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The idea of a "love potion" has tantalized humans for centuries. But it's important to remember that the idea first surfaced in romantic fiction - for example, Shakespeare's "Midsummer's Night Dream" written in the 1590s. (In the play, a forest pansy is called "Love in Idleness," and when streaked over the eyes of a sleeping Athenian, he immediately falls in love with the next woman he sees.)

It seemed unlikely to ever occur in real life, since love is an emotion rather than a biochemical process. But in the 20th century research began identifying specific chemicals connected to various emotional states. One researcher concluded that humans were attracted to the scent of an immune system that was very different from their own, and others have suggested that responsiveness to pheromones may play a role in determining sexual orientation.

Unfortunately, the scientific community has concluded that no pheromones will directly influence human behavior. This includes two scientific papers published within the last four years (titled "Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology" and "Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain".) It's possible that a "love potion" could be discovered among biochemicals which aren't pheromones. In one recent study, chocolate was determined to contain the chemical phenethylamine, which the brain produces when feeling love. However, this chemical passes through the body so quickly that it never reaches the brain. Love also releases dopamine, norepinephrine and phenylethylamine into the body. But no one's ever found a way to "reverse engineer" this physicial process, packing the chemicals into a tablet which could induce the emotion when taken!

In most cases people touting the idea of a "love potion" are simply trying to cash in on the appeal of the idea rather than distribute a new medical breakthrough. But ironically, some of these love potions may work, not because of their chemical makeup but because of the placebo effect. The belief that a lover can be chemically attracted can replace insecurity with confidence - which is usually considered more attrative in itself! Confidence will also lead to more aggressive exploring of situations where love can be found. There's also a cynical joke that calls alcohol a love potion because it relaxes the body and reduces inhibitions. But if anything this only creates a temporary moment of openness, and does not necessarily induce love. By a similar logic, male potency is known to increase in a relaxed atmosphere, so on specific occasions a "love potion" could simply be a hot bath! (And one old remedy suggested raw eggs in milk, sweetened with honey, which at least ensured lots of extra protein and sugar...)

Ultimately this is a question that can be answered with common sense. If "love potions" really existed, they'd be pursued vigorously and regulated heavily. But would we really want to live in a world where love wasn't a magical moment of human connection, but just the result of something we'd drank? Approaching the question from this perspective, I think it points to the most conclusive evidence of all that love potions don't work.

If they did - we would've heard about them already!

Learn more about this author, Moe Zilla.
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