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Nostromos
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24 Jul 2011, 5:41 pm

For those of you who haven't heard, oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that has been found to help alleviate many of the problems typically experienced by people with autism or Aspergers syndrome. I'm very skeptical, especially since there's already a handful of quack tonics out there (like Liquid Trust) seeking to capitalize on the popular news articles published on the effects of oxytocin about a year ago.

I went to pubmed.com and bought an abstract published in the Journal of Affective Disorders distilled from over a hundred inpedendent studies on the human effects of oxytocin from 1950 till now, and the results (they say) are pretty conclusive: it helps.

The problem is how to get it. It doesn't exist outside of research institutions and hospitals. Well, I'm providing you a link to a place that sells it. I've gotten quality Piracetam (a cognitive booster) from these guys before.

http://www.antiaging-systems.com/145-oxytocin-love-drug


Cheers.



Sparhawke
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24 Jul 2011, 5:47 pm

I would advise keeping well away from things like this, unless you first get the advice of a qualified doctor...it is a large website but I know people who can throw these up in a matter of weeks with the internet businesses, even though they look expansive.

If you look at the prices of some of those things, $174 for 14 pills of femara...out of stock of course to create the illusion of scarcity...

Any kind of online drugstore should be avoided liek the plague, since most of them are run not by doctors or certified pharmacists but by marketers and MLM spammers.

(MLM is multi-level marketing, basically a ponzi type business...acaiberry was quite big a couple of years ago)



Magnus_Rex
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24 Jul 2011, 5:59 pm

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug-oxy ... cle_em.htm

I don't know if it is sold in the United States, but I can find it in any drugstore here in Brazil. Supposedly, you need a prescription, but most pharmacists will sell it without asking, at least here in Brazil.

I should have bought it two weeks ago. Maybe I'll buy it this week.



Nostromos
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24 Jul 2011, 6:02 pm

The price was kind of outrageous, I'll start calling compounding pharmacies.



Apple_in_my_Eye
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24 Jul 2011, 6:07 pm

Nostromos wrote:
The problem is how to get it. It doesn't exist outside of research institutions and hospitals. Well, I'm providing you a link to a place that sells it. I've gotten quality Piracetam (a cognitive booster) from these guys before.


I was prescribed it 10 or so years ago for CFS, and my local pharmacy had no trouble ordering it. The brand name was "Pitocin." I don't recall it being very expensive. Though, of course, getting a doctor to prescribe it would probably be difficult. If the prices are outrageous, I'd be suspicious.

Oh also, anyone with a uterus ought to do some homework before thinking about trying the stuff. The uterus is rich in oxytocin receptors, and the amounts used in autism research are 10-20 times the amount used for inducing labor. Not sure about up/down-regulation due to pregnancy, or the efficiency of intra-nasal administration.



KaylaSong
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24 Jul 2011, 8:04 pm

What specifically is this oxytocin supposed to do? How is it supposed to help? Is it something designed to "normalize" us, or are there specific problems it is supposed to address?



Chronos
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24 Jul 2011, 8:50 pm

KaylaSong wrote:
What specifically is this oxytocin supposed to do? How is it supposed to help? Is it something designed to "normalize" us, or are there specific problems it is supposed to address?


It's the "cuddle drug", it makes people want to cuddle, and I don't think strangers or best friends care to cuddle.



Callista
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24 Jul 2011, 9:45 pm

Will it also make my penis bigger?


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24 Jul 2011, 10:59 pm

The fact I would never trust anything not dispensed from a licensed pharmacy aside, frankly I have no desire to "cure" myself because there's nothing wrong with me. This is a typical NT stereotype. They seem to think that Aspies are somehow defective or broken. Aspies are not broken. They're different. Stop trying to "normalize" me.


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Surfman
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25 Jul 2011, 12:49 am

Though oxytocin is an artificially created substance, there are some herbal equivalents that produce an effect similar effect. They include blue cohosh, shepherd's purse, and cotton root bark.


