Herbs to Boost Oxytocin (The Happiness Hormone)

Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter produced in the hypothalamus. Even if you’ve never heard of it until now, you’ve definitely felt the effects when you’ve hugged or been intimate with someone else. In addition to being involved with childbirth and breastfeeding, oxytocin is associated with trust, empathy, and relationships. For this reason, it is also known as the ‘happiness hormone’ or ‘love hormone.’

Oxytocin is generally considered beneficial for mental health because it can relieve anxiety and stress and make us more social. It also appears to inspire some of humanity’s more admirable qualities such as love, loyalty, trustworthiness, courage, and empathy. Typical signs of a deficiency include:

• Difficulty feeling affection
• Dislike of social interactions
• Trouble maintaining relationships
• Being told you lack empathy

If you feel that low oxytocin levels may be lowering your mood, certain herbs have been shown to naturally address deficiencies and boost your mood. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Coffee Berry

There’s a reason why so many people start their day with a cup of coffee (Coffea). Not only does it wake you up more quickly, it also leaves you feeling more energized and productive. In a social setting, it also brings people together and encourages conversion, which is why we love to get together with friends for coffee.

If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can try boosting oxytocin by consuming the whole coffee berry instead. To roast coffee, the bean is traditionally removed from the coffee fruit, which is then discarded. However, this fruit contains healthy compounds not found in the beans themselves. This study found a positive correlation between the consumption of whole coffee cherry extract and reduction of cognitive impairment in older adults, improving their overall mood.

Here’s a slightly improved version:

Most people try to fix low energy with another cup of coffee or an energy drink. And coffee it’s okay… until it’s overused. At that point, that’s just borrowed energy. You’re forcing your body into overdrive, straining your circulation and leaving your system more depleted than before.

Deep in the woods grows a plant with an ancient secret: take its leaves, prepare them using a specific method, and you get a dark, potent syrup that floods your system with steady, clean energy. The kind that builds instead of burns. Energy that lasts because it works with your circulation, not against it.

Locals call it Redbull of the Woods. One small dose and you’ll feel the difference. Real warmth spreading through your body, sharp mental focus, and blood flow like you haven’t experienced in years.

No jitters. No crash. Just sustained power that feels completely natural.

This isn’t some expensive superfood powder. It’s simple, practical, and grows right outside your door.

Ready to make your own?
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Chamomile

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) has traditionally been used for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. Its delicate taste makes it one of the most popular herbal teas on the market, and chamomile extract is a common ingredient in massage oils due to its soothing scent.

One study reviewed the effects of chamomile on patients with generalized anxiety disorder. It showed a gradual reduction of moderate to severe symptoms over a five-year period, although it did not have a significant effect on relapse. This suggested a correlation between chamomile and reduced stress indicates that a cup of chamomile tea a day can possibly chase the blues away!

You can purchase premade tea in any health food shop. If you have access to fresh chamomile, pour 8 oz of boiling water over three tablespoons of flowers (add a sprig of mint for extra taste) and steep for five minutes. Strain and serve.

Why I Grow My Own Chamomile: After years of buying chamomile tea from stores, I realized I had no idea what I was actually getting. Was it sprayed with pesticides? Did it grow next to a busy road soaking up exhaust fumes? How long had it been sitting on shelves losing its potency?

That’s when I decided to grow my own. Now I have complete control over the quality – no chemicals, no contaminants, just pure, potent chamomile that I harvest at peak freshness. The difference in effectiveness is honestly night and day. Plus, there’s something satisfying about stepping into your backyard and picking your own remedy instead of hoping what you buy at the store actually works.

If you want the strongest, cleanest chamomile possible, growing your own is the only way to guarantee it. Check out these chamomile seeds – they’re the same variety I grow in my own garden.

Clary Sage

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) is an aromatic member of the mint family and has been used as a culinary and medicinal herb. Research suggests that its essential oil increases oxytocin levels in the brain while reducing cortisol and improving thyroid hormone levels, especially in women. This study in particular found that inhaling clary sage oil can increase oxytocin in women during pregnancy.

You can inhale the oil, apply it directly to your skin, or mix two or three drops with water and diffuse it via a burner. 100% essential oil may be added to food, smoothies, or tea for a soothing and uplifting effect. You can purchase it in shops or make a cooking oil by following the directions below:

• Wash and dry two cups of lightly packed clary sage leaves, then place them in a jar with a tight-fitting lid along with around 20 lightly crushed peppercorns.
• Heat two cups of pure olive oil to around 105 degrees F / 40 degrees C before pouring it into the jar. Make sure all the leaves are covered.
• Allow the oil to cool.
• Secure the lid on the jar and store it in a cool, dark spot for three weeks. Shake the jar three or four times a week.
• Once the infusion process is complete, pour the oil through a strainer, add 10 more peppercorns, and store,

Fenugreek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a popular herbal supplement traditionally used to improve sex drive. Recent studies also suggest that it can tackle issues related to low oxytocin levels, such as depression and anxiety and reduced breast milk production.

