On the Comfort of a Mother’s Embrace- The Science of Hugs and Tea

Dearest friend, May is the month when we turn our hearts to mothers, and to those women who have given us care. The shops may whisper of elaborate gifts, yet so often all a mother truly desires is the simplest and most precious of offerings -- time together, and a warm embrace.

Have you noticed, when you draw close to your mother, or to any beloved woman in your life, how the world itself seems to soften? A tide of love, warmth, and ease floods the heart. Modern science, most curiously, has given this enchantment a name: oxytocin. This tender hormone nourishes the bond between mother and child, steadies our emotions, soothes our anxieties, and kindles happiness. In truth, it is what makes a mother's cuddle feel like the safest place on earth.

Scholars such as Jordan Fallis tell us that oxytocin does far more than stir affection. It has been shown to:

Increase calmness and security, easing stress and anxiety.

Improve mood and contentment.

Reduce cortisol, the body's taxing stress hormone.

Encourage healing and reduce inflammation.

Lift pain thresholds.

Enhance noble traits such as empathy, trust, and openness.

A simple hug, held for ten seconds, may strengthen the immune system, brighten the mood, and lessen fatigue. No wonder we feel so transformed after a mother's embrace -- or, indeed, a cuddle from our faithful pets. (Our Office Manager, Tully the Border Collie, would wag in agreement!)

I recall one afternoon when Cousin Charlotte, usually so reserved, leaned down to embrace me as I lamented a tiresome business matter. It was not her words that consoled me, but the quiet strength of her hug. In that instant, it was as though the burdens I carried dissolved into the folds of her shawl. Such is the power of oxytocin -- unseen, yet deeply felt.

There are gentle ways, too, to invite oxytocin into our daily lives. Researchers note that caffeine -- whether in coffee or in our beloved black teas -- may stimulate its release. A pot of Morning Tea may therefore do more than waken the senses; it may also warm the heart. Clara, ever practical, insists upon a pot every morning, declaring that it steadies me more than any list of tasks. She is not wrong.

Chamomile infusions, such as our Fields of Gold, have long been prized for their calming properties. Science now affirms what tradition has always known: chamomile acts upon the very pathways that soothe the mind, bringing serenity with each sip. Mrs. Pembroke swears by it, though she confesses to adding 'just a drop of honey, for the spirit as much as the flavour.'

And of course, touch remains the simplest, sweetest path of all. A hug for a mother, a hand clasped in kindness, or the warm weight of a pet upon one's lap -- all are small sacraments of comfort.

So what is the prescription for happiness, dear friend? I should say it is this:

Drink more tea ☕

Hug your mother or another dear soul ❤️

Cuddle your pets 🐕

And should you wish to offer a special gesture this Mother's Day, why not bake a batch of French Earl Grey Scones? Pair them with a pot of our fragrant French Earl Grey loose leaf tea, and serve them with a hug -- the finest gift of all.

Clara, with her steady hands, often whisks the dough while I scatter petals of French Earl Grey into the bowl. The kitchen fills with fragrance, and soon the scones emerge golden, their perfume mingling with the steam of the teapot. Charlotte claims them too pretty to eat, though she is always the first to reach for a second.

It fascinates me that science now names and measures what mothers, grandmothers, and indeed all who care have always known. Love calms. Kindness heals. A hug, a cup of tea, a word of reassurance -- these are not mere courtesies, but remedies of the highest order.

Oxytocin, for all its learned syllables, is really nothing more than love made visible in the body's chemistry. The warmth of a shared cup, the clasp of hands, the presence of one who listens -- each stirs this gentle alchemy. And in stirring it, we are steadied, renewed, made whole.

Mum cuddles, dear friend, are indeed the best. They remind us that comfort need not be elaborate, that love is most powerful when expressed simply, and that a teacup shared in good company is itself a kind of embrace.

This Mother's Day, let us remember that while flowers may fade and trinkets may gather dust, the gifts of touch, time, and tenderness endure. To hold your mother's hand, to share a laugh over scones, to pour her a cup of tea -- these are the treasures she will remember.