How to increase oxytocin naturally

Oxytocin hormone benefits and side effects by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Oxytocin is a hormone that helps relax and reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels. Oxytocin increases pain thresholds, has anti anxiety effects, and stimulates various types of positive social interaction. In addition, it promotes growth and healing.

The nonapeptide oxytocin, originally known to stimulate labor and milk ejection, appears to play an important role stress and pain. It can induce anti-stress-like effects such as reduction of blood pressure and cortisol levels. It increases pain thresholds, exerts an anxiolytic-like effect and stimulates various types of positive social interaction. In addition, it promotes growth and healing. Repeated exposure to oxytocin causes long-lasting effects by influencing the activity of other transmitter systems, a pattern which makes oxytocin potentially clinically relevant. Oxytocin can be released by various types of non-noxious sensory stimulation, for example by touch and warmth. Ingestion of food triggers oxytocin release by activation of vagal afferents. Most likely, oxytocin can also be released by stimulation of other senses such as olfaction, as well as by certain types of sound and light. In addition, purely psychological mechanisms may trigger the release of oxytocin. This means that positive interaction involving touch and psychological support may be health-promoting. The social interaction of daily life, as well as a positive environment, continuously activate this system. In addition, various types of psychotherapy involving transfer of support, warmth and empathy are likely to induce similar effects, which thus contribute to the positive effects of these kinds of therapies.

Oxytocin receptors in the body and brain
Oxytocin is a very abundant neuropeptide exerting a wide spectrum of central and peripheral effects as neurohormone, neurotransmitter, or neuromodulator. In the central nervous system, the oxytocin gene is predominantly expressed in magnocellular neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei. The magnocellular oxytocin neurons release their products into the general circulation in the neurohypophysis while the mediocellular oxytocin neurons secrete elsewhere in the CNS. Oxytocin is also produced in peripheral tissues, e.g., uterus, placenta, amnion, corpus luteum, testis, and heart. Oxytocin is a potent stimulator of spontaneous erections in rats and is involved in ejaculation. The typical actions of peripheral oxytocin are stimulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction during labor and milk ejection during lactation. Oxytocin receptors have also been identified in other tissues, including the kidney, heart, thymus, pancreas, and adipocytes.

How to increase Oxytocin levels
Ingestion of food triggers oxytocin release by activation of vagal afferent nerves. Most likely, it can also be released by stimulation of other senses such as olfaction, as well as by certain types of sound and light. In addition, purely psychological mechanisms can trigger the release of oxytocin. This means that positive interaction involving touch and psychological support may be health-promoting.

Is there a way to naturally boost oxytocin levels with a supplement or some other natural substance?
I am not aware of a dietary supplement that has been studied in terms of its influence on this hormone.

Most likely oxytocin can be released by stimulation of other senses such as olfaction, Are you aware of any research identifying olfactory stimulants that trigger the release?
I have not studied this topic yet but it is interesting.

Oxytocin and sex
Also known as the "cuddle" hormone, oxytocin is released by both men and women at sexual orgasm.

Oxytocin and Massage
Oxytocin can be released by various types of sensory stimulation, for example by touch and warmth. Bloodstream levels of oxytocin have been shown to rise during massage.

How it works
Oxytocin suppresses the activity of the brain region known as the amygdala, the area that processes fear and communicates it to the rest of the brain. A small sample group of 15 men inhaled either oxytocin or a placebo before performing a task in which they sorted pictures of angry or fearful faces and threatening scenes. During the test, the researchers monitored the subjects' brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging and found that the oxytocin group indeed had reduced activity in the amygdala.

Oxytocin reduces fear
Animal and human studies indicate the major role of the amygdala in controlling fear and anxiety. The amygdala is involved in detecting threat stimuli and linking them to defensive behaviors. This is accomplished by projections connecting the central nucleus of the amygdala to the brain stem and to hypothalamic structures, which organize fear responses. Oxytocin tempers the excitatory inputs into the amygdala.

Orgasm effect
Plasma oxytocin levels increase during sexual arousal in both women and men and are significantly higher during orgasm / ejaculation than during baseline testing.

