Our bodies are more than cells and tissues that are anatomically linked; there are intricate communication systems between the hairs at the tip of the cranium to the nails at the tip of the toes. These systems consist of nerves and chemicals that physiologists call neurotransmitters. These chemicals produce a diverse chain of reactions which teach the brain to love. What psychologists postulate in their science has been tried and tested experimentally to conclude that various love stages are linked to various chemicals.
Lust, the first stage, is an estrogen-testosterone game, and largely the latter’s. Adolescents, when they have a surge in these hormones, experience human sexuality with an intercourse angle to it. Punishing or ignoring this sexual phase of teenagers’ growth will serve more trouble than counseling or guiding would avert.
This infatuation or attraction stage is blamed on Dopamine, the body chemical implicated in addiction. Dopamine says “You’re my all/crazy in love/love is blind/if loving you is wrong.” The fight-or-flight adrenalin hormone literally activates the heart to produce testimony to the cliché lines of “can’t sleep/ tongue-tied/sweat at your sight/ belly butterflies/check me out/Bolt heartbeat/love is heaven”. Some quarters suggest that increasing Dopamine levels can boost romance. This, theoretically, can be achieved by eating foods rich in the dopamine-forming protein tyrosine. Pharmacologically speaking, drugs with dopamine-like activity tend to cause side effects like abnormal dreams, confusion, dry mouth and decreased blood pressure which might affect mental acuity or hallucinations. It is safe to say that some people are present with these symptoms when they fall in love.
Did you know that the reason morphine, heroine or codeine (collectively called opioids) work in the human body, is because the body naturally produces its own opioids complete with their own sites of action? This pharmacological fact supports the healing, loving and euphoric properties of endorphins, the human opioids. Dynorphin, enkephalin and leuenkephalin are three endorphins that leave us elated after hearing, dreaming or being with our laazizi. In Kiswahili, a proverb advises about “ that which the heart loves being a drug”. In the case of a broken heart, endorphins and oxytocin can cure that. Tears produce endorphins and relief; trust a woman to confirm that. Now you know why love is analgesic and how an aroma therapeutic bath of lavender spikes endorphins for a romantic feeling.
So what about non-sexual love? Science pins it on oxytocin and vasopressin. Produced on the brain’s pituitary, oxytocin acts on the uterus to expel fetus during labour and stimulates bonding between a lactating baby and mother. It is suggested that hugging, presence of an infant or eye contact boosts oxytocin which drives stage four of love, attachment. Now we see the science in spending time together with one’s beloved, as oxytocin does not cultivate the abandonment habits of reptiles to their young. Rather, oxytocin makes humans, eagles, wolves and prairie voles unique because they choose to stay-attachment, commitment- pinnacles of love. Vasopressin, also used to adjust the body’s hydration status, is the territorial chemical that defends a loved one. It is higher in males which supports the provider-protector role of men while higher levels of oxytocin support the nurturing role of women. We are only beginning to grasp the psycho-physio-neuro-endocrinology of love. Isn’t it amazing that emotion might have logic behind it? Therein lays the potential to pharmacologically decipher autism, postpartum depression, emotional impact of parenting or lack thereof, and interpersonal relationships. Have a chemically loving year.
This story was featured in the online magazine page 5 of Writers Space Africa | March 2018 .You can download it here for free at http://www.writersspace.net/
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