There's a lot of interest in using oxytocin to ease the pains of social interaction. Several companies are working on drugs to treat social disorders including autism and social anxiety; meanwhile, many of us have begun to experiment with whiffing the stuff.
While I believe it's healthier and better in the long run for us to work on retraining our brains and learning strategies to boost our ability to pulse out oxytocin naturally, that quick hit is very attractive.
We take drugs for almost everything else, so why not for trust and intimacy?
Since 2005, OC International has offered OxyCalm, an oxytocin inhalant. Around the same time, Vero Labs began selling Liquid Trust, an oxytocin spray it markets as a way to make others more open to you. I thought it would be interesting to talk to the makers of these products, how they came to be and exactly what's in them.
Mike Delaney, co-founder of OC International, answered my questions via email.
HTM: Please give me some background on you and your company: when was it ounded?
Delaney: The innovators of OxyCalm and principals of OC International (OCI) have decades of experience in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. The principals of OCI are very familiar with the formulation, testing and use of oxytocin in the human and animal health pharmaceutical industries. Their knowledge and experience made the development of OxyCalm possible. In turn, Their knowledge and experience made the development of OxyCalm possible. In turn, my father Maurice Delaney and I formed the OC International marketing company in June 2005.
OxyCalm helps promote relaxation, improve mood and enhance inner peace and tranquility. Also, it can be used as an alternative to smoking. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease; nor is it intended to affect the structure or function of the body.
It is our mission to help our customers live longer, happier and healthier lives without the use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
HTM: What was the genesis of OxyCalm?
We were familiar with oxytocin’s use in animal health and human medicine for contraction of the uterus and milk letdown, but previously we were not aware of oxytocin’s other effects on humans, both male and female, until we observed a report on CNN and later read about the “Trust in a bottle” study.
These observations lead us to read “The Oxytocin Factor” by Dr. Kerstin Uvnas Moberg. While this book is enlightening and fascinating, we observed that the studies referenced in the book were limited to injectable oxytocin of animal origin or endogenous oxytocin.
After reviewing the “trust in a bottle” study and reading the book several times, we concluded that the world needed an oxytocin spray which people can breathe to study or enjoy the beneficial effects of oxytocin in a wide variety of social situation and also for improving the body's ability to cope with stress.
HTM: Do you have other products besides OxyCalm?
Delaney: We also offer for sale a product called UltraCalm CES (Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation), which is U.S. FDA approved for the treatment of anxiety, depression and insomnia under US FDA 510(k) Number K895175.
In addition, we are in the midst of developing an OxyCalm room spray for the car, home, office or parties.
HTM: How much oxytocin is in a dose? How did you arrive at this dilution?
Delaney: Based upon our knowledge and experience with oxytocin, OxyCalm was formulated and packaged into 1oz (30mL) spray bottles in such a way as to be safe, economical and stable for two years when stored at controlled room temperature (20° to 25°C).
We selected a potency of 20 USP units per mL because we knew that in the “Trust in a bottle” study they utilized oxytocin nasal solution which contained 40 USP units per mL, equal to approximately 4 USP units per spray. Each participant took three sprays in each nostril for a total of 24 USP units.
OxyCalm contains approximately 2 units of oxytocin in each spray so we theorized it would be safe and still cause the desired effect. Judging from our customers’ responses for the first 1000 bottles, we were successful.
HTM: How much oxytocin is in a dose? How did you arrive at this dilution?
Delaney: We do not talk about a dose or dosing of OxyCalm because the US FDA might conclude that such discussion would imply that it is a drug under their control. Instead, OxyCalm has NO DRUG CLAIMS, is manufactured in Canada and is sold worldwide on the internet at www.OxyCalm.com.
We do acknowledge that OxyCalm provides approximately 2 USP units of oxytocin per spray. The testimonials we have received, which have been 99+ percent favorable, range from one spray (2 units) to six sprays (12 units) per usage as desired by the customer.
HTM: What else does the product contain?