Availability of oxytocin drug
Oxytocin is sold as nasal spray (Syntocinon). A nasal spray containing the hormone oxytocin, which is essential to the production and flow of breast milk, does not improve milk output in mothers expressing milk for preterm infants.
Intranasal administration of oxytocin causes a substantial increase in trusting behavior.

Oxytocin and bonding
The levels of oxytocin hormone in a pregnant woman's body play a role in how closely she will bond with her newborn. In animals, oxytocin, dubbed "the hormone of love and bonding," is involved in good parenting and maintaining close relationships. Dr. Ruth Feldman and colleagues at Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel, studied the role of this hormone in humans and found oxytocin is important in the bonding that occurs between mothers and their infants. Dr. Ruth Feldman and colleagues measured oxytocin levels in 60 pregnant women during the first and third trimester and the first month after delivery. They found that initial levels of oxytocin (first trimester) predicted bonding-related thoughts...as well as maternal bonding to the newborn. Mothers with higher levels of oxytocin at the start of pregnancy showed more bonding behaviors after birth. Psychological Science, November 2007.



Surfman
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25 Jul 2011, 12:53 am

from http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showfla ... er/8630550

Today I was doing a little research on Dopamine, you know, the hormone that makes us feel pleasure. It was just a little bored curiosity, then I came across a hormone mentioned in the research papers I was reading called Oxytocin Yea, sounds a lot like OxyContin doesn’t it? Trust me, its much different.

As we all know almost all recreational drugs stimulate the production of Dopamine within the brain, creating a feeling of pleasure. Unfortunately our brains are built in a way that the more Dopamine we have in our system, the less Dopamine receptors there are in our brains. That means that in order to get the same effect of a drug you have to use more and more of it to get the same Dopamine reaction. Ok, everyone knows what addiction is, but another hormone, found in the pituitary gland, has a much more lasting effect on the brain.

Oxytocin is found in ALL mammals. It is found in the pituitary gland, and the chemical has been in mammalian blood for as long as the gland has existed, about 100,000,000 years. Now, Oxytocin works a much different way then Dopamine. It turns out the more Oxytocin there is in the system, the MORE sensitive the Oxytocin receptors in your brain become. It behaves the exact opposite of the addicting hormone Dopamine, meaning that when Oxytocin is prevalent within your system it has a more lasting effect then Dopamine. I learned that understanding this became important to understanding the Oxytocin as I went on.

Its been proven that in social mammals, those that rely upon others of their species, Oxytocin is found in much higher levels within their brain then in non-social animals. This is especially true of chimpanzees and other monkeys, including humans. When Oxytocin receptors were blocked within the rats of brains, they stopped caring for their children, they stopped having sex with potential mates, they stopped socializing and eating all together. It seems that Oxytocin plays a vital roll in an animals abilities to get along socially with partners and others of their species. Those with high levels are more likely to be sexually and socially active and to find more lasting satisfaction in these actions. Oxytocin has also been proven to reduce fear and anxiety, to reduce blood pressure, and have a large increase our bodies ability to heal. In fact, Oxytocin has been directly attributed to feelings of well-being and happiness in general.

Injured animals who had high levels of Oxytocin in their systems healed at twice the normal rate of others of their species. Oxytocin suppresses the the Amygdala, a part of the brain that A. perceives threats and B. links those threats to physical action. Thus, Oxytocin has been shown to not only reduce fear, but decrease aggressive tendencies as well, generally increasing the subjects ability to empathize (thus make partners and bonding). Oh, it also has a lot to do with inducing labor in woman and allowing them to breast feed.

It does everything! Increases health, reduces fear, increases your ability to socialize, who the hell wouldn’t want this! Ok, so now that I have sold you on it :smile: what can you do to get some?

Well, the anser isn’t easy. The gestural-intestinal tract breaks down oxytocin when eaten and the blood-brain barrier prevents most Oxytocin introduced into the blood from ever reaching the brain. Although sprays and injections can be prescribed, they have not been proven to significantly increase the levels of Oxytocin within the brain. However, there are ways you can naturally increase your brains production of its own Oxytocin!


Here is the golden rule of Oxytocin: Love increases Oxytocin and Oxytocin increases Love!

The things that we know give us true, lasting happiness and satisfaction in life are the very things that stimulate Oxytocin release which gives us more true, lasting happiness. So the person who says, “I like my partner better and better each day” has tapped into the infinitely looping benefits of Oxytocin and benefitted from it.

More directly, Its been proven that physical contact can release large amounts of Oxytocin within the blood. This physical contact can be either plutonic or sexual in nature, but only if you truly “feel” the moment will higher levels of Oxytocin be released. For example, people who are studied after massages have been proven to had higher levels of Oxytocin due to the physical contact that is a result of massages. In fact, merely touching things that make you feel comfortable can release Oxytocin, such as touching soft materials or sitting in a comfortable seat.

Oxytocin is also highly linked to sexuality, and “making love” has been proven to release Oxytocin within the system. The catch here is that Oxytocin is released more during sex when the partner is genuinely interested, or in love, with their partner. Interesting to note, Oxytocin is not only directly related to your libido, but for men it is also directly related in our ability to produce an erection. Low Oxytocin levels has been linked to impotence in men. Perhaps a lack of true interest in sexual partners may be a direct cause of impotence in younger men.

In fact, Oxytocin has been proven to be released in almost any bonding experience. Merely being with a friend, family member, or loved one, or even talking with one over the phone can stimulate the release of the hormone. Being with a loved pet, like a dog or cat, has the same response.

To give you an example of how mental behavior, physical status, and Oxytocin relate lets take the injured animal example. The way the scientists increased Oxytocin in the injured animal’s brain was to allow it to heal with a sibling. The bond and the physical contact had an observable increase in Oxytocin levels in the first animal over the isolated second animal. And, as I previously stated, the animal with the Oxytocin healed at a rate that was twice as fast as the isolated animal.


Diet also has a large effect on Oxytocin. Eating in general causes the release of Oxytocin, but it has been proven that fatty foods release much more Oxytocin then other foods (thus giving us that “satisfied” feeling.
WARNING although fatty foods are important in our Oxytocin production, it is important to note that saturated and trans fats are very bad for your health and will counter any benefits that Oxytocin may have (foods high in the bad kind of fat are butter, fatty meats such as beef, milk products, and foods fried in vegetable oil). Also note that increasing your intake of fatty foods, even unsaturated fats, means increasing your calorie increase and thus should be countered by an increase in physical activity and exercise.
There are other, more specific, types of food which increase Oxytocin release. Chocolate has been proven to increase the release of the hormone, as does capsaicin which is found in peppers. Eat those jalapeno’s and cocoa powder people!


For women, the nipples have a lot to do with Oxytocin release. Its important because when a mother is nursing, Oxytocin not only stimulates the breast into releasing its milk but also creates a bonding experience with the baby. Of course, this means that the nipples can be used to release Oxytocin in situations not related with nursing :wink: Oh, BTW, massive amounts of Oxytocin are released upon birth, again creating a bond between mother and young.

There are many more things out there that can release Oxytocin that we don’t even studied yet. Its believed that other senses other then touch, such as sight, sound, and smell may also stimulate Oxytocin release. So looking at your favorite painting, or listening to your favorite music, etc. may release Oxytocin and create a feeling of wellbeing.

In the end, I think it only helps reinforce positive actions when you know the physical reactions behind them, for many it will justify them. In the end, it says the same thing that has been said for milinia, positivity will lead to positivity, and negativity will induce negativity. Do what makes you feel at peace and you will be at peace.

If you want to learn more about Oxytocin, there are many websites devoted to it as well as other related drugs such as Dopamine and Serotonin. Just do a google search on Oxytocin and you’ll find all you’ll need :smile:

Hey, good luck out there!



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25 Jul 2011, 12:54 am

from http://www.joyoushealth.ca/2009/05/25/t ... -oxytocin/



This is a note I wrote and posted on my Facebook profile on Valentine’s Day and it’s worth repeating and updating it here.

Oxytocin is considered the “love” hormone and rightly so! It is a very important neurotransmitter (aka. brain chemical). This lovely hormone is what literally and biochemically bonds LOVER to LOVER and a mother to her baby.

