Love Hormone: Oxytocin’s Benefits & Ways to Boost Levels

Oxytocin, often dubbed by some experts as the “tend and befriend hormone,” is one of the most crucial hormones produced by humans (and numerous other mammals). It plays a vital role in:

• Social bonding
• Building relationships
• Reproduction
• Childbirth
• Breastfeeding
• Raising children

Here’s something that might surprise you: According to the American Psychological Association, oxytocin is released in response to both positive social connections and stressful situations.

Levels have been found to be higher when people are under stress, such as when exposed to social isolation or in an unhappy relationship. It is believed that increased levels may help motivate individuals to seek help.

On the other hand, situations that make us feel safe, happy, and connected tend to trigger the release of several “feel-good hormones,” including oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin.

What Is Oxytocin?

Oxytocin is a hormone (technically a peptide or neuropeptide) that is involved in bonding. As a neuropeptide, it acts as a “chemical messenger” that influences organs, including the brain.

What does oxytocin do, and where is it produced?

Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus region of the brain, often regarded as the “control center” of the brain. It is also thought to be influenced by the activation of the amygdala, which is the region of the brain mainly associated with fear and memories.

Once the hypothalamus signals for the production of oxytocin, it is either released into the bloodstream or to other parts of the brain and spinal cord. It binds to oxytocin receptors, affecting how we feel and behave towards others.

Oxytocin influences the autonomic nervous system and the immune system. This includes having an effect on the “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis” (also known as the HPA axis), which regulates the release of many hormones.

This peptide hormone is said to have “broad implications” for general health, including facilitating adaptation to stressors, development, growth, healing, reproduction, and social behavior. It also seems to have anti-inflammatory and even antioxidant effects, as it protects the body against trauma, illness, and stress-induced damage.

In addition, it helps maintain blood pressure levels within the normal range and also balances cortisol levels, a primary “stress hormone.”

We usually think of it as a feminine hormone, but do men also produce oxytocin?

Yes – although it was originally considered a hormone that was only found in women due to its connection to labor, lactation, and raising children, it is now known to be present and significant in both men and women (although women are thought to produce more).

For example, oxytocin assists male reproduction – as well as female reproduction – by supporting the production of testosterone in the testes and the motility of sperm. Additionally, it affects the metabolisms, moods, immune systems, and more in both sexes.

How the Love Hormone Affects Emotions

Why is oxytocin called the “love drug”? It is responsible for many aspects of social bonding and sexual pleasure and influences emotions.

Oxytocin also has similarities to endorphins (opiate chemicals) because we produce more to soothe ourselves in response to sources of pain and stress.

How does oxytocin make you feel? Here is a basic overview of the emotional effects of oxytocin:

• Research tells us that the effects of oxytocin are essentially the opposite of those associated with our “fight or flight” response. Higher levels are linked to a feeling of calmness and a better ability to deal with stress.
• New research suggests that increased oxytocin can potentially increase feelings of generosity, forgiveness, trustworthiness, joy, and security.
• It seems to help enhance fidelity and monogamy in relationships by keeping us honest and facilitating compassion/empathy towards others – and it also increases feelings of protectiveness.

Benefits/Uses

1. Helps with Social Bonding and Building Relationships

Can oxytocin make you fall in love? The release of oxytocin is associated with feelings of love and protection, as well as empathy, trust, and connectedness.

Studies show that oxytocin reinforces prosocial behaviors, attachment, bonding, and even fidelity by rewarding those who maintain good relationships with positive, calm feelings of well-being.

One study demonstrated that people in the early stages of romantic attachment, within the first six months of a new relationship, had higher circulating levels of oxytocin. It is also known that oxytocin levels are high during sexual activity and after orgasms.

Many forms of social contact seem to result in bursts of oxytocin, even if it is anticipated social contact, such as planning for a date, party, or get-together.

The hormone also operates in a “positive feedback loop.” It makes us want to socialize, which further increases our oxytocin production, which then makes us feel good, so we continue to seek out relationships with others.

2. Boosts Our Ability to Cope with Stress

Although it also works during times of low stress, oxytocin has been shown to increase during times of high stress as well.

Some studies have found that people who report having poor social relationships usually have higher circulating levels of both oxytocin and the stress hormone cortisol than those reporting better relationships.

Externally administering the hormone through supplements has been shown to help mitigate stress reactions, acting as a kind of natural buffer. It can make stressed people seek support through better social connections.

It may also help protect the nervous system from shutting down in the face of stressful circumstances, including childbirth.

Some animal studies show that treatment with oxytocin causes stressed animals to no longer display signs of depression, anxiety, or cardiac stress. By increasing a person’s motivation to seek help from others, the hormone can help people find opportunities and engage in behaviors that lead to more security, joy, and love.

3. Induces Labor

What does oxytocin do in women to facilitate reproduction? Not only does it help women bond with their sexual partners or potentially the future fathers of their children, but oxytocin also strengthens labor contractions during childbirth, along with helping control bleeding after childbirth. It facilitates the production of prostaglandins, which are chemicals that promote labor by increasing contractions.

In a prescription/synthetic form, it can be used to induce labor or speed up the process. The most widely used form is the brand-name drug Pitocin, which is commonly given to women in the hospital during labor.

