By Dr. Melissa (Mel) Irvine, DNP – Clinical Sexologist
Specializes in Sexual Medicine and Beauty
Hugs, music, exercise. What do all three of these things share? They all release the hormone oxytocin, more commonly known as the love hormone.
We’re not talking only about romantic love. Oxytocin is released when a parent looks at their child or even when you look at your dog—it’s the love of deep relationships and complete comfort. That’s not to say that romantic partners don’t trigger a release of oxytocin, but it’s not solely limited to these relationships. Oxytocin goes deeper than attraction, cementing feelings of pure connection.
When the hypothalamus produces oxytocin and spreads it into the bloodstream, thanks to the pituitary gland, you’ll experience a promotion of empathy, trust, and bonding. The impact of oxytocin doesn’t stop there, either, with it also improving your cardiac health and increasing your resilience against stress. In short, oxytocin production can significantly improve both your mental and physical health.
The Process of Oxytocin Release
Positive social connections and stressful conditions trigger oxytocin release. The former is a way to further the bond, and the latter (speculatively) motivates those under stress to reach out for help. So, the next time you feel stressed and want to ask for help, know that it’s your body telling you that you should.
Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus, also known as the brain’s control center. Once the hypothalamus signals for oxytocin production, it is released to other parts of the brain and spinal cord or into the bloodstream. From there, it binds to oxytocin receptors, and the “feel-good” benefits of oxytocin are triggered.
Oxytocin is involved in many life-affirming activities, including:
– reproduction
– social bonding
– raising children
– building relationships
– childbirth
– breastfeeding
In the past, oxytocin was thought to be a hormone only found in women because of its ties to childbirth and breastfeeding. However, research has since shown that both men and women require oxytocin. For instance, oxytocin helps with male and female production, affects the metabolism of both genders, and influences immune health. While women complete more activities that use and produce oxytocin, it is crucial in those of both genders.
The Benefits of Oxytocin
The benefits of oxytocin are numerous, spanning both your physical and mental health––there’s a reason why this feel-good hormone is so important.
Reduces Anxiety and Depression
One of the quintessential elements of being a human being is an innate desire to have a group that we connect with and belong to. We can’t help it; we’re pack creatures and like to know that we’re not alone, no matter what group we may fit into.
Oxytocin helps to promote these feelings of trust, connectedness, and intimacy, further helping you benefit from the sense of belonging.
The impact of oxytocin levels on your mental health is significant, with studies showing that low oxytocin is linked to anxiety and depression. So, supplementing oxytocin can help you feel more secure in your family or friend group, lessening the anxiety and/or depression you would otherwise feel from believing you don’t belong.
Reduces Stress Hormones
When the body perceives a stressful situation, it releases the hormone cortisol, which puts your body into a fight-or-flight mode. While it would be good if a lion were chasing you, it’s not a great reaction to the everyday stresses our busy lives subject us to. Even more, those with chronic stress have continually high cortisol levels, which can increase blood pressure, suppress your immune system, and increase the risk of diseases such as diabetes or atherosclerosis.
Oxytocin has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, helping your body better manage stress and leaving you more relaxed and with a lower risk of these hazards of chronic stress.
Improves Cardiovascular Health
As the love hormone, it should come as no surprise that oxytocin supplements can improve your heart health, but perhaps not in the way you would think.
Oxytocin has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, helping to keep your heart from being overworked. High blood pressure, in particular, is commonly referred to as “the silent killer” because of the role it plays in the development of many life-limiting diseases. If you want to keep your health high, managing your blood pressure is a great place to start, and oxytocin can help.
Induces Labor
Oxytocin helps to strengthen the labor contractions during childbirth while also facilitating the production of prostaglandins. These are chemicals that help increase contractions and move labor along. In addition, oxytocin helps with controlling bleeding after childbirth so that your body can start the healing process.
Supports Breastfeeding
A 2018 study highlighted that one of oxytocin’s primary functions is to support breastfeeding, which is also why it was initially considered only a female hormone (something we now know isn’t true).
When a baby nurses from their mother’s breast, nerves in the nipple send signals to the pituitary gland that trigger the production oxytocin. This release then causes the tiny muscles around the nipple to contract, releasing milk.
Oxytocin Supplements
While the benefits of oxytocin are numerous, oxytocin supplements are generally believed to focus primarily on relieving social and emotional problems, such as:
– social anxiety
– autism
– depression
– schizophrenia
Additionally, a synthetic version of oxytocin (Pitocin) can be given intravenously to induce labor.
