Oxytocin: The Molecule of Love

[dr_mabeuse]

The hormone, oxytocin, produced during childbirth and lactation - encourages us to trust strangers, it is also a hormone which gets mammals to mate. Swiss researchers have found that when people are given some of this hormone they trust people who are handling their money much more.

Scientists say this research could be the beginnings of a breakthrough into correcting many social problems experienced by people with autism and phobias (especially social phobias).

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=25559

They sprayed some oxytocin (not to be confuised with oxycontin, a pain-killer and Rush Limbaugh's self-medication of choice) into volunteers' noses and had them engage in a game that modeled economic trust. The spray-ees were more trusting than the controls in giving money to a stranger in return for promised gains.

Already they're talking about possible abuses of oxytocin: politicians using it on voters, using it in colognes and perfumes, spraying it into the air of shopping malls.

It's an interesting substance. Originally it was thought to be related only to childbirth and lactation and is still used to (I believe) induce labor. But it has quite a pronounced effect on how we perceive others as well, and this now seems to be its primary function: a social drug. Oxytocin is thought to be the substance that produces mother-child bonding, probably the strongest human emotional bond there is.

In animals, oxytocin allows solitary animals like cats and bears to get together to mate. In social animals, it's thought to be the glue that keeps them together. There's specualtion that the zing you feel when you meet someone special is a variation of the oxytocin response, and that oxytocin is what's responsible for a person's likability.

Autistics and Asberger's sufferers are theorized to have some deficiency in they oxytocin-response system that prevents them from trusting and empathizing with others.

It's a fairly simple molecule. A protein made up of just 8 amino acids (most proteins contain thousands), the individual AA's are arranged in a loop with a handle. It looks like a little lariat or noose. The stuff should be cheap to make, and is probably already commercially available.

---dr.M.

 

[impressive]

Oxytocin is still used to induce labor -- in its natural form, anyway. It is released during orgasm (and is what prompts those wonderful waves of bliss). Much higher concentrations produce labor contractions. So, it is not uncommon for natural childbirth coaches and midwives to prescribe a few orgasms to get things started.

 

[Liar]

Already they're talking about possible abuses of oxytocin: politicians using it on voters, using it in colognes and perfumes, spraying it into the air of shopping malls.

It's an interesting substance. Originally it was thought to be related only to childbirth and lactation and is still used to (I believe) induce labor.

Am I the only one who see a lawsuit hell waiting to happen here?

 

[TheEarl]

Oxytocin is also what makes men want to fall asleep after sex and makes (some) women want more. I see it as proof of God's sick sense of humour.

The Earl

 

[rgraham666]

It's beginning to look more and more as if the isolated lifestyle I lead is going to be the safest one.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Am I the only one who see a lawsuit hell waiting to happen here?

They say that the method of application is crusial though. You can't just inhale the stuff. It has to be applied to the nasal mucosa as if a spray.

Being a protein, it's destroyed in the stomach, so it can't be given orally either.

So it makes women come and men fall asleep, huh? Sounds like some movies I could name.

 

[cantdog]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=25559

They sprayed some oxytocin (not to be confuised with oxycontin, a pain-killer and Rush Limbaugh's self-medication of choice) into volunteers' noses and had them engage in a game that modeled economic trust. The spray-ees were more trusting than the controls in giving money to a stranger in return for promised gains.

Already they're talking about possible abuses of oxytocin: politicians using it on voters, using it in colognes and perfumes, spraying it into the air of shopping malls.

It's an interesting substance. Originally it was thought to be related only to childbirth and lactation and is still used to (I believe) induce labor. But it has quite a pronounced effect on how we perceive others as well, and this now seems to be its primary function: a social drug. Oxytocin is thought to be the substance that produces mother-child bonding, probably the strongest human emotional bond there is.

In animals, oxytocin allows solitary animals like cats and bears to get together to mate. In social animals, it's thought to be the glue that keeps them together. There's specualtion that the zing you feel when you meet someone special is a variation of the oxytocin response, and that oxytocin is what's responsible for a person's likability.

Autistics and Asberger's sufferers are theorized to have some deficiency in they oxytocin-response system that prevents them from trusting and empathizing with others.

It's a fairly simple molecule. A protein made up of just 8 amino acids (most proteins contain thousands), the individual AA's are arranged in a loop with a handle. It looks like a little lariat or noose. The stuff should be cheap to make, and is probably already commercially available.

---dr.M.

I thought they called the labor inducer "pitocin"?
Oxytocin allows the womb to contract after childbirth, and stimulates lactation. They have to supplement it when the birth has been Caesarian, I seem to remember.

 

[impressive]

I thought they called the labor inducer "pitocin"?
Oxytocin allows the womb to contract after childbirth, and stimulates lactation. They have to supplement it when the birth has been Caesarian, I seem to remember.