4. Supports Breastfeeding and Child Rearing

According to a 2018 study focused on human evolution, some of oxytocin’s main functions are to support breastfeeding and nurture maternal behaviors among both mothers and fathers.

Research links the hormone to a mother’s ability to care for her infant in multiple ways, one of which is through breastfeeding. When a baby nurses from his/her mother’s breast, nerves in the nipple send a signal to the pituitary gland to produce oxytocin, which then causes tiny muscles around the nipple to squeeze and release milk.

Experts also believe that oxytocin helps new mothers and fathers feel calm even during difficult life transitions, one of which is having and caring for a new baby. Levels have been shown to rise in parents due to affectionate touch and contact with their babies and children.

5. May Have Anti-Aging and Anti-Obesity Effects

In one study, it was shown that higher oxytocin release is linked with protection against accelerated signs of aging and better regeneration of aged tissue stem cells, including muscle cells.

Oxytocin injections may be used in the future to help injuries heal better, improve bone health, and possibly prevent obesity.

For example, some animal studies have found that oxytocin administration leads to sustained weight reduction by reducing food intake, which is believed to happen because it dampens the brain’s food-related reward circuitry.

In addition, it seems to reduce muscle and joint pain due to its pain-dulling and anti-inflammatory effects. Higher circulating levels are also thought to be positively associated with lean mass and bone mineral density.

How to Increase It

Both higher- and lower-than-normal levels of oxytocin can cause health problems and changes in behavior in women and men, according to endocrinologists. Here are some examples of how:

• High levels among men may contribute to the enlargement of the prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and urinary problems.
• Low levels (what some might call “oxytocin deficiency”) among women can interfere with childbirth and breastfeeding.
• Low levels among both sexes have been linked to depression and anxiety, although it is still not entirely clear how administering oxytocin supplements can help treat these and other mental health conditions.
• It is also believed that low levels may be related to autism and autistic spectrum disorders.

Wondering, “How can I increase my oxytocin levels?” Is there a supplement for oxytocin or foods that can naturally boost production?

Here are ways that you can naturally boost your production to promote feelings of well-being and connectedness:

• Physical contact – Hugs, massages, being intimate, shaking hands, and breastfeeding all cause the release of oxytocin. Physical contact can increase levels whether it is between lovers, friends, or children and their parents.
• Essential oils – Research shows that certain essential oils, including clary sage oil, may help balance hormones and encourage the production of “the love hormone.”
• Making eye contact
• Laughing
• Giving and receiving gifts (including money)
• Altruistic behaviors, such as cooking for others and sharing meals together
• Petting a dog, cat, or other pet
• Doing “loving kindness” meditations or visualization
• Telling someone you love him or her
• Looking at photos or videos of people you care about – including through social media

Supplements, Sprays and Dosage

What happens if you take oxytocin in supplement or spray form? Although more research is still needed to confirm how oxytocin supplements and sprays affect our behaviors and moods, researchers believe there is a possibility that administering this hormone may help people dealing with social and emotional problems.

Conditions that oxytocin may be able to help include:

• Autism or Asperger’s disorder
• Social anxiety
• Schizophrenia
• Depression

Some early experiments suggest that oxytocin nasal sprays or injections may help people with these conditions better identify emotional content and facilitate social information processing.

The synthetic version of oxytocin given intravenously (Pitocin) is also used to induce labor.

Can oxytocin be taken orally?

At present, there is no oral supplement of this hormone available. Because it is destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract, it is administered by injection or nasal spray instead.

The dosage of oxytocin depends on the reason for its administration and a person’s response – therefore, it must be individualized. When it is used to induce labor, intravenous infusion is used along with frequent monitoring.

Infusion doses starting at 0.5 to 1 milliunits/minute, in some cases increasing up to 6 milliunits/minute, are typically given to women during labor.

Does food have oxytocin?

This hormone is not found in foods, but it does play a role in regulating appetite. Eating aphrodisiac foods – such as chocolate, coffee, fish, avocado, and some herbs – may also improve your mood and desire for connection, leading to higher release.

Risks and Side Effects

Are there any oxytocin supplement side effects to be aware of?

Overall, it is not entirely known how effective these supplements may be when used long term. Researchers are still working to determine how this hormone impacts people differently depending on factors such as genetics and underlying psychiatric disorders.

There is some evidence that administering supplements to increase oxytocin levels may result in side effects such as increased prejudice, envy, and dishonesty among some users, although it seems to depend on the individual.

Pitocin can also cause side effects, including increased pain, digestive issues such as nausea or vomiting, and others.

Conclusion

• Oxytocin is a hormone that acts as a chemical messenger in the brain and other organs.
• Why is oxytocin called the love hormone? It plays an important role in bonding, generosity, trust, loyalty, and sexual arousal.
• Not only do women produce this hormone to facilitate bonding, birth, and breastfeeding, but men also produce it. It helps with sperm quality and reproduction in both sexes.
• How does it make you feel? It has calming properties and builds resilience against stress. It can also help support fidelity and monogamy, empathy, and connection with an infant.
• Oxytocin supplements are still being researched for their potential benefits in helping people with depression, anxiety, autism disorders, and other mental health concerns.
• Here’s how to increase oxytocin naturally: Engage in physical contact with others, share and receive gifts, get a massage, have meaningful conversations, be intimate, and basically do anything enjoyable that involves socializing, sharing, and touching.