A transient rise in plasma beta-endorphin after a traditional 47 degrees C hot-spring bath in Kusatsu-spa, Japan.
To clarify the mechanism of the intoxicating feeling attained after a traditional 47 degrees C hot-spring bath called 'jikan-yu' in Kusatsu-spa, Japan, we examined the change in plasma levels of beta-endorphin and methionine enkephalin in 7 healthy subjects. The mean sublingual temperature rose from 36.8 degrees C to 38.6 degrees C and the plasma beta-endorphin level from 16.2 pg/ml to 49.5 pg/ml 2 minutes after completing a 3-minute bath in 47 degrees C hot-spring water. However, the plasma methionine enkephalin level was not changed. This feeling of intoxication may be explained by the transient rise in plasma beta-endorphin level.
Kubota
K
K
Department of Medicine, Kusatsu Branch Hospital, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kurabayashi
H
H
Tamura
K
K
Kawada
E
E
Tamura
J
J
Shirakura
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia; D001452:Balneology; D001494:Baths; D001831:Body Temperature; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000097:blood; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D001615:beta-Endorphin