Part 1 of our 7 day countdown to Valentine’s Day:
The Myth of Cupid and Cosmetics
Everyone knows that Cupid flew around shooting arrows and making people fall in love. But did you also know that Cupid’s wife had to sneak into the Underworld and steal cosmetics?
It’s true, at least according the myth of Cupid and Psyche. It turns out that Cupid`s estranged spouse had to travel to Hade’s realm and return with Persephone`s make up box. Unfortunately, curiosity got the better of her and she couldn`t resist opening the forbidden box to see what Persephone kept inside. (Rumor has it that Persephone was fond of Loose Lips lip gloss and Hydroderm Wrinkle Reducer.)
Anyway, Psyche thought if she used some of Persephone`s magical makeup, she could win back her husband (hey, she just escaped from Hell, cut her some slack!). Of course, there’s always a catch to these myths and when Psyche opened the cosmetic box she was put into a trance and fell into a deep sleep.
The story doesn’t end there, fortunately for Cupid. Eventually Psyche eventually woke up and they lived happily ever after. While it’s nice to see true love triumph, the myth does leave a nagging question for us science types: can cosmetics really relax you enough to make you fall asleep? Believe it or not, modern science suggests that this may actually be possible.
Does Aromatherapy Really Work
According to an article in the April 2004 Issue Of Natural Health, Namni Goel, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. conducted a study that indicates that smelling lavender oil can make you sleep more deeply.
His study involved 15 women and 10 men who were asked to intermittently sniff one of two vials for 30 minutes before sleep. One vial contained lavender oil, the other contained an odorless control (the panelists were told this might be a scent diluted so much that it was undetectable.) Then, using electrodes, Goel measured the sleeping panelists ‘ brain waves.
His results showed that the panelists who sniffed lavender oil had significantly increased slow-wave sleep brain patterns which is indicative of a very deep stage of sleep. While this research doesn’t mean that lavender can replace sleeping pills, it does indicate there may be a valid scientific basis for some aromatherapy claims.
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I can’t understand why there’s still doubt about aromatherapy — at least in principle. First, molecules definitely can pass into the body via the nose, and more and more pharmaceuticals are being administered this way. Nose drops, anyone?
Second, many drugs come from plants, as do the very concentrated aromatherapy oils, so why shouldn’t plants have bioactive components?
Just recently, three boys began growing breasts after using products with lavender in them, and doctors think there’s a connection — especially since stopping the products relieved the condition:
Finally, scientific studies showing that lavender has some effectiveness for promoting sleep go back at least six years. Here’s just one:
So give the plants some respect!
Susan, thanks for the comments.
You raise some excellent points. Drugs do come from plants. The nose does absorb molecules into the body. Logically, aromatherapy could work. However, just because something is logical doesn’t mean that it is true.
The problem (and doubt) of aromatherapy arises because the claims of effectiveness are incredibly vast and general while little proof is ever provided.
Aromatherapy has been suggested to be effective for treating migraines, fighting colds, curing arthritis, curing cancer, etc. The proof of this using double-blind placebo controlled tests (like real drugs have to pass) is completely lacking.
True, aroma chemicals can get in the body. But their ability to actually cure anything (beyond make you feel relaxed and sleepy) is greatly exaggerated and rejected by most scientists and medical professionals.
Scientists would be happy to accept that aromatherapy can work. But it’s never been proved. And proving that odors can make you feel relaxed does not mean that it will cure the common cold, arthritis, or any other medical condition.
There are plenty of studies out there that provide proof that aromatherapy works (many more in Europe than in the US). And yes, there are lots of claims made that are not specifically linked to those studies.
The problem is that when there isn’t something that you can patent, there isn’t the financial impetus or wherewithall to do the research.
Rob, are you implying that companies haven’t taken the time to research aromatherapy because they can’t patent it? If so, I don’t necessarily agree. There are many areas of cosmetic science that get plenty of research dollars that don’t result in patents. While some companies are more patent oriented (P&G comes to mind) most cosmetics don’t have patents but still managed to make a tidy profit.
Aromatherapy has long been used by people in the past. It has been passed on from civilization to civilization, which resulted in the existence of different ways of using it. Modern research and studies will validate this since people nowadays are concerned of things that has approval by the experts. This is how it was discovered. LINK