As of this time, oxytocin supplements are only available as injections or nasal sprays, as it is otherwise destroyed by the gastrointestinal tract.
Risks of Oxytocin Supplements
The most significant risk of oxytocin supplements is simply a lack of knowledge about their long-term impact. By this, we mean that it isn’t entirely known how effective oxytocin supplements can be if used long-term. Furthermore, more research is still needed to determine how different people react to oxytocin supplements based on their genetics or underlying psychiatric disorders.
Some research has shown that some people may experience increased envy, prejudice, and dishonesty when taking oxytocin supplements. In other cases, taking too much oxytocin can cause watery eyes, a runny nose, or more severe complications, including seizures or uterine bleeding.
As for Pitocin, the oxytocin supplement injected to induce labor, it can have side effects that include digestive issues or increased pain. If taken in high doses, it may cause arrhythmia or other cardiovascular symptoms.
Still, many of these risks can be managed by ensuring you only take as much oxytocin as you need, which your doctor can help you with.
Ways to Naturally Boost Your Oxytocin
Oxytocin supplements are not the only way to boost the levels of this calming hormone. If you’re feeling more stressed than usual, give the following a try and help increase your oxytocin levels.
Physical Contact
The number one thing associated with oxytocin is physical contact, but few people realize that it relates to any type of physical contact, with massages, hugs, handshakes, sexual activities, and breastfeeding all releasing oxytocin. Even more, whether you’re connecting with a friend, lover, child, or parent, physical contact in any form will help increase your oxytocin.
Laugh
Laughter truly is one of life’s greatest medicines. Watch a funny movie, get together with friends and share funny stories, read a humorous book; whatever gets you laughing will also help boost your oxytocin levels.
Give Your Pet Some Love
Spending some time each day giving extra attention to your pet will not only help to raise your oxytocin levels, but this can also help increase the bond you share with them.
Share The Love
Cook dinner for someone else, give a gift, or volunteer your time. All of these actions help to raise your oxytocin levels while also making you feel better for doing something for someone else.
Actions may speak louder than words, but saying “I love you” can also raise your oxytocin levels and those of the person you share the sentiment with. So, don’t be afraid to share your feelings, and often.
Exercise
Going for a walk or some other form of exercise you like is a great way to boost your oxytocin levels while also improving your physical health. Want to boost your oxytocin even more? Try exercising with someone else.
Feel the Love: Oxytocin and Oxytocin Supplements
Oxytocin is the “love hormone” produced when you’re surrounded by friends, family, or a significant other. It lowers your stress levels while also increasing trust, empathy, and contentment. Its benefits are wide-reaching, reducing anxiety and depression, improving cardiovascular health, and aiding in maternal tasks such as childbirth and breastfeeding.
With how vital oxytocin is for these tasks, it’s natural to look into supplementation to boost oxytocin levels and see these benefits. However, as of right now, oxytocin supplements are primarily prescribed to aid the labor process or relieve social and emotional problems. There are some risks associated with oxytocin supplements, but your healthcare provider can help you weigh the risks versus the benefits.
Luckily, for those in need of a quick pick-me-up, there are many ways to naturally boost oxytocin levels that you can begin implementing immediately. They are especially useful for those under stress or looking to further improve their relationships.
Give oxytocin a boost and experience the benefits of love (hormones) on your mind and body.
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References
DeAngelis, T. (2008). The two faces of oxytocin.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/feb08/oxytocin
Sue Carter C. (2018). Oxytocin and Human Evolution. Current topics in behavioral neurosciences, 35, 291–319. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2017_18
De Dreu, C. K., Greer, L. L., Van Kleef, G. A., Shalvi, S., & Handgraaf, M. J. (2011). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(4), 1262–1266. doi:10.1073/pnas.1015316108
Labor Induction. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/
labor-induction
Jankowski, M., Broderick, T. L., & Gutkowska, J. (2020). The Role of Oxytocin in Cardiovascular Protection. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 2139. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02139
Li, Y., Hassett, A. L., & Seng, J. S. (2019). Exploring the mutual
regulation between oxytocin and cortisol as a marker of resilience. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 33(2), 164–173.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2018.11.008
Veiga, L., Carolino, E., Santos, I., Veríssimo, C., Almeida, A., Grilo, A., … Santos, M. C. (2022). BMC Psychology, 10(1). doi:10.1186/s40359-022-00744-5