Oxytocin: Everything You Need To Know About The "Love Hormone"
Poets and scientists have been investigating what makes human relationships tick for ages. One discovery that plays a crucial role in many kinds of relationships is the hormone oxytocin.
What Is Oxytocin?
Oxytocin is a hormone that plays many roles in our social interactions. It impacts our ability to bond, to trust others, and to interpret social cues.
Discovered in 1906 by Sir Henry Dale, this nine amino, peptide hormone was named oxytocin from the Greek words ωχνξ, τoχoxξ, meaning “swift birth.”
Here’s the nitty-gritty biology about it: Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus in the brain and is secreted into the bloodstream by the posterior pituitary gland. It’s also synthesized and secreted in the uterus, placenta, ovaries, and testes (yes, men have oxytocin too!). It can act as a chemical messenger in the brain, and it can act on the body, such as in organs like breasts and the uterus.