Oxytocin
	What is Oxytocin?
	Applications
	A book by Thierry Hertoghe: "Passion, Sex and Long Life — The Incredible Oxytocin Adventure"

What is Oxytocin?

Oxytocin is a nine-amino-acid peptide. It is synthesised in the hypothalamus and then released into the bloodstream through axon terminals in the posterior pituitary. In humans pituitary oxytocin is best known for its role in female reproduction. It is released in large amounts during labour and breastfeeding, and has been shown to contribute to the affiliative bond formed between mother and child. A relationship between oxytocin and human sexual response has also been shown. Oxytocin’s role in sexual response is primarily to facilitate attraction and touch sensation, with levels increasing secondary to touch and spiking during orgasm. Oxytocin is also responsible for the need for post-orgasm inertia. Recent studies have begun to investigate oxytocin’s role in various behaviors, including social recognition and bonding, anxiety and trust.

Applications

Autism
Autism is a developmental disorder characterised by abnormalities in speech and communication, impaired social functioning, repetitive behaviours and restricted interests⁴. Oxytocin may be used as an important treatment to reduce this repetitive behaviour and also to improve the interpretation of emotion. Oxytocin’s link to pro-social behaviour also suggests a positive outcome, by a reduction of symptoms for those with autism.

Social Recognition
Oxytocin is released by social stimuli, especially touch. Reduction in social behaviour is a key feature of many mental illnesses including depression, schizophrenia and autism. Treatment with exogenous oxytocin can help to permit and encourage these positive social behaviours².

Anxiety
Studies have shown that oxytocin can be used to treat shyness and anxiety. It curbs the instinct of wariness and suspicion that causes anxiety. Oxytocin can also induce anti-stress like effects such as a reduction of blood pressure and cortisol levels.

Trust
The hormone oxytocin plays a key role in human trust. Research has shown that after a dose of oxytocin, subjects exhibit a substantial increase in interpersonal trust relative to a control group who received a placebo^1,3. It was shown that this increase in trust was a result of individual’s willingness to accept social risks arising in interpersonal interactions and not an increase in the readiness to bear risks.

Mood
Evidence suggests a deficiency in oxytocin may contribute to depression. In studies, the administration of oxytocin has been shown to enhance mood in patients with major depression.

1. Meyer-Lindenberg A. Impact of prosocial neuropeptides on human brain function. Prog Brain Res. 2008;170:463-70. 2. Hollander E, Bartz J, Chaplin W, Phillips A, Sumner J, Soorya L, Anagnostou E, Wasserman S. Oxytocin increases retention of social cognition in autism. Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Feb 15;61(4):498-503. Epub 2006 Aug 14. 3. Baumgartner T, Heinrichs M, Vonlanthen A, Fischbacher U, Fehr E. Oxytocin shapes the neural circuitry of trust and trust adaptation in humans. Neuron. 2008 May 22;58(4):639-50. 4. Bartz JA, Hollander E. Oxytocin and experimental therapeutics in autism spectrum disorders. Prog Brain Res. 2008;170:451-62. 5. Hertoghe, Thierry. Passion, Sex and Long life, the Incredible Oxytocin Adventure. International Medical Books; Luxemburg, January 2010.  

A book by Thierry Hertoghe: "Passion, Sex and Long Life — The Incredible Oxytocin Adventure"

If you are interested learning more on this incredible drug, Assoc. Prof. Thierry Hertoghe of Belgium, an oxytocin expert, has just released a book titled “Passion, Sex and Long Life – The Incredible Oxytocin Adventure”. This book can be used as a reference for all Doctors and practitioners as Dr Thierry Hertoghe recounts both his clinical and personal experiences with oxytocin. 

The book covers: 

The book is available to order for $45 incl. GST plus delivery.

You can order your copy online (.pdf 224kb) or call 1300 853 620.