Itchy Research Offers New Insight

Itch research has been neglected for years but some new insight may provide a better framework to champion more interest in the field.

Excessive itching arguably is a telltale sign of the brain not comprehending the inherent response intended. This short circuit not only confuses what is happening to the skin but also may be related to over 50 different neurological diseases if the itching conditions persist.

The inherent response to itching is relief from pain which specialized spinal cord cells produce. According to the authors of the study, these cells initially create the itch sensation in order to inhibit pain in healthy individuals. With this finding, we expect the interrelated areas of pain and itch research to grow.

-NeuBrain

Read more about this at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/health/07itch.html (may require an online account)