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>> "The American study found that key chemicals in the oils boost oestrogen and inhibit testosterone." I find this highly suspect. If the effect were significa

>> "The American study found that key chemicals in the oils boost oestrogen and inhibit testosterone." I find this highly suspect. If the effect were significant, every trans woman I know would be talking about their essential oils instead of salt cravings and estrogen pills/injections. Is there something to this, or is it another case of shoddy science reporting?

Analemma_ 9y ago
I doubt the effect is anywhere near large enough to be satisfactory for people who want to transition.
- lostgame 9y ago
  Trans woman here. Was going to say this, but you nailed it. Just going to confirm right now any effect this has is nowhere close to the kind of estrogen changes that actual hormone therapy provides.
- ashleyn 9y ago
  Perhaps not but already I'm wondering if it could enhance the effect of conventional HRT for transgender patients. Certainly something worth further investigation.
drngdds 9y ago
They also say that gynecomastia is rare, which is not true.
- vanderZwan 9y ago
  Perhaps it originally was statement by the scientists that it is rare among young boys, and the interviewer dropped that condition? Not that I know whether or not it is rare among young boys either.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
rukuu_001 9y ago
I don't know about the validity if the science, but what they're claiming is that it only affects pre-pubescent & pubescent boys. So, no help for most trans people.
yegle 9y ago
The post did mention: > Not everyone will have the same reaction to an essential oil.
- RobertRoberts 9y ago
  >Not everyone will have the same reaction... Is there even a single substance on earth this doesn't apply to?
  - nicwilson 9y ago
    Yes, think substances used for positive controls, e.g. histamine for skin-prick tests (allergen response).
    - RobertRoberts 9y ago
      >...substances used for positive controls, e.g. histamine for skin-prick tests... Are you 100% certain that every single person, regardless of age, health, or any other criteria will always have the exact same response to these, under every conceivable circumstance and environment?
      - nicwilson 9y ago
        To have no reaction on a histamine test you would have to be on antihistamines OR have a malfunctioning innate immune system _and_ malfunctioning vasculature and/or severe malnutrition to the point where you're at deaths door (possibly not even then, those extreme cases aren't usually considered when administering allergen tests). Assuming the dose is controlled the result is a small, well pronounced welt ~0.8mm diameter. It's very consistent, you know that it will occur (because it's the direct primary mediator), that why you use it as a positive control (also you control for it, thats the point of a positive control). In answer to you question, barring the use of antihistamines, pretty much.
burfog 9y ago
There might be something to this. Coworker P and coworker S shared an office. Coworker P got a device that filled the office with a haze of vaporized essential oils. It was sort of a large-scale vaping device, a bit like a humidifier or fog machine. Coworker S was a married father of two who seemed rather ordinary. After a bunch of time sharing that office, Coworker S decided to transition. So, it's just an anecdote, but I don't think I'll be taking my chances with essential oils.
- throwaway10701 9y ago
  > father of two who seemed rather ordinary Besides the fact that this language makes trans people not "ordinary", lots of people transition later in life. There are more role models and resources now than ever before, and lots of people take time to feel secure in their identity. My point is there's nothing unusual about transitioning once you have kids, even though it can be harder. Also, elevated estrogen wouldn't make you transition. If you think you're a man and you start growing breasts you aren't going to say "whoops, I'm a woman now I guess". Transitioning is a hell of a lot more work than just deciding one day, and typically people pre-tra sition have typical hormones for their assigned gender.
- groby_b 9y ago
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSVqLHghLpw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSVqLHghLpw
zaarn 9y ago
Just because substance Y does X doesn't mean it should be used to achieve X in a medical situation. There is usually a substance Z which achieves it more effectively (unless Y was designed to be more effective than Z)

Analemma_ 9y ago

I doubt the effect is anywhere near large enough to be satisfactory for people who want to transition.

lostgame 9y ago
Trans woman here. Was going to say this, but you nailed it. Just going to confirm right now any effect this has is nowhere close to the kind of estrogen changes that actual hormone therapy provides.
ashleyn 9y ago
Perhaps not but already I'm wondering if it could enhance the effect of conventional HRT for transgender patients. Certainly something worth further investigation.

drngdds 9y ago

They also say that gynecomastia is rare, which is not true.

vanderZwan 9y ago
Perhaps it originally was statement by the scientists that it is rare among young boys, and the interviewer dropped that condition? Not that I know whether or not it is rare among young boys either.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

rukuu_001 9y ago

I don't know about the validity if the science, but what they're claiming is that it only affects pre-pubescent & pubescent boys. So, no help for most trans people.

yegle 9y ago

The post did mention: > Not everyone will have the same reaction to an essential oil.

RobertRoberts 9y ago
>Not everyone will have the same reaction... Is there even a single substance on earth this doesn't apply to?
- nicwilson 9y ago
  Yes, think substances used for positive controls, e.g. histamine for skin-prick tests (allergen response).
  - RobertRoberts 9y ago
    >...substances used for positive controls, e.g. histamine for skin-prick tests... Are you 100% certain that every single person, regardless of age, health, or any other criteria will always have the exact same response to these, under every conceivable circumstance and environment?
    - nicwilson 9y ago
      To have no reaction on a histamine test you would have to be on antihistamines OR have a malfunctioning innate immune system _and_ malfunctioning vasculature and/or severe malnutrition to the point where you're at deaths door (possibly not even then, those extreme cases aren't usually considered when administering allergen tests). Assuming the dose is controlled the result is a small, well pronounced welt ~0.8mm diameter. It's very consistent, you know that it will occur (because it's the direct primary mediator), that why you use it as a positive control (also you control for it, thats the point of a positive control). In answer to you question, barring the use of antihistamines, pretty much.

burfog 9y ago

There might be something to this. Coworker P and coworker S shared an office. Coworker P got a device that filled the office with a haze of vaporized essential oils. It was sort of a large-scale vaping device, a bit like a humidifier or fog machine. Coworker S was a married father of two who seemed rather ordinary. After a bunch of time sharing that office, Coworker S decided to transition. So, it's just an anecdote, but I don't think I'll be taking my chances with essential oils.

throwaway10701 9y ago
> father of two who seemed rather ordinary Besides the fact that this language makes trans people not "ordinary", lots of people transition later in life. There are more role models and resources now than ever before, and lots of people take time to feel secure in their identity. My point is there's nothing unusual about transitioning once you have kids, even though it can be harder. Also, elevated estrogen wouldn't make you transition. If you think you're a man and you start growing breasts you aren't going to say "whoops, I'm a woman now I guess". Transitioning is a hell of a lot more work than just deciding one day, and typically people pre-tra sition have typical hormones for their assigned gender.
groby_b 9y ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSVqLHghLpw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSVqLHghLpw

zaarn 9y ago

Just because substance Y does X doesn't mean it should be used to achieve X in a medical situation. There is usually a substance Z which achieves it more effectively (unless Y was designed to be more effective than Z)