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Empathogens

two hands forming heart - empathy, empathogen, aphrodisiac.

    When aphrodisiacs are discussed, the talk is usually on things believed to increase lust, libido, or physical arousal. Empathogens are a different type of aphrodisiac. Empathogens are substances that create a feeling of empathy or emotional connection to others. Empathogens may do nothing for physical performance, or may actually reduce the tendency to engage in full-out sex. Think of empathogens as the cuddle drugs. For really intense cuddling The objective of taking an empathogen is not physical union, but mind-meld, a psychological or spiritual union.

This is an area where science has devoted little attention, perhaps because feelings of emotional openess are inherently subjective. There are psychological instruments to evaluate anxiety, depression, and aggression, but are no standardized questionaires to determine if a substance makes a person more emotionally available. And even if a placebo controlled study shows that a person is more conversational after taking an empathogen, does that simply mean they are more talkative?

Some Empathogens:

  • MDMA (X or Ecstasy) has been one of the most talked about empathogens. It is illegal in most countries of the world, and there are serious questions about its safety.
  • Kava Kava, the root of a Polynesian shrub, has long been used as an empathogen in the South Pacific.
  • Tryptophan (and the related 5-HTP) can lead to psychological improvements.
  • Damiana, Passion Flower and other herbs that work on the GABA receptors (as do valium and xanax) may be partial empathogens. Alcohol may also increase empathy in some, but is not predictable: some people get friendly when they drink; others get mean. It may be that all drugs that remove inhibitions can be empathogenic to a degree, although some drugs seem to do so more predictably and more profoundly.


    Some people see empathogens as cheating - their argument is that emotions called up with the assistance of chemicals are unreal or less real. Fans of empathogens would counter that by noting that we read books, attend plays ('fakes') and watch movies and athletic games because these can all lead to worthwhile emotional experiences. To pro-empathogen people, herbs and drugs are merely another class of tools to influence the emotions. If two people bond emotionally over a shared night at the theatre, is that more meaningful than a night spent together sharing an empathogen?


    Of course, the use of herbs or drugs does carry a risk of physical side effects - and for some, that is enough to rule them out altogether. The medical reseach on ecstasy and brain damage is controversial and little agreement exists, but users of X do acknowledge a 'hangover' or rough let-down from the drug - this points to a depletion of neurotransmitters or disruption to normal functioning, even if the long term consequences are not yet known. Many believe that X has a therapeutic use for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other emotional conditions marked by a withdraw from social interaction, but society has not accepted such a use for that drug.


    The term 'enactogen' is sometimes used as an alternative for empathogen - enactogen is derrived from the Greek roots that mean 'to generate touch within.' The newer term was coined by David E. Nichols to recognize a wider range of potential uses than just increasing empathy.