Medical teams from the U.S. as well as from Europe and Asia are competing to develop and put up for sale a pill against anxiety

Scientists in the U.S. found out that the natural hormone oxytocin, which aids childbirth and ensure the establishment of the relationship between mothers and newborns infants, reduces anxiety and calms phobias. There are even some signs that the hormone can help some people suffering from autism.

The drug, based on oxytocin, can be produced by synthetic means. The professor of neurobiology Paul Zak of Claremont University (California) has tested the hormone on hundreds of patients and alleges that oxytocin reduces the level of anxiety and facilitates social contact.

Moreover, it is harmless; it has no side effects and does not lead to addiction. The results of the U.S. scientists have been confirmed by the studies in other countries.

Scientists from University of Zurich in Switzerland have managed to reduce the extremely high level of anxiety among 120 patients as having treated them with oxytocin half an hour before putting them in a situation that causes anxiety.

A spray on the basis of the hormone has been successfully tested in the University of New South Wales (Australia). Studies also have shown that people with higher levels of oxytocin in brain are more generous and more compassionate. It was found that in rodents oxytocin increases the level of monogamy.

There are also assumptions that the hormones can help orphans that have been neglected by their biological parents, and cannot come to love their adopters.

Oxytocin may be sprayed in restaurants to calm the eating, or to be used as an alternative to tear gas to pacify agitated people.