WHY DO WE SCRATCH WHEN A PART OF OUR BODY ITCHES?
We have all experienced itching at some point or the other in our lives. You may even feel this rather unpleasant sensation at the very moment.
An itch, known also by its Latin name Pruritus, is a sensation to which your body wants you to respond with scratching. You may either feel an intense desire to scratch or simply have an involuntary reaction - a scratching reflex.
Itch signals are received by the same part of the brain that receives pain signals.
It is believed that about 5% of our pain nerves are preset to send itch signals. Itching is one of our defense mechanisms in many ways like tickling and pain itself.