• This placebo-controlled study examined the effect of fenugreek extract on perimenopausal women and found that it significantly improved symptoms like depression and insomnia.
• This study assessed the impact of fenugreek tea on breast milk production and found that mothers who drank the tea produced more milk and their babies regained their birth weight more quickly.

Fenugreek seeds are a staple of East Indian diets, so incorporating more of these foods into your diet can have a positive impact on oxytocin levels. You can also grind them into flour for addition in bread recipes or make a tea by simmering one teaspoon of lightly crushed seeds in a cup of boiling water for approximately three minutes, followed by 15 minutes of steeping. Strain and add honey or nutmeg (or both)!

Here’s the truth: your brain might be producing oxytocin just fine. But anxiety and depression act like a thick veil, blocking you from feeling its effects. You can’t experience joy, connection, or peace when these barriers are in place. It’s like trying to see sunlight through storm clouds.

Your mental health is the foundation of your overall wellbeing, and lifting that veil isn’t optional, it’s essential. That’s why we created our Anxiety & Stress Tincture: a powerful, research-backed herbal blend designed to dissolve those barriers and help you finally feel the happiness you deserve.

Get Your Anxiety & Stress Tincture here

Anise Seed

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a member of the parsley family. Its aromatic seeds have been used in cooking and traditional herbal medicine for centuries, due to their rich nutrients and ability to treat a wide range of health concerns, including depression.

One study carried out in the Middle East found that consuming anise seeds could increase oxytocin levels in pregnant women. Another study, also involving pregnant women, noted that it was equally effective at reducing symptoms of postpartum depression. This is not to say that men won’t benefit from taking anise seeds: this study found that male and female IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) patients who took anise oil experienced a reduction in mild to moderate depression.

You can add whole or ground anise seeds to bread dough, pastry filling, and even ground meat before cooking. A high-quality anise extract can be used to flavor drinks such as coffee and hot chocolate. If you have access to the seeds, you can make a delicious tea by placing one teaspoon of slightly crushed seeds in a teapot, pouring one and a half cups of boiling water over them, and letting them simmer for three minutes on low heat. Strain and serve.

While coffee berry, chamomile, clary sage, fenugreek, and anise are wonderful herbal remedies, they’re just scratching the surface. If you truly want to take control of your mental health and unlock your brain’s full potential, you need to discover the real powerhouses: Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Lemon Balm.

These four botanicals are the most potent brain boosters nature has to offer. I used to source them individually—spending hours tracking down quality suppliers and paying premium prices for each one separately. Then I discovered a trusted grower who cultivates them naturally (think: buying fresh, organic produce directly from a farmer who actually cares about quality).

Eventually, I found a complete bundle that not only saves you money but also saves you the hassle of sourcing raw materials and making tinctures yourself. The Brain Bundle is potent, effective, and ready to use—with dual-extracted tinctures that have a shelf life of over 7 years.

Click here to see what each tincture does and how they work together to support your mental clarity, focus, and emotional balance.

Take Away

Healthy oxytocin levels can boost feelings of security, contentment, and love for those you are already close to, as well as make you more open to new relationships and opportunities. If you’ve been encountering difficulties in any of these areas, the herbs outlined in this guide can help you overcome them and reclaim the zest for life that you deserve. If you find yourself struggling with depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, or disconnection with those around you, you can also adopt one or two of these simple methods to naturally increase production of oxytocin: listen to music or sing, share a meal with friends and family, give a loved one a hug, practice altruism and/or pet your pet.

Reclaim Your Mental Wellness with Time-Tested Remedies

The path to better mental health doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Inside The Forgotten Home Apothecary, you’ll discover over 250 natural remedies—including powerful formulations specifically designed to support emotional balance, reduce anxiety, and enhance cognitive function.

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• The Brain Booster – A natural tonic for memory, clarity, focus, and processing speed that helps eliminate brain fog
• The Anti-Stress Remedy – A legal, prescription-free herbal blend that calms your nervous system without harsh side effects
• Why Panic Attacks Respond Instantly to This Herbal Blend – A portable lavender oil roll-on proven to reduce anxiety in seconds
• The Autoimmune Tincture That Got Me Out of the Wheelchair – Dr. Nicole’s personal medicinal mushroom protocol for managing MS and supporting neurological health
• Memory Elixir – A rosemary-based remedy clinically shown to improve memory test results by 5-7%

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Your mental wellness is too important to leave to chance. Get your copy of The Forgotten Home Apothecary today and start creating the natural remedies that can transform your life.

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Don’t let another day go by feeling overwhelmed, unhappy, or disconnected.

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