“The Science of Love”

“Love is Very Healing for the Body”

All the great poets talk about love as being very important for healing, all the great philosophers talked about love. Yet for some reason we have disconnected love from healing.

Take for instance from a purely scientific perspective if we have anger and hatred on our mind all the time we create a cascade of hormones that rushes throughout our body which get us ready for a fight or flight. We have a large boost of adrenaline which creates high blood pressure, our immune system is decreases because of cortisol (the stress hormone) is being released into our blood stream. Our blood constricts from our extremities so we don’t bleed to death, and now we are ready to fight off any challenge that comes our way.

But love is just the opposite, research at the University of North Carolina shows that when we hold hands, cuddle, sit together, and have sex we have less pain. Plus more oxytocin is released into our blood stream which also means a better mood.

Studies at the University of Utah showed that when people slept together in the same bed, they had more oxytocin in their blood stream which also correlated with a better nights rest. But those who slept separately didn’t sleep as well showing that having someone we love next to us makes us feel more secure and peaceful so we can rest.

Other studies show that when people are in loving relationships they have a robust immune system, thus they are able to fight off disease. And they had less inflammation, remember inflammation is the first step towards disease so lowering inflammation is very important.

Many studies show that when people are in loving relationships they have less stress and less cortisol (the stress hormone) in their blood. And they also had more oxytocin in their blood (the good feeling hormone) which lead to less depression, less anxiety, less heart disease, and can prevent premature cellular death.

A study at Brigham Young University showed that people in loving relationships in general had lower blood pressures— at least 4 points lower. And women in love relationships have a much lower chance of coming down with cardiovascular disease. And men in love relationships have a 50% lower chance of having angina.

Studies show that being in a loving relationship prevents depression, attention deficit disorder, tension, and anxiety. Long term loving relationships also promotes the release hormones for healing nerve cells thus we have better memories.

So here are a few things a person can do to release more oxytocin into their blood stream and feel loved. Hold hands often, hug often, cuddle, and sleep together in the same bed at night. Also love yourself by getting out into nature daily, going for walks, and doing little things that make you loved. And at night make list of everything you are grateful for that happened during the day. But most of all give love and you will receive love — that’s the natural cycle of life.

Many Blessings to Everyone!

Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist