The word love (LOVE) is a short word that has been with humans for a long time. Everyone must have experiences related to love in many aspects, whether it’s romantic love, love at first sight, unrequited love, casual love, true love hoping to marry. An interesting question is, what exactly is love? Why do some people we like make our hearts flutter, become nervous, misspeak when we meet them, or why do many married couples who have been together for a long time still love each other dearly? Actually, what secrets are hidden in the word “LOVE”
In medicine, there has been an attempt to find an explanation for human behavior when in love, leading to the discovery that several hormones work together systematically at each stage of love, including:
- Adrenaline, which makes the heart beat faster, face flush
- Testosterone and Estrogen, sex hormones that create desire and longing
- Serotonin, which can cause feelings of depression, sadness, loneliness
- Oxytocin (Oxytocin), the hormone that is the hero of love, earning the name LOVE HORMONE, because other hormones act in the initial phases when we are daydreaming, unable to eat, unable to sleep, daydreaming about the person we love. However, the hormone that causes us to form attachments, wanting to be with our loved one, and to start a family comes from the effects of oxytocin
Oxytocin, the Love Hormone
Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Its main role is as a crucial hormone for childbirth and breast-feeding. Besides, it also creates a powerful bond between mother and child. The importance of oxytocin as a hormone also fosters bonds with others. Hugging, holding hands, or having sex can increase oxytocin release in the brain, leading to feelings of attachment, love, understanding towards one’s partner more deeply, promoting unity. Hence, oxytocin has been affectionately named by many as the LOVE HORMONE, HUG HORMONE, or TRUST HORMONE.
The Benefits of Love Hormone
The release of Love Hormone in the body also brings many other benefits, such as:
- Reducing stress
- Creating empathy towards others
- Becoming more romantic
Additionally, there are hormones that act similarly to oxytocin, such as Endorphin (Endorphin) or the HAPPY HORMONE. Endorphin, like oxytocin, is produced by the pituitary gland, and is a hormone that cannot be synthesized like other types; the body must produce and release this substance itself. Endorphins make the body feel happy, relaxed, reduce stress, decrease pain, stimulate creativity, and slow down the aging process. Therefore, when we are in love, it stimulates the body to release both oxytocin and endorphins, leading to happiness.
