Background
Much new research has focused on chemical signals in the brain that affect how we feel, behave and interact with others. Many of these chemicals have an interaction with the rest of our health; forming the mind-body axis.
Oxytocin is one of the chemicals in the brain that make us feel positively towards other people. It enhances bonding, relaxes us and is conducive to trust, strong relationships and romantic feelings.
It works alongside a range of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters which also have an impact on our mood and bonding. Finally, a healthy brain with good cellular function depends on a healthy body. We need good nutrition, good sleep and healthy habits for our brains to also be healthy and receptive to very important bonds with those around us.
Introduction
What is oxytocin?
One important signaling chemical is called oxytocin. Oxytocin is known as the ‘love chemical’ or ‘bonding’ transmitters. It is involved in social awareness and feelings, intimacy, anxiety and is released after childbirth, sex and during breastfeeding.
What does Oxytocin do?
Bonding: Oxytocin has been linked to bonding in mammals, leading to prosocial interactions
Social Memory: Oxytocin enhances our ability to recognise other people Anxiety: Oxytocin promotes bonding together during stressful situations
Social Attention: animals given oxytocin spent longer looking at faces of other animals
Stress: oxytocin has been associated with decreasing stress and anxiety in animal studies and reducing the brain response to stress
When might oxytocin be useful?
Oxytocin is potentially useful for social anxiety, autism, delayed orgasm and bonding.
It has been used in conjunction with couples therapy and also increasingly in social anxiety phobias, or a fear of interacting with people. It has also been used in trauma.
How is oxytocin given?
Oxytocin is given by an intranasal spray and also a troche, a formulation like a lozenge that you suck on.
REFERENCES
Jones C, Barrera I, Brothers S, Ring R, Wahlestedt C. Oxytocin and social functioning. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):193-201.
doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/cjones
Patient Handout: Oxytocin 1
Osilla EV, Sharma S. Oxytocin. [Updated 2021 May 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507848/
Viero C, Shibuya I, Kitamura N, Verkhratsky A, Fujihara H, Katoh A, Ueta Y, Zingg HH, Chvatal A, Sykova E, Dayanithi G. REVIEW: Oxytocin: Crossing the bridge between basic science and pharmacotherapy. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2010 Oct;16(5):e138-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2010.00185.x. Epub 2010 Jul 7. PMID: 20626426; PMCID: PMC2972642.
