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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Polarbear206 on May 21, 2008, at 11:50:34
http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/21/burning-incense-may-lower-depression/2331.html
Posted by Phillipa on May 21, 2008, at 12:05:36
In reply to Burning incense may moderate depression, posted by Polarbear206 on May 21, 2008, at 11:50:34
What if you lost you sense of taste and smell over four years ago no reason found. If you can't smell it can it still work? Phillipa
Posted by fayeroe on May 21, 2008, at 17:26:14
In reply to Re: Burning incense may moderate depression » Polarbear206, posted by Phillipa on May 21, 2008, at 12:05:36
> What if you lost you sense of taste and smell over four years ago no reason found. If you can't smell it can it still work? Phillipa
Did you read the article, Phillipa? I read it this morning and I do believe that the fragrance is what helps you. I don't thinkthat j the presence of burning icense has any power to help depression.
Posted by gardenergirl on May 21, 2008, at 23:07:06
In reply to Re: Burning incense may moderate depression » Polarbear206, posted by Phillipa on May 21, 2008, at 12:05:36
> What if you lost you sense of taste and smell over four years ago no reason found. If you can't smell it can it still work? Phillipa
It's an interesting question. My husband has a very poor sense of smell, and I've wondered if inhaled aromatherapy would have much effect on him, at least as compared to me. I would guess that it depends on where in the olfactory (sense of smell) system the problem lies.
The premise of inhaled aromatherapy is that the molecules of the fragrance, in this case carried by the smoke of the incense, enter the nose and contact receptors which represent the first line of detection in the olfactory system. The info from the receptors gets transmitted on in the brain, which is where the perception of the scent occurs. So it's possible (if I'm remembering my Perception class material correctly) that a person could "register" that a smell is coming in, i.e. when the molecules hit the receptors, but not really "smell" it. That is, not really have the experience of smelling it if the problem lies in the perceptual aspect of the system. Or, I suppose they could perceive the smell as something other than what it is. If the receptors are unable to receive and code info from molecules in the nose and send it on in the system, then the brain could not process that coded impulse into a perception of smell.
So I guess in short (lol), I wonder if it's in the receptors that the benefit lies, or if it's further down the line of the olfactory system. Of course, I have no idea where my husband's low sense smell lies, whether he has a deficit of receptors, whether they just have a high threshold for signal detection, or whether there's something in the perceptual processing that affects him. I'm betting it's the high threshold, but I'm just guessing.
And Phillipa, I thought that they did tell you a reason, though I forget what it was. A virus or something?
gg
Posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2008, at 19:41:16
In reply to Re: Burning incense may moderate depression » Phillipa, posted by gardenergirl on May 21, 2008, at 23:07:06
GG yes they said they thought that a virus had destroyed the receptors in my nose. But to prescribe Theophylline a med for respiratory problems was ridiculous in my opinion. I think they went out of business know the Wake Forrest guy opened a clinic for allergies. I have had blood work that says my eosinophils or basophils forget which is responsible for allergies all are very low so know no allergies. The other one in DC think is no longer in existance. Love Phillipa
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