FOR COUPLES: We are all familiar with that feeling when your happy brain chemicals are in overdrive in a new relationship? It may not last forever, BUT… in comes the oxytocin hormone that keeps couples bonded and strengthens the intimacy in relationships. It must be fertilized (with organic fertilizer of course!). Yes, love is just like a garden. Keep reading for how you can boost your oxytocin bonding in your relationship below.

FOR MOMS: The studies done on pregnant women prove that those who had high levels detected during the first and last trimester had stronger bonding with their babies. It also peaks at birth in the mother. This may be why moms instantly fall madly in love with their baby. Gotta love those brain chemicals!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF OXYTOCIN:
It has anti-anxiety affects, reduces stress hormones (mainly cortisol), promotes feelings of well-being, increases trusting behaviour, reduces blood pressure and promotes growth and healing.

HOW YOU CAN GET SOME:
- Oxytocin peaks after orgasm, HOWEVER, it is further enhanced when you cuddle and have physical touch with your lover!
- Positive interaction between couples on a day-to-day basis involving warm touch, massage and psychological support promotes it. This makes perfect sense doesn’t it? Common sense will tell you that if you are disconnected from your spouse or significant other, you will grow further apart. If you are not making an effort to have physical touch and bonding, then how are you going to release oxytocin?
- You don’t need a lover, studies have shown that oxytocin increases from massage therapy and certain foods promote it as well!

Foods that promote a variety of feel good brain chemicals (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin) include:


- Protein rich foods: eggs. chicken, beans

- Apples, bananas, beets, watermelon

- Wheat germ



Nostromos
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25 Jul 2011, 1:33 am

I already made a link telling people where to get it. They can also call compounding pharmacies.

Here's a clipping from the pubmed article I was talking about:

Quote:

Journal of Affective Disorders

Article history:
Received 6 January 2010
Accepted 3 June 2010
Available online xxxx

Objectives: Oxytocin (OT) has long been implicated in maternal bonding, sexual behavior and
social affiliation behaviors. This paper reviews the wide effects of oxytocin and its key role in
well-being.
Methods: Studies were identified through Medline, Pubmed, and PsychINFO search of the
English-language literature from the past sixty years (1959 to 2009) using the key word
“oxytocin” in human studies. Of the 287 articles identified, 102 were selected for review.
Results: OT induces a general sense of well-being including calm, improved social interactions,
increased trust, and reduced fear as well as endocrine and physiological changes. Some central
effects of OT are temporary and its release is associated with induction of secondary
biochemical actions which mediate long-term benefits including blood pressure reduction,
calm and affiliative behavior. As OT release is augmented by touch and physiological support so
the hormone is involved in both the cause and benefits of social interactions. Just as OT has
widespread effects in factors encompassing well-being, its dysfunction is associated with
morbidity and decreased quality of life as observed neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism,
schizophrenia and social phobias.
Conclusions: Oxytocin (OT) is of potential use in enhancing interpersonal and individual wellbeing,
and might have more applications in neuropsychiatric disorders especially those
characterized by persistent fear, repetitive behavior, reduced trust and avoidance of social
interactions.


That's good enough for me. I for one don't like feeling terrified and lonely and I'm ready to be a guinea pig.



Surfman
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25 Jul 2011, 1:44 am

Maybe getting a soft furry pet, enjoying massage, hot thermal pools and eating a oxytocin rich diet may have a similar result.

Or I would just try taking the drug form, when you want to be social ie a date or sex

You may adapt and become more aspie without it....



Nostromos
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25 Jul 2011, 1:53 am

I respect your opinion, but for the record my debilitating social anxiety did not seem to improve when I was in a loving relationship with a woman who I cuddled a lot. I also eat a lot of garlic and jalapenos, chocolate not so much. I enjoy the humor of flatulence. That doesn't have anything to do with anything else I wrote in this thread. I'm saying I don't believe I'm making a foolish or rash decision here.

I already bought some. I'll check in and say what its effects were for me.