Go on and pucker up with the one you love. A half-hour of smooching reduces the body's allergic reaction to pollen, according to Japanese researchers at Satou Hospital. How? Kissing relaxes the body and that reduces the production of histamine, the chemical that is released in response to allergens and then causes the airways to swell shut, report The Boston Herald and the Glasgow Daily Record.
The study: Twelve couples, all of whom suffered from hay fever, participated in this small study by kissing while listening to relaxing music for 30 minutes. At a different time, the same group just cuddled for a half-hour.
The results: Blood samples that were taken before and after the kissing sessions showed significantly lower levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), which prompts the release of histamine and triggers hay fever and asthma symptoms. "The results indicate for the first time that kissing may alleviate allergic responses," lead study author Dr. Hajime Kimata told the Glasgow Daily Record.
What about cuddling? It didn't have the same protective effect from allergies.
The Boston Herald reports that scientists found similar results in another group of patients with dermatitis, a skin condition triggered by allergies. Who needs allergy shots or a medication when you can just kiss?
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