Of course May is the month when we celebrate Mothers day and acknowledge all the things that our Mums do for us. We may feel we need to buy them elaborate gifts to say thank you. But a lot of the time, all our Mum's really want is a big hug, and to spend time with us!
Have you ever noticed that when you hug your Mum, or any special woman in your life, you get over whelmed with feelings of love, warmth and wellbeing? 🥰 This is due to the release of a hormone called ‘Oxytocin’. This hormone not only plays a key role in the relationship between a mother and her child, it also has a vital role to play in the functioning of our brain and nervous system. It effects on day to day emotions is well documented, and low levels have been associated with anxiety and depression, among other things. 😃
In his article “How to increase Oxytocin levels in the brain”, Jordan Fallis writes that research suggests that increasing our levels of Oxytocin, can benefit us by:
- Increasing our feelings of calmness and security, thus reducing stress and anxiety
- Improving our mood and feelings of contentment
- Reducing the release of our bodies stress hormone Cortisol
- Reducing inflammation and stimulate healing
- Increasing our pain threshold
- Increasing positive personality traits, such as empathy, trust and openness
So, apart from hugging lots of women, how can we ensure that we keep our Oxytocin levels high? In his article, Fallis outlines 25 steps by which we can naturally increase our levels. A couple of them are of particular interest to me. The first is caffeine. Fallis states “researchers have found that caffeine significantly increases the release of oxytocin”. He talks about drinking coffee, but of course tea also contains caffeine, especially black tea, which contains nearly as much caffeine as coffee. 🫖
Drinking Camomile tea, like our Fields of Gold, is another way of increasing your Oxytocin levels. This medicinal herb has long been used for its calming properties, and as Fallis says, it “contains substances that act on the same part of the brain and nervous system as antidepressant drugs”. It is of little wonder that having a cup of tea can make us feel relaxed and calm. 😃
It is of no surprise that touch is a quick way to boost your oxytocin levels. We all know how good it feels to hug the special people in our lives. From his research, Fallis has discovered that “a 10-second hug every day can help boost your immune system, fight infection, increase dopamine, reduce depression and lessen fatigue". And this effect extends to cuddling our pets as well!! This bit is loved by our Office Manager, Tully the Border Collie.
So what do we need to do every day to keep our oxytocin levels high?
- Drink more tea 🫖
- Hug our Mums or other special people ❤️
- Cuddle our pets 🐕
Sounds perfect to me!! 😍
To spend some special time with that special woman in your life, why not whip up a batch of Harriet's French Earl Grey Scones? Then make a pot of our French Earl Grey loose leaf tea, give your Mum a hug, and enjoy this treat together. ❤️
To read the full article “How to increase Oxytocin levels in the brain” by Jordan Fallis 30 March 2019, go to: