www.india-herbs.com Oxytocin vs Cortisol Humans, have two opposing hormonal responses to stimuli. Threatening stimuli cause an increase of stress hormones called Adrenaline and Cortisol. Comforting or reassuring stimuli cause an increase in oxytocin. The fight or flight response triggered by a sudden threat or a stressful situation is associated with the hormone, Adrenaline. Adrenaline causes increase in heart rate, speeds up respiration, activates muscles, and creates hyper-alert energy. This hormone empowers you to immediately act your way out of danger. The activation of Adrenaline is deemed healthy for the body, at times. However, when the stress stays for long, it increases the level of another hormone, Cortisol. To cope with stress, cortisol begins to break down non-essential organs and tissues to maintain blood sugar and to feed vital organs. When Cortisol stays at high levels, it automatically digests bones, muscles, and joints – resulting to elevated blood fats and sugar, which are related to many disorders. The most common stressors nowadays are more likely emotional and mental than physical. Pressure from job, family problems, fear-producing media materials, and relationship issues are among the top ten causes of stress. Eventhough they are non-physical threats, your body has only one response to this scenario, and that is to produce more Cortisol. These emotional and mental stressors are indirectly linked to the body’s physical condition. The good news is that …
