching at other times makes no difference.

While it is widely-known scratching relieves an itch, the physiological mechanisms for how this works are little understood.

The University of Minnesota study appears in Nature Neuroscience.

TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Humor; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: chat; itch; jojogunn; jojogunnisastalker; missinglink; scratching

1 posted on 04/06/2009 6:54:13 AM PDT by JoeProBono

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To: JoeProBono

Study paid for by your stimulus dollars.

2 posted on 04/06/2009 6:58:08 AM PDT by marvlus

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To: marvlus

3 posted on 04/06/2009 7:03:47 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)

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To: JoeProBono; All

Something tells me these leftists got a government grant to study this!

4 posted on 04/06/2009 7:04:13 AM PDT by notdownwidems (Shellback, pollywogs! U.S.S. William H. Standley, CG-32)

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To: Larry Lucido

KRAMER: Hey, Elaine scratch my back.

ELAINE: No way!

KRAMER: Come on, one lap around.

ELAINE: No.

KRAMER: It will be a funky adventure.

ELAINE: Kramer, forget it.

KRAMER: Jerry, how about you?

JERRY: I think you know my policy.

5 posted on 04/06/2009 7:07:26 AM PDT by earlJam

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To: earlJam

6 posted on 04/06/2009 7:08:56 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)

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To: JoeProBono

Study shows scratching stops itching. Still no cure for cancer.

7 posted on 04/06/2009 7:13:09 AM PDT by autumnraine (Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose- Kris Kristoferrson VIVA LA REVOLUTION!)

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To: JoeProBono

Please phone the law offices of James Sokolove if scratching has become a problem in your life. They might be able to get you some free money from...somebody or other.

8 posted on 04/06/2009 7:34:54 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)

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To: Oldpuppymax

What me worry?

9 posted on 04/06/2009 7:39:04 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)

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To: JoeProBono

Cat Scratch Fever

FMCDH(BITS)

10 posted on 04/06/2009 8:18:59 AM PDT by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)

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To: nothingnew

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_729l0-L3MLc/SD4JQ2eAa0I/AAAAAAAABeA/yF1mQpJb2r0/s320/Cat_scratch_fever_cover.jpg

11 posted on 04/06/2009 8:24:21 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)

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To: JoeProBono

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7976606.stm

12 posted on 04/06/2009 10:34:46 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)

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