The Couple's Love Drug

A chiropractor in Arizona is giving people doses of oxytocin to help them connect with others.

According to the CNN,

"If a couple is struggling with bonding and intimacy issues, it could be as a result of inadequate levels of the hormone oxytocin," said Dr. Matt French of Wellness Solutions.

… Small squares of oxytocin are dissolved under the tongue and taken daily.

"People that may be more withdrawn and self-centered are starting to find themselves more open and more concerned with the people around them," French said.

A drug that could restore the joy and simplicity of the love we felt when we first got together with our spouses? We'll have what she's having!

But wait, could it really be that easy?

A 2006 study by Beate Ditzen at Emory University found that couples who sniffed oxytocin did a better job of handling conflict when they discussed a sore point in their marriage. And Adam Guastella, a researcher at the University of New South Wales, has tested an oxytocin inhalant to improve empathy and communication in couples during marital counseling.

However, as scientists look more closely at the human brain, love and fear, oxytocin's role gets more complicated.

Time's Maya Salavitz gives us a refresher on the most recent oxytocin studies. While oxytocin is nicknamed "the cuddle hormone," research indicates that it does much more than make us feel warm and fuzzy.

It does seem to be central to social memory — the way we connect emotions to specific people. But oxytocin also rises when we're lonely, probably acting as a signal that we need social connection. As she points out, one study found that when men whose mothers were distant or not caring inhaled oxytocin, they recalled their relationship with mom as being even worse.

So it's possible that in the brains of a couple having enough strife that they need to see a marriage counselor, taking oxytocin could actually reinforce their negative feelings for each other.

We don't need to inhale oxytocin to enjoy its positive effects. Our brains produce oxytocin naturally, in all sorts of circumstances. Singing in a choir, petting your dog and taking care of your spouse all increase oxytocin levels.

Probably the most reliable oxytocin boost is making love. Yes, if you're mad at your mate or feeling withdrawn, the idea can leave you cold. But acting loving this way can make you feel more loving. And getting that oxytocin tickling your brain can ignite your relationship all over again.

For more, read The Caregiver's Benefit.