If I recall, pitocin is a cocktail -- and does contain oxytocin. Would have to Google to confirm.

 

[Pyed_Typer]

If I recall, pitocin is a cocktail -- and does contain oxytocin. Would have to Google to confirm.

Google, yes; gargle, no.

 

[impressive]

Pitocin is the synthetic form of oxytocin. A "pit drip" is ultra common for hospital births.

 

[logophile]

Hi all!

Homebirth midwife and oxytocin lover chiming in here!

Dr. Michel Odent has coined the phrase "the hormone of love" (said with thick french accent) to describe oxytocin. It is released before and during labor to make contractions happen and it aids also allows breast milk to "let down" from where it's produced (in the chest wall and even arm pits) to the nipple. It's also the hormone that makes orgasms happen. We produce oxytocin all the time, and even more when we're in any situation where we feel safe and happy. A good meal with friends, a walk in the park, cuddling with a loved one of any age all help us produce more oxytocin. This is why women want to make love when they feel close to their partner.

For childbirth it plays an amazing role. Not only does it cause contraction, but it aids in the release of endorphins which is how most women cope during "natural childbirth", that is birth with no pain medications. As our oxytocin levels go up (and the contractions get stronger) the body produces more and more endorphins to allow us to rest, breathe and survive between contractions. Once the baby is born, the pain is immediately (for most women) but we are flooded with oxytocin and endorphins. It's like being shot with cupid's arrow! We are programmed to fall in love with that baby, our whole bodies are full of feel good chemicals. The baby's body is also full of oxytocin and endorphins and so he is similarly programmed to fall in love with his mama. When a hospital born baby is taken immediately from the mom for tests or procedures, the mom will often turn to the doctor / nurse / doula / whoever and say, "Oh, thank you so much! You were amazing. I couldn't have done it without you." Fuck that! That's the chemicals talking. Cupid's arrow has struck and now she needs to fall for someone.

A couple more things about how powerful oxytocin is as related to childbirth. When women are planning a hospital birth, it is common for labor to slow down for an hour (or two or even three) when she first gets to the hospital because she has changed her environment and her oxytocin production necessarily slows as well. Once she's in and comfortable, it will pick back up again. We also have the amazing ability to actually close our cervixes up somewhat and pull the baby back up a little if we perceive that we're not safe or comfortable. All mammals can do it, and Ina May Gaskin has given this the nick name of the fetal up-suck. Sometimes labor will be really cooking and Mom will be pretty far along when she decides to go to the hospital. When she gets there, contractions will slow down and a mandatory cervical exam will be performed that will find her to be only 3 or 4 centimeters dilated. Given enough time, she will recover the lost ground and labor will resume.

Yes, Imp, pit (pitocin) is used to induce labor and to help control bleeding postpartum. It is synthetic oxytocin and is thus able to do some of the work of oxytocin but not all. Studies have shown that a woman induced with pitocin will have much lower levels of endorphins her system than a woman who goes into labor naturally and has no pit in her system. Additionally, once pain relief (narcotics, epidural, spinal, et al) is used her endorphin levels go way down and then her oxytocin levels go down in relations. Contractions space way out and pitocin is used to augment labor.

My 2 cents on oxytocin.

 

[rgraham666]

Thanks logo. A lot of interesting information there.

 

[impressive]

Yes, Imp, pit (pitocin) is used to induce labor and to help control bleeding postpartum. It is synthetic oxytocin and is thus able to do some of the work of oxytocin but not all.

I can tell you first hand that NONE of the good feelings associated with the natural oxytocin are conveyed with the synthetic pitocin.

 

[shereads]

Already they're talking about possible abuses of oxytocin: politicians using it on voters, using it in colognes and perfumes, spraying it into the air of shopping malls.

That first one is being fast-tracked by the FDA. Diebold, Inc. is said to be interested in an aerosol application as an upgrade to its paperless voting machines.

Question: Why would anyone wear a perfume that promotes mother-child bonding? I was once married to a man who wanted a mommy and I don't recommend it.

Also: Cats and bears shouldn't be encouraged to mate. Imagine your neighborhood overrun with aloof stray bears.

 

[Penelope Street]

Oxytocin is also what makes men want to fall asleep after sex and makes (some) women want more. I see it as proof of God's sick sense of humour. The Earl

Perchance if you weren't the one falling asleep you'd categorize it as something a little stronger than sick; like diabolical.

 

[TheEarl]

Perchance if you weren't the one falling asleep you'd categorize it as something a little stronger than sick; like diabolical.

It's at times like this that I do love being an insomniac.

Whilst other men snore, the Duracell man just keeps going and going and going and going...

The Earl