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We Loved
Up
The Science Of Love (The Chemistry of Romance)
Chemistry of Love
Love Addiction and Monogamouse
Monogamous
Monogamouse Addicted to Love
Relax, Here's a Love Drug We Can All Use
WEEK OF LOVE / THE PHYSIOLOGY OF Love
WEEK OF LOVE / THE PHYSIOLOGY OF Love
Scientists Turn Up the Lights On Love
AUTISM & OXYTOCIN
MATING GAME
Paradox Of Our Times
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Relax, Here's a Love Drug We Can All Use for
Free
Jane Feinmann
Mail on Sunday
Sunday, February 14, 1999
TEXT:
They call it mental Viagra. But unlike the much publicised GBP 6 pill for
impotent men, it costs nothing. New research has found a way that men and women
can improve their sex lives with a chemical, but without resorting to expensive
drugs. The key is learning how to increase the production of a naturally
occurring hormone called oxytocin. It was once believed to be of use only to
women as a mechanical trigger to help with contractions during labour. Then it
was discovered that oxytocin has a far wider repertoire. Levels of the hormone
rise dramatically in both sexes when making love. Along with endorphins, a
group of opiate-like brain chemicals, it creates sexual pleasure as well as an
addiction known as falling in love. Some male impotence was found to be caused
because the men did not naturally produce enough of the hormone. It was thought
they could not be helped because a synthetic oxytocin cannot be produced and
sold like Viagra. Then last year, in a series of psychological tests, scientists
found that men and women could be successfully trained into making more oxytocin
through simple changes of lifestyle and attitude.
Michel Odent, the French obstetrician who pioneered water births, is the
author of The Scientification Of Love, to be published in Britain later this
year. He says the key to a better sex life is understanding those conditions
which inhibit the production of oxytocin and those that help it to flourish.
'Stress is a major turnoff,' he says. 'People who are full of adrenaline or
another of the stress hormones make poor lovers, and the same applies to giving
birth and breast-feeding. 'Women who are frightened or anxious tend to have
very slow labours and have difficulty feeding their babies because the stress
hormones make it impossible for the body to release oxytocin.' Another passion
killer is an inability to switch off logical thought and rationalisation.
Oxytocin flourishes in the primitive or limbic part of the brain. Logical,
rational thought is a process carried out in the neo-cortex, the educated or
civilised part of the brain which is great for doing accounts but no use when
you want to make love. Mr Odent says: 'It is the neo-cortex that is the origin
of specifically human difficulties including low sex drive. Good bursts of
oxytocin are needed to get an erection. 'People who develop an approach to life
that allows the limbic, non-rational part of the brain to come to the fore will
have a higher oxytocin flow and better sex lives. For instance, men who take
pleasure in family, friends, food and relaxation are unlikely to need Viagra.'
In essence, that means to help get the hormone flowing you need to find ways of
reducing stress and enjoying life more.
An oxytocin-friendly environment is obviously a vital factor. Bright lights,
cold draughts, loud voices and high-tech machinery arouse the neo-cortex and get
the adrenaline going exactly the opposite of what's required. So when you want
to raise your oxytocin levels, whether you're making love or even
breast-feeding, resort to some tried and trusted methods.
Dim the lights, turn up the heating and put on some soft music . . . you may
find it works wonders.
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Meaning of Love
Home Work
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