by Allison Koch

February is the month of love, valentines, and hearts, so it seemed appropriate to talk about love, the heart and what supports our hearts and our love life!

Much is being said about the gut-brain connection and the microbiome these days, but this month seemed like a perfect time to talk about the heart-brain connection!

The heart is the very first organ to develop in the fetus, and its cells are found throughout the human body. Western cultures and scientific research over the past 40 years have primarily focused on the heart as a pump, though other cultures have traditionally regarded the heart as a source of wisdom, spiritual insight, thought and emotion.

But lately, scientific research has begun to demonstrate that these associations may be more than metaphorical as a new understanding of the heart, its highly specialized cells, and its amazing abilities has led to the new field of neurocardiology.

The heart has its own network of nerves and nervous system, consisting of some 40,000 neurons. This heart-brain nervous system gives the heart the ability to independently sense, process, make decisions, and memorize. The heart actually LEARNS. Additionally, the heart is a hormonal gland, like your brain, making and secreting hormones and neurotransmitters that travel throughout the body, communicating with other cells, other hormones and neurotransmitters, affecting you in multiple ways.

Among the hormones produced by the heart is one of the midwife’s favorites: oxytocin. Oxytocin is known as the “hormone of love,” as it is secreted during orgasm, in labor and birth, when we share a pleasurable meal or experience with others, when we breastfeed our young, and when women gather to support each other. (Hint, hint: It is often called the “tend and befriend hormone”.)

I love that the heart learns and decides and does all this thinking for itself, because that affirms what humans have felt forever: the heart wants what the heart wants, or, as my Grandmother used to say, “Love goes where its sent”. <3

So how best to support our amazing hearts and keep the love light burning?

Phytonutrients, antioxidants and whole foods that are consumed as close to the way they come from the ground:

• Herbs and spices: especially turmeric (curcumin) and raw garlic, basil, cinnamon, curry powder, chili peppers ginger, rosemary and thyme)
• Traditional teas like black tea, green tea, oolong or white tea.
• Dark beans., walnuts, avocados, wild-caught fish, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed.
• Dark chocolate and red wine have beneficial properties for heart health (in recommended amounts, not as “free foods”)

I would also recommend considering the following supplements if you are coping with heart-related issues:

•  Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) –  CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to be beneficial for heart health by improving the utilization of oxygen at the cellular level. If you take a statin to lower your cholesterol, you especially need to supplement CoQ10.
•  L-Carnitine – An amino acid to enhance heart function and resilience.
•  Cordyceps – A natural anti-inflammatory from mushrooms
•  Hawthorn berry – A traditional herb for strengthening the heart

Movement and relaxation, both!

•  Aerobic exercise, dancing, sex, laughter, singing – anything that raises the “joy” level for you!
•  Meditation, dreaming, prayer, etc.

And what is the connection between the heart and libido? Perhaps the greatest sexual organ in the body is the brain (more on that another time). So if the heart and the brain are in constant communication and sharing information, then if you can’t take time away from thinking (and stress hormones, i.e. catecholamines), you’re doing your heart a disservice. Vacations are a must!

Heart rate variability is a measure of well-being in humans, and when our brains are occupied thinking about work, kids, bills, and worries of daily living, our heart rate variability suffers. When we take time to experience pleasure, heart rate variability soars, improving our heart health, bringing balance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems, and creating what’s called “heart rate coherence.” Multiple important physiological changes occur during coherence. The branches of the autonomic nervous system synchronize. There is a shift toward increased parasympathetic activity as a number of different body systems synchronize to the rhythm generated by the heart. Finally, there is increased synchronization between the activity of the heart and brain. Voila! Coherence!

Here’s where science and emotion “hug”. If the experience of pleasure is physiologically good for my heart, and my heart and my brain are in direct communication all the time and orgasm is the ultimate pleasurable human experience, then the more orgasmic experiences one can have in a lifetime, the happier the heart will be!

Shout out to Holly, our Boutique manager! Now here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: The WBWC Boutique is part of our mission to serve you by carrying products that the midwives recommend and/or that are in alignment with our values as a birth center and women’s health practice. AND the Boutique will price match, so they are not more expensive than other places. It is a pleasure to shop there, and you are supporting Women’s Birth & Wellness Center at the same time! Shopping in our Boutique actually enhances your heart rate variability and heart health in a variety of ways.

There are some lovely products that relieve stress, enhance mood, improve sleep, and boost libido

• We are blessed to carry an expanded line of herbal remedies brewed by the fabulous local treasure Suki Roth.
• Our “Midwife from the Mountains” Lisa Goldstein blends us herbal and homeopathic tinctures for a variety of comforts and discomforts.
• We also carry Wishgarden Herbs from Boulder, CO. A midwife-owned company, Wishgarden makes a three-pack called Sexy Time Remedies: Male Mojo, Love Potion #9, Serious Relaxer.
• Liddell Laboratories makes a Vital Female Sexual Energy and Vital Male Sexual Energy homeopathic sprays if you feel like you need a little boost.

And of course, the magical staff of the Boutique, whose humor and insightful guidance, and the clever signage out by the road, combine to make the Boutique experience something that will keep you smiling all the way home.

LOVE GOES WHERE IT’S SENT, y’all.