Dr Chris investigates claims that a simple nasal spray can help overcome shyness.

Can a nasal spray cure shyness?

The Sun reports (on 14th July 2007 - Spray for a conkfidence boost on The Sun web site) that a nasal spray can help to boost your confidence. The spray uses the hormone oxytocin, which is already known to produce a feeling of calmness. This hormone is produced when people feel that they are "in love" and it also induces labour in pregnant women. The spray contains a synthetic version.

Initial tests on a group of 70 people who suffered from problems socialising found "dramatic" changes in all of their behaviour, with every person stopping feeling anxious and engaging better with others in the group.

Wider trials are now planned, although it could take up to 5 years before a product is available.

It should be noted that a full "double blind" trial would be needed (in which two groups are given either the spray or a dummy version without knowing which version they are getting) before the full effects could be measured. There are also studies that show that if people are given drinks which they think are alcoholic, even thought they are not, then the people start to act as if they are under the effects of alcohol.

Dr Chris says "I have no idea how a hormone that affects a woman's uterus in childbirth can help you overcome shyness. I don't fancy spraying it up my nose!"


This content was created on Wed 25 July 2007

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