Source: The Global Beauty

Nicole Kell

As finals season approaches, many students are beginning to feel anxious as these tests can make or break their grade in a class. It is often recommended people use lavender for calm with the rationale that the lavender some essential oils possess promotes relaxation. A few studies support the anxiety-reducing effects of lavender.

The effect of lavender is posited to be due to the scent stimulating calming messages to the limbic system. Lavender is not the only scent to have this effect. Lavender scent can be placed on the wrists, on the tips of your hair, in a diffuser, in the bath, and on your pillow. In 2005, a study published in Physiology & Behavior observed 200 people who breathed  the scent of lavender while waiting for dental treatment and experienced an increase in mood and a decrease in anxiety.

Several papers published in Phytomedicine (a relatively low tier journal that addresses the alternative medicine realm of herbalism) in 2012 suggest that the consumption of lavender oil as a dietary supplement is another way that lavender can be helpful with symptoms of major stress and anxiety. There were decreases in blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature, and autonomic arousal. There is no evidence that lavender oil supplements are better than simulated lavender oil supplements (i.e. placebo), which is a key step since a lot of our comfort, capability, and calm is part of our own physiology.

Using lavender for calming now and then is one thing.  But if you find yourself using it a lot, there are more effective ways to manage substantial anxiety using various types of mindset training (variations of cognitive behavioral therapy).  Sometimes prescription medication from a mental-health-professional is helpful.  

https://www.verywellmind.com/lavender-for-less-anxiety-3571767

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323422.php

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/wellbeing/a26737/lavender-pills-anxiety/

https://www.themiracleofessentialoils.com/where-to-put-lavender-oil-for-anxiety/

Source: Health Magazine

Isabel Draper

Some health interventions are framed as  “detoxification” or the removal of harmful substances from one’s body. It seems plausible that if one overindulges in unhealthy foods or substances or if one is exposed to toxins in the environment that removal of unhealthy molecules from the body would be helpful. Rather than a return to healthy habits, detoxification often takes the form of a commercial product or treatment. Let’s turn a curious eye on one such product that seems to be gaining popularity: activated charcoal.  

We should start with the understanding of how well the body is designed to handle toxins. For instance, your kidneys are designed to remove toxins and keep your physiology in balance. The kidneys filter about 120-150 quarts of blood a day to produce about 1-2 quarts of urine composed of waste and extra fluid. If your kidneys are working properly, they are doing the appropriate job of filtering your blood and removing an excess fluids or waste like urea from the body. Your liver converts ammonia to urea, a less toxic substance. It also is responsible for breaking down alcohol, for producing the bile needed to digest and to absorb fats, and for getting rid of the byproducts from the breakdown of medications. These are just a few things that our liver does as one of the largest organs in the body. We should all be skeptical of products or services that claim they can outperform these systems.   

Activated charcoal is currently being marketed as a tool for detoxing your body that can be consumed in combination with lemonade, ice cream, and other food products.  Activated charcoal is normally used to treat overdoses of medications like aspirin. It is very porous allowing it to trap molecules, both medications or toxins and helpful substances such as  vitamins. It’s not clear that the addition of activated charcoal to your diet can improve upon the body’s physiology. And, it could block the absorption of important nutrients and medications and diminish your health.

Detoxing is an overly simplistic solution for a complex problem. We live in a world which is chemically complex and there are many chemicals in our environments and in our bodies. Yet, the presence of chemicals does not directly translate to a health risk. The idea that we live in a toxic environment  to which our bodies are unsuited is largely inaccurate and creates an unhealthy relationship with the world.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323254.php

https://www.self.com/story/chrissy-teigen-activated-charcoal-detox

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/activated-charcoal-detox-myth

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279393/

Source: Food Network

Nicole Kell

Have you ever wondered what causes you to be so sleepy after your Thanksgiving turkey feast? Spoiler alert… it is not the turkey! Many people believe that turkey causes sleep. These claims come from the known fact that turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that forms the foundation of the brain chemical serotonin. Serotonin is converted to melatonin, a sleep inducing hormone. However, turkey does not contain nearly enough tryptophan to be the main cause of  drowsiness. According to experts, consuming copious amounts of carbohydrates such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, dinner rolls, and pie, is the main cause of the infamous post-Thanksgiving meal nap.

There are many other factors that contribute to drowsiness on Thanksgiving. This is a time of year where many are taking a break from work or school and may be worn out. Scarfing down large quantities of food and stretching the small intestine also induces sleepiness. Thanksgiving is a holiday spent with friends and family, so many people are consuming alcohol with their company. Alcohol tends to have a relaxing effect on the mind and body. So do not solely blame the bird for your snooze!

https://www.livescience.com/41543-thanksgiving-myth-busted-eating-turkey-won-t-make-you-sleepy.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-does-turkey-make-you-sleepy/