You’ve probably heard about oxytocin - whether it’s in magazines, on your favorite podcast, or just through word of mouth. But what is oxytocin exactly? What is oxytocin used for? And why do they call it the love hormone?
If you’re curious about oxytocin or want to know more about how couples who DOSE together get an extra hit of arousal together, you’ve come to the right place.
What is Oxytocin?
Let’s start with the basics. What is oxytocin hormone and why do we want more of it?
Oxytocin is a powerful hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain, travelling from the brain to the heart and throughout the body. It’s the chemical foundation for trusting others and plays an important role in romantic relationships. Hence the nicknames: the love hormone, the cuddle hormone, the moral hormone and even the bonding hormone.
What is Oxytocin Used For and What Does it Do in the Body?
Oxytocin acts as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system. It ignites and influences physical behaviors and emotions like happiness, attraction, love, affection, and sexual activity. Studies also suggest that it has an effect on our ability to trust and feel empathy. This can affect everything from romantic relationships to social interactions to parent-child bonding. In fact, oxytocin is believed to play a significant part in mother-child bonding - from the womb, during the birth process, in breastfeeding, and beyond.
How Oxytocin is Released
Oxytocin is most commonly released through physical touch and intimacy. For example, we feel a surge of oxytocin when we hug or kiss someone we care for. It’s also released through social interactions, trust-building activities, acts of kindness, and intimacy. Childbirth and breastfeeding also stimulate oxytocin in the body. Studies suggest oxytocin is also released during regular aerobic exercise. It can even be promoted with as little as a handshake! However, it’s especially stimulated during sex (some studies suggest greater levels of oxytocin are linked to more intense orgasms).
Oxytocin pulls at our empathic heart strings, causing us to feel connected to one another and create dependable, emotional bonds. By tuning into our sympathetic, trusting selves, it makes us more supportive and open to emotional communication — ding, ding, ding. You just unlocked a secret to long-lasting love.
What Are the Health Benefits of Oxytocin?
Oxytocin can help to reduce stress and anxiety as well as improve your overall emotional well-being. It’s also a vital part of pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. In fact, women experiencing slow labor are often given oxytocin to speed up the process. Some studies suggest that oxytocin can also be used to help treat some symptoms of postpartum depression. But, it’s important to note that research is ongoing on the topic and not all experts agree on the efficacy levels.
The scientific and medical community is still uncovering the many health benefits of oxytocin. But, some studies suggest it has heart-healing properties while others believe it can help to regulate our immune system.
Can You Boost Oxytocin Naturally?
The great news about this wonderful little love hormone is that you can boost your levels naturally as well as with supplements and products. Here are some of our top tips for increasing your oxytocin levels.
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The Social Life: By initiating a natural dose of oxytocin, you'll make deeper connections and feel more receptive and thoughtful in social situations. Oxytocin gets released when we have a positive social experience. It helps us care about others, motivating us to work together towards common goals.
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Cuddle Up: Oxytocin is related to physical touch. It's what makes cuddling so addictive. When people say "there's a chemistry between us," most likely, they're poetically waxing a spark of oxytocin. So whether it’s hugs, massages, or sexual activity, you can up your oxytocin fix by getting physical.
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Get (Oxytocin) High Naturally: We can hone in on keeping our oxytocin levels feeling good in our everyday lives as well as building trust and deepening our relationships. Words of encouragement, gratitude practices, focused listening, smiling, laughing, meditating, exercising, being creative, acts of kindness, spending time with a pet... These are all love-hormone enhancers!
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DOSE, in the name of love: Did you know that the DOSE in HigherDOSE stands for dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins? Thanks to the many perks of infrared, when you strip down and Zen out in our saunas, the experience sparks our brain's happiness chemicals.
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Sweat Baby, Sweat: When heating your core body temperature, infrared boosts your blood circulation and metabolic rate for a deep, sustained sweat. As the experience increases levels of oxytocin, triggering loving and relaxing feelings of emotional openness, it also stimulates symptoms of romantic attraction — you're hot, naked, sweaty, pulse racing. Bringing someone special into your DOSE is not only a warming, bonding experience, it's physiologically arousing.
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Oxytocin supplements and products: Whether it’s oxytocin oil or an infrared sauna blanket, you can incorporate oxytocin supplements and oxytocin-releasing practices into your everyday self-care routine.
FAQs About Oxytocin
"What is oxytocin? Is it only related to love and relationships?"
Oxytocin is a powerful hormone that encourages feelings like happiness, attraction, love, affection, and empathy. Oxytocin does play a key part in love and relationships, but its benefits extend way beyond romantic relationships. One of the main functions of oxytocin is to facilitate childbirth, breastfeeding, and parent-child bonding. It’s also known to alleviate stress and anxiety as well as improve social relationships.
"Can low oxytocin levels affect health?"
Love oxytocin levels can cause complications during childbirth. It can also make breastfeeding and milk production more difficult. Outside of pregnancy and childbirth, low oxytocin levels can sometimes contribute to feelings of anxiety, irritability, and disturbed sleep. Those with low levels of oxytocin can also struggle to achieve orgasms.
So, Is the Love Hormone All It’s Cracked Up To Be?
In a word - yes. Of course, oxytocin is just one of the many factors that contribute to a healthy mind and body. But, as far as we’re concerned, getting your oxytocin DOSE should be a vital part of your everyday self-care. So go forth, get physical, and chase that big O!
Cited Sources:
The MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health
