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SEXUAL ENERGY IN HEALTH AND SPIRITUALITY SEXUAL ENERGY SPIRITUALITY HEALTH AND If we can understand the neurochemistry and bio-energetics of sex and sexuality and apply this knowledge in our lives, we can have relationships that are healthier, more loving, and more spiritualised. Part 1 of 2 ex—or, rather, sexual energy—is a potent force in regard to our health, intimate relationships and spirituality, but the extent of this is rarely realised. Fortunately, we can now discern much of the prevailing dynamics due to recent advances in understanding the neurochemistry of the brain. The observed effects can partly be explained with biochemistry and partly with bio-energetics. Orgasm is generally regarded as the ultimate goal of recreational sex. Wilhelm Reich was the first scientist to describe the nature and purpose of the orgasm as a discharge of excess bio-energy with the additional liberation of feeling energy, and he also recognised the negative consequences of blocked sexual energies. In addition to exciting peaks, orgasms unfortunately tend to produce powerful negative side-effects that are only now becoming better understood. These are due to predictable trends in hormonal activity which seem to be similar in all mammals to ensure certain evolutionary objectives, especially the wide mixing of gene pools and the safe raising of offspring. These objectives are achieved with the following neurochemical changes. The main players are dopamine, the reward hormone (see table 1), prolactin, the hormone of satiation (see table 2), oxytocin, the cuddle hormone (see table 3), and levels of androgen receptors—all of which powerfully affect our mood, our desire for intimacy, our perception of our mate as well as our susceptibility to addictive activities and substances. These hormones can also have different but generally related functions. Additionally, the stimulant phenylethylamine (PEA) is involved, which is also present in cocoa and chocolate and elevates energy, mood and attention. PEA is produced in greater amounts when one is in love. Conversely, a deficiency (common in manic-depressives) causes unhappy feelings. When we fall in love, we become bonded by rising PEA, oxytocin and dopamine levels. When we are sexually aroused by close contact, our dopamine level rises further and at the time of orgasm we have a dopamine brainstorm. Groningen University professor Gert Holstege and colleagues have likened this to the effect of heroin on the brain.'_ Dopamine is active in all addictions, even in people who have forgotten what sex is. Most of this activity is in the limbic system, the oldest part of the brain. After orgasm, the dopamine level falls sharply, with the usual withdrawal symptoms. This reaction tends to be immediate in males and delayed in females. Also, the prolactin level rises and the androgen receptor level falls after orgasm. The oxytocin level falls after conventional orgasm, but if the couple maintains close contact this may help to counter this drop and sustain the level of oxytocin. Behavioural changes from this disturbed hormone equilibrium have been noticed for up to two weeks. During this time, we may be more irritable, dissatisfied, anxious or depressed, and instead of seeing the good side of our mate we now may be painfully aware of his or her shortcomings. This is exactly the same process and length of time that prolactin needs to recover to its normal level during withdrawal from cocaine. Initially, during the honeymoon period of our relationship, we remain strongly bonded by high oxytocin levels and quickly overcome our hormonal blues by having more sex. Initially, sex stimulates us to crave for more sex. This leads to a rapid rise and fall in the dopamine level and to corresponding rapid emotional fluctuations in our relationship. Later we may become less and less interested in sex with our partner (perhaps because we subconsciously begin to associate him or her with the "lows" of the cycle, or perhaps because we grow tired of being used as a fix, and therefore feel less attraction), and now APRIL — MAY 2007 NEXUS #25 THE NEUROCHEMISTRY OF SEX by Walter Last © 2007 www.nexusmagazine.com