Oxytocin, The "Bonding" Hormone

Relaxation, Restoration, Education

This Week’s Feature: Oxytocin, The “Bonding” Hormone

Where will you find this hormone? The hormone, oxytocin, is produced by the “master gland” in the body, the pituitary gland (controlled by the hypothalamus) - which is located within the skull. The pituitary gland really is a jack of all trades AND master of all. When things are off-kilter in this gland, there is widespread panic in the body because hormones distributed by the pituitary gland control most other glands and their functions in the body. 

How and when is this hormone distributed? Because oxytocin is a hormone, it is released into the blood/circulatory system, its distribution is widespread and it stays in the bloodstream until reaching specific receptor sites on cells in the body. At these receptor sites, hormones act as a key to “unlock” cells only where the key matches the lock. Then, other substances (such as other hormones or sugar) enter or exit the cell and do their jobs. Think of hormones as radio waves from a radio tower that are widely distributed into the air where they then reach specific receptors on your radio. Not your microwave. Not your blender. Not your vib...acuum. 

To better understand how oxytocin works, it is also important to note that this hormone is distributed in what is called a positive feedback system. This doesn’t mean that oxytocin goes around telling all of the cells in the body that they’re exceptionally good-looking, but rather it means that the output of oxytocin enhances the original stimulus, or distribution, of the hormone. Positive feedback systems generally control functions in the body that are not necessary to maintain homeostasis/stability; this includes functions such as childbirth and blood-clotting. These functions are generally inactive and only fire with rare bursts of activity when absolutely necessary. Much like a sloth during mating season.

1. Oxytocin is majorly distributed in female mammals during childbirth. It stimulates uterine contractions and because it loops on the positive feedback system, its secretion continues to stimulate the uterus after a child is born so that the placenta can be expelled. Still continuing after childbirth, oxytocin encourages the secretion of breast milk in new mothers. And...oxytocin is a bit of a “bonding” hormone, increasing the level of bonding between mother and child. A 2007 study published by the journal Psychological Science found that the higher a mom’s oxytocin levels during the first trimester of pregnancy, the more likely she was to engage in bonding behaviors such as singing to or bathing her baby (livescience.com). When a mother stops breastfeeding, the secretion of oxytocin is no longer stimulated and therefore, no more milk is produced.

2. For those of you who have fur babies, oxytocin has been shown to be released in both humans and your best four-legged friend during most human-animal interactions, such as when petting your dog or cat. If you have a companion animal, chances are that oxytocin is playing an important role in improving heart health by lowering blood pressure and regulating your heart rate during stressful situations. One study even found that having your dog nearby in the room with you can lower blood pressure better than taking a popular type of blood pressure medication/ACE inhibitor when under stress (center4research.org). And, of course, those of you who have at times felt lonely or socially awkward can attest to your companion animal helping you to feel at ease, grounded and socially adept. What’s better...these companionship benefits don’t stop at human health. The jury is still out, but Pluto probably jumps into Mickey’s arms - giving him a generous sloppy kiss as soon as Mickey is in the room - because the release of oxytocin in dogs may create a stronger bonding experience for animals with their recognized human counterparts. “Who’s my pal? Who’s my pal? Heh heh.”

This hormone is so AWESOME! What could go wrong?! Any gland in your body’s endocrine system can secrete too much or too little of a hormone for different reasons. A couple of those reasons include a tumor in the gland or an individual being born without the gland altogether.

1. When you have too much oxytocin. Too much of this hormone could trigger breast development and milk secretion, even in non-breastfeeding women and in men. Maybe Greg Focker was right...maybe you can milk anything that has nipples?! 

2. When you have too little oxytocin. In mothers with postpartum depression, some studies have concluded that there is less oxytocin in the mother’s bloodstream and therefore, mothers have difficulty lactating and breastfeeding their newborns. Although the decreased secretion of oxytocin hasn’t been directly linked to the cause of postpartum depression, eventual lactation in breastfeeding mothers has been shown to reduce cortisol and increase oxytocin levels, improving mood scores in mothers diagnosed with postpartum depression (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). There’s that positive feedback loop again - the increased lactation increasing the amount of oxytocin being secreted into the blood by the pituitary gland.

*Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal gland in the body. It is released in response to stressors, such as being stuck in traffic. Or meeting a mountain lion in the wild. Cortisol prepares the body for the fight-or-flight response (box with the mountain lion or run very quickly down the mountain; that is the question) by flooding it with glucose/sugar to supply an immediate energy source to large muscles. The release of cortisol is controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain. As you of course already know, the hypothalamus also controls the posterior pituitary gland. It really is all connected.

So...you want to increase your oxytocin levels naturally. How do you do that?!

1. Oxytocin can be released by non-noxious sensory stimulation such as massage or other positive interactions involving touch, such as hugging and holding hands. Exercising and dancing, as well as listening to music with a beat have also been said to increase secretion of oxytocin (Pure Barre, anyone?!). As noted earlier, being in the presence of or petting your four-legged friend can also bring about a wonderful surge of the hormone.

2. In your internet searches about what introducing exogenous oxytocin does to an individual in changing their behavior, you may find some studies saying that it increases emotional sensitivity or feelings of bonding and love towards another. There’s even a cologne-like spray named “Liquid Trust” that was developed by Vero Labs in Boca Raton, Florida. With one of its main ingredients being oxytocin, “Liquid Trust” promises to inspire confidence and increase human attraction levels. However, the disappointing news is that these results are difficult to directly correlate to the increased levels of the hormone (even when administered intravenously). This is because most hormones don’t influence behavior directly but are instead variable in the ways they affect your emotions and thinking. So if you see a trendy label indicating oxytocin as an ingredient - a “love drug” that will enhance your partner’s feelings of affection towards you, think twice and save your money. It won’t deliver on all its promises. Guess you’ll just have to follow through on that candle-lit dinner and long walk on the beach.

So, to wrap up...Oxytocin is a hormone...responsible for tree huggers, Woodstock hippies and puppy lovers alike.

Comments? Questions? Send a message to Kristin on Facebook, Instagram or contact her by phone - (720) 583-4464.

Researched and Written by: Kristin Garcia, LMT. Relaxing Restorations Massage Therapy, LLC. 

Resources:

Casciotti, D., PhD., Zuckerman, D., PhD. The Benefits of Pets for Human Health. Retrieved from center4research.org.

Kim, S., Soeken, T.A., Cromer, S.J., Martinez, S.R. Hardy, L.R., Stratheam, L. (2013, November 14). Oxytocin and Postpartum Depression: Delivering on What’s Known and What’s Not. Retrieved from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Nielsen, M., Garbett, J., Structure and Function of the Human Body for the Massage Therapist. 7th ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt; 2015. 419-424 p.

Nielsen, M., Garbett, J., Pathology for the Massage Therapist. 4th ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt; 2008. 194 p.

Pappas, S. (2014, June 4). Oxytocin: Facts About the “Cuddle Hormone.” Retrieved from livescience.com.

Photo: Janulla. (2015, September 17). Healing the Pituitary Gland Naturally. Retrieved from thehomemaking-cottage.com.