by Marco Lombardozzi
In 2013, the term binge-watch was proposed as one of the “words of the year” by the Oxford English Dictionary, it indicates the tendency to watch multiple episodes of a TV series in a single session. This term follows the more well-known term of binge-eating which means binge eating, in the case of binge-watching it is called binge watching television. Many doctors have begun to express their concern about the pathological drift that this behavior is manifesting in an increasingly exponential way, especially after the first year of isolation due to the pandemic.
Mark Griffiths, an expert in behavioral addictions at Nottingham Trent University, suggests six situations that could help us diagnose binge-watching: 1) Binge-watching is the most important aspect of a person's life. 2) It is used to improve one's mood and temporarily escape from something negative. 3) It compromises key aspects of a person's life, such as relationships, education or work. 4) The number of hours spent watching TV series every day increases over time. 5) Those who suffer from it show signs of withdrawal if they cannot binge-watch. 6) The person who suffers from it manages to temporarily suspend this behavior but when they return to watching a TV series they fall back into the vicious circle.
At the end of the first lockdown (May 2020), a survey involving around 500 young adults living in Southeast Asia identified a worsening of the phenomenon. In particular, 73,7% of participants reported a significant increase in time spent binge watching. These studies make it necessary for us doctors to identify new therapeutic solutions to address a disorder that is increasing among our young people at a worrying rate.
Phytotherapeutic compounds based on Passionflower, Hawthorn, Sage and Saffron are right for us. Passionflower is a well-known natural sedative among the most effective, Saffron is very useful because it has a notable mood-stabilizing action, in fact, as is known, those who suffer from behavioral disorders such as binge-watching have an unstable mood. Finally, Hawthorn and Sage, maintaining blood pressure at adequate levels, do not allow those pressure increases typical of the manic phase of all forms of addiction.
Also useful in binge-watching is a compound based on Escholzia, Passionflower, Valerian and Mint, which can be associated with the previous one.
Protopine, an alkaloid contained in Escholzia, acts on the central nervous system as a sedative, Valerian increases endorphin levels and promotes the synthesis of GABA, stabilizing mood. Mint essential oils have spasmolytic and therefore muscle relaxant properties. The two compounds, if used simultaneously, synergistically enhance their action. We must and can prepare ourselves to use natural products to stem the phenomenon of binge-watching before it invades our homes and our... televisions.
