"The phrase "having a good cry" suggests that crying can actually make you feel physically and emotionally better, which many people believe. Some scientists agree with this theory, asserting that chemicals build up in the body during times of elevated stress. These researchers believe that emotional crying is the body's way of ridding itself of these toxins and waste products.
In fact, one study collected both reflex tears and emotional tears (