Ocytocin: Not The "Love" Hormone

Just ask the prairie voles

Today my true feelings spilled out – anger and frustration at the state of my life. I let it out with feelings and words I didn't want to admit. I'm unhappy about several things, starting with my carved-up body from my health event in 2023.

I have spent the last year and a half focusing on being as positive as possible. When I engage in activities I enjoy, even work-related ones, I feel good, even happy.

But by blocking what was not working out of my mind, I guess I was stuffing it down. It had to come out loudly and with emphasis—not at anyone in particular, more to myself.

I know it has to come out, and I should be grateful. But I'm not because it left me feeling simultaneously tired and agitated for the afternoon.

Physiologically, I know what happened. My anger triggered an emotional pathway in my brain that activated the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal), increasing my cortisol levels.

High cortisol can leave you feeling agitated and tired, especially if you're already suffering from fatigue (which I am). A few hours later, the levels have not returned to where they should be at this time of day.

And I know why. My oxytocin levels are not what they should be to balance out the cortisol.

You may read about many ways to lower cortisol, including meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, supplements, etc. But you won't read about what the body is supposed to do for cortisol to be lower and resolve the effects of stress.

All hormones and neurotransmitters have a partner or two that balance them out. The human body is amazing. There's a chemical harmony that should exist to help us function well and feel great, including emotionally.

If we understood how to maintain the balance, we would have more options to keep us thriving.

Unfortunately, the information we receive is always presented superficially and never tells the whole story. This is true for oxytocin.

I recently read or tried to read an article stating that oxytocin, known as the "love" hormone, is overrated. I couldn't get past the paywall to read the whole article, but from what I could read, the author reached this conclusion because prairie voles can still pair bond when researchers alter the gene for oxytocin. Prairie voles mate for life; according to the study, they do so with or without oxytocin.

We live in a world where common language likes to be cutesy. For example, the author took the term for oxytocin as the "love" hormone, to heart and thought it was literal. This was used to dismiss oxytocin's importance because of a prairie vole study.

Right now, I'm all in for oxytocin.

But here's what's wrong with the common perception about it. It's suggested that oxytocin is necessary to encourage love and bonding. But it's the opposite. Love and bonding encourage oxytocin production, benefiting physical, mental, and emotional functions.

This means the prairie voles met and married without oxytocin. And I’m sure they’d tell us oxytocin is not the love hormone.

Unfortunately, since the researchers impaired their ability to produce it, they will not have this beneficial hormone for all the activities it helps the body perform. It's good that they have each other to help them through the hard times when their bodies don't function well.

Here's what the prairie voles will be missing:

Calming Effect: Oxytocin reduces activity in the brain's fear center (amygdala), helping lower stress and promote a feeling of security.

Cortisol Reduction: It counteracts the body's primary stress hormone, cortisol, reducing anxiety and emotional distress. This is why I need oxytocin today.

Emotional Resilience: Helps improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Chronic stress leads to inflammation, which contributes to diseases like heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. Oxytocin reduces inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha.

Boosting Immunity: It enhances immune cell activity, helping the body fight infections and inflammation-driven illnesses.

Lowers Blood Pressure: Oxytocin promotes relaxation in blood vessels, reducing blood pressure and heart strain.

Protects Against Stress-Related Heart Disease: It helps regulate heart rate variability, an indicator of cardiovascular health.

Supports Gut Health: Oxytocin regulates gut motility and reduces inflammation in the digestive tract, benefiting conditions like IBS and promoting beneficial microbes.

Regulates Appetite and Metabolism: It influences insulin sensitivity and reduces stress-related overeating. One study found that participants receiving an oxytocin nasal spray reduced their caloric intake, increased fat oxidation, and improved insulin sensitivity.

Cancer Protection: Some studies suggest oxytocin can slow cancer cell growth, promote cancer cell death (apoptosis), and reduce stress-related tumor progression.

Autoimmune Diseases: By modulating immune function, oxytocin helps balance immune responses and reduce flare-ups in autoimmune conditions.

Neuroprotection: It may support brain health by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, potentially aiding in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

In other words, oxytocin is a physical story, not an esoteric emotional story. It deserves the attention it receives, but it should be for the right reason.

How to boost oxytocin naturally:

1. Today, instead of returning to work like I always do, I should have called a friend and had a good bitch-fest. Have you ever had one of these? With the right friend, you feel good when it's all done. This means the cortisol levels are lower and oxytocin levels are higher, which is why you feel good afterward.

Spending time with loved ones, engaging in deep conversations, and fostering connections enhance oxytocin levels.

1. I could also have gone for a walk outside—this can have a similar effect—but it was too cold today.

1. Hugs, massages, and petting animals increase oxytocin levels. I did hug my kitty, but I clearly did not do it long enough since I still felt agitated afterward.

1. The usual players can be helpful: Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing stimulate oxytocin release. But they are not my cup of tea.

1. Singing, dancing, and engaging in joyful activities like writing my Substack post can naturally boost oxytocin. Today has been a heavy lift for my Substack writing to make me happy, but it's helping. A delicious dinner comes my way later today, bringing me joy.

1. Foods rich in magnesium and tryptophan (such as leafy greens, nuts, turkey, and chocolate) can enhance oxytocin function. Yes, there are plans to consume chocolate with nuts later today.

Having emotions that affect you physically is complicated, and many people will have to do more for themselves psychologically. Many professionals can provide help for emotional health.

I've been working on my functional emotions program for my colleagues and immersed in studying how emotional pathways affect physical function. Knowing this information has given me a different perspective on how we can help balance hormones and neurotransmitters to support our physical function and emotional health. If someone needs more help, supporting the body physically will help the body and the mind respond faster.

Understanding what will help us feel better physiologically makes finding the right choices easier. Instead of worrying about the foods we eat, let's consider how we can improve the quality of our lives and be happier.

Knowing how to support the hormones and neurotransmitters that help us do this makes it easier. We can start with oxytocin.

PS: Sometimes, oxytocin is called a neuropeptide. I'm not sure why the names of these substances are inconsistent, but it doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, it plays a role in our well-being.