Delaney: OxyCalm contains synthetic oxytocin USP 20 IU/mL, pleasant food-grade vanilla fragrance, USP purified water and Chlorobutanol USP as a preservative. It is very important to note that our oxytocin is chemically synthesized at a US FDA approved manufacturing facility and meets USP specifications. It is not animal or human origin.
Since it is chemically synthesized, there is no concern about cruelty to animals nor the product containing pathogens or diseases which animals carry. Also, there has been no animal testing utilized in the development of our OxyCalm product.
The United States Pharmacopeia states: oxytocin USP is a nonapeptide hormone having the property of causing the contraction of the uterine smooth muscle and of the myoepithelial cells within the mammary gland. It is prepared by synthesis or obtained from the posterior lobe of the pituitary of healthy domestic animals used for food by man. Its oxytocic activity is not less than 400 USP oxytocin Units per mg.
HTM: Did you experiment with self-dosing as you developed the product? Can you share some of your experiences?
Delaney: Yes, I acted as the “lab rat” while developing OxyCalm. The first bench pilot product was an aqueous solution that contained oxytocin and chlorobutanol used in that preparation as a preservative. The chlorobutanol preservative had a rather characteristic and unpleasant odor. We experimented with numerous fragrances before we selected the pleasant vanilla fragrance we now use in OxyCalm.
I noticed and reported feeling more calm, focused and relaxed with each use of OxyCalm. After one week of daily administration, positive differences were observed in our “lab rat’s” behavior and reaction to stressful situations.
HTM: Critics say OxyCalm has too little oxytocin to be effective. What's your response?
Delaney: Absolutely not! OxyCalm is not too dilute. Your description in “My Oxtocin Dose” clearly indicates you and Mike took TOO MUCH!
You said, “After the first two inhalations…..I felt stoned,” and, “After the druggy feeling passed….” OxyCalm is not designed to make users feel stoned or give users a druggy feeling.
Also, we have received a few reports that after taking too much OxyCalm, the particular individuals experienced aggressiveness and irritation. Maybe this was happening to Mike?
The 5mg. of oxytocin which you and Mike used probably contained not less than 400 USP oxytocin units per mg. Therefore, the 5mg. of oxytocin probably represented not less than 2000 USP oxytocin units. When you and Mike shared your concoction, you each used somewhere near 1000 USP oxytocin units. Please let me remind you that in the “Trust in a bottle” study each of the participants received 24 USP units of oxytocin. Also, for less than $87.00, you could have bought enough OxyCalm to last you and Mike at least 30 days.
When we developed OxyCalm, one of our main concerns was safety, so we formulated OxyCalm such that it contains oxytocin 20 IU/mL or 2 IU per spray. Safety studies reported in the open scientific literature have been conducted primarily using solutions of oxytocin containing 10 to 20 IU/mL. On our website, we suggest a range of “two to six sprays, two to three times per day”, which allows our customers to adjust the use to within a range of 4 to 12 IU two to 3three times per day to achieve desired effects.
Note that 99 percent of the comments from our customers have been overwhelmingly favorable, when used in accordance with our product recommendations.
HTM: The idea that oxytocin could help people stop smoking makes sense; but are there any studies that support this?
Delaney: Our OxyCalm product was designed as a product that “helps promote relaxation, improve mood and enhance inner peace and tranquility.” However, upon initial sales and distribution of the product, we received numerous testimonials from customers who were smokers, but not allowed to smoke on their company premises. The feedback was very favorable in that the temptation and desire for smoking while prohibited was significantly lessened by the use of OxyCalm.
HTM: How do you suggest people use the product for smoking cessation? For relaxation?
Delaney: We have recommended OxyCalm to smokers as a pleasant, safe and economical alternative to smoking. We have never indicated that OxyCalm is a “smoking cessation treatment product." Smoking cessation is a drug claim which requires FDA approval.
For smokers, we recommend one or two sprays of atomized OxyCalm then deeply inhaling (counting to 5) through the nostrils and exhaling (counting to 10) five to 10 times a day. For relaxation, we recommend two to six sprays, two or three times per day.
Related Stories: My Oxytocin Dose, Interview with Liquid Trust
