In search of the elf of love

2009/03/14 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Biokimika
• Biologia
• Anatomia/Fisiologia

Verolab, for example, offers it in a spray called Liquid trust. In the morning, before dressing the clothes, he recommends giving it to the body as if it were a perfume. Liquid trust will make sellers increase their sales; singles, the love of the person they want, and managers, seduce, convince others. In addition, the product is based on scientific research, how not.

Verolabe refers to a 2005 research at the University of Zurich. And that research is true. In fact, it was published in the scientific journal Nature and according to the results exposed, breathing through the nose, oxytocin increases confidence in others, thus facilitating contact.

They already knew that oxytocin is directly related to different aspects or manifestations of love. It was identified in 1953 and subsequently demonstrated its release to childbirth and its contribution to this process, which is the objective with which we work today, when in childbirth there are certain problems. It is also released during lactation and, in addition to increasing milk production, strengthens the mother-child relationship. It also influences other partner relationships, with the effect of facilitating and tightening relationships and participation in orgasm.

On the other hand, it has been investigated whether oxytocin can be used to treat problems such as autism, phobia to human relationships or lack of empathy. Despite the hopeful results of animal experiments, they have not yet generated treatments or medications for use in people.

Contested use

In fact, there are researchers who believe that some extract disproportionate consequences from their animal research, and that much more research needs to be done on people who use oxytocin with this or similar objective.

For example, in an essay published in the journal Nature, neuroscientist Larry Young has pointed out that oxytocin may be used for a long time in matrimonial therapies. He has previously explained the influence of oxytocin on the tendency to monogamy of a species of rodents, as well as the similarity between these rodents and the brains of people.

The president of the Spanish Association of Neuropsychiatry, Alberto Fernández, believes that these conclusions are drawn from an “anthropocentric perspective”. He expressed this to the public newspaper on the occasion of the Nature trial. In his opinion, some researchers simplify too much and disregard the influence of culture on manifestations of love among people.

In any case, universities, pharmaceutical companies and research centers around the world continue to investigate the effects and applications of oxytocin. Meanwhile, indirectly, research related to the subject has been published in the prestigious scientific journal PNAS. This study has shown in the mouse that hydrogen sulfide gas has similar effects to those of Viagra.

Perhaps for many the most striking part of the research is the substance chosen for the test, as hydrogen sulfide is a gas that burns rotten eggs. However, it should be noted that the influence of Viagra is also based on the presence of a gas, nitric oxide. However, its smell is low. In addition, during the doses experienced, hydrogen sulfide is toxic to people, so for now, they will not use this gas to treat the dysfunctions of its use.

Published in Gara