Oxytocin Natures Ecstasy
Oxytocin is part neurotransmitter and part hormone which is produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary which is a pea sized structure located at the base of the brain.
Oxytocin is also know as the 'love hormone' because it is released when people touch or bond socially which reduces anxiety and amplifies emotions (hence natures ecstasy). It is also released when a situation requires us to trust, this can happen when we sharing an experience with someone for example listening to music or watching a film.
A recent study showed massage is proven to be a natural way of increasing oxytocin in the human body and also reduces ACTH (adrenocorticotropin a hormone released during times of stress), (V. Morhenn, 2012). This explains why people leave feeling relaxed and happy after a massage treatment.
