Autonomic nerve regulating agent

Abstract

The autonomic-nerve regulating agent of the present-invention, which, has a sedative action, sleep inducing action, and stress mitigating action in individuals, regardless of individual variation in sensitivity to or preference for fragrance, contains as an active ingredient a sesquiterpene alcohol with a boiling point of 250° C. or higher, particularly cedrol.

1 . A method for regulating autonomic nerve activity in a person in need thereof, comprising administering a composition comprising a sesquiterpene alcohol to said person in an amount effective for regulating autonomic nerve activity, wherein said sesquiterpene alcohol has a boiling point of at least 250° C. and said composition has an odor below a detectable threshold.  
     
     
         2 . The method for regulating autonomic nerve activity claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said autonomic nerve regulated activity is at least one activity selected from the group consisting of sleep, stress, parasympathetic activity, sympathetic activity and mood.  
     
     
         3 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sesquiterpene alcohol is selected from the group consisting of cedrol, cedrenol, farnesol, patchouli alcohol, eugenol, α-santalol, α-bisabolol, β-caryophyllene alcohol, vetiverol, sclareol, geranyl linalool, isophytol, nerolidol, globulol and guaiol.  
     
     
         4 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sesquiterpene alcohol is cedrol.  
     
     
         5 . The method claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the cedrol is at least 97% pure.  
     
     
         6 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sesquiterpene alcohol is in a vaporizable state.  
     
     
         7 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sesquiterpene alcohol is administered by inhalation.  
     
     
         8 . The method claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the sesquiterpene alcohol is present in air at a concentration of from 0.01 to 100 ppb.  
     
     
         9 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered orally.  
     
     
         10 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein composition is administered transdermally.  
     
     
         11 . The method claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the composition is administered by bathing in a mixture comprising water and the composition, and further wherein the sesquiterpene alcohol is present at a concentration of from to 5 to 1000 ppm in said mixture.  
     
     
         12 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered by spraying onto a bedding or a wall covering.  
     
     
         13 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to a plurality of persons by dispersing said composition in a space and further wherein the sesquiterpene alcohol is in a vaporizable state.  
     
     
         14 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered by wearing a mask, wherein said mask comprises a heating element, a hot steam generating element and the sesquiterpene alcohol.  
     
     
         15 . A composition consisting essentially of a sesquiterpene alcohol in air, wherein said sesquiterpene alcohol is present at a concentration of from 0.01 to 100 ppb, and further wherein said sesquiterpene alcohol has an odor below a detectable threshold, a boiling point of at least 250° C. and is in a vaporizable state.  
     
     
         16 . A lotion consisting essentially of an sesquiterpene alcohol, wherein said sesquiterpene alcohol is present at a concentration of from 0.01 to 0.05 weight percent, has an odor below a detectable threshold and has a boiling point of at least 250° C.  
     
     
         17 . An emulsion consisting essentially of an sesquiterpene alcohol, wherein said sesquiterpene alcohol is present at a concentration of from 0.01 to 7.50 weight percent, has an odor below a detectable threshold and has a boiling point of at least 250° C., and a carrier.  
     
     
         18 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient and composition, said composition comprising a sesquiterpene alcohol, wherein said composition has an odor below a detectable threshold and said sesquiterpene alcohol has a boiling point of at least 250° C.  
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising an emulsifier, oil, glycol, sugar, starch or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         20 . A vaporization system comprising a vaporization promoting element selected from the group consisting of a heat generating source, hot steam, ultrasonic waves, negative ions, and combinations thereof, a carrier, and a sesquiterpene alcohol with an odor below a detectable threshold and a boiling point of at least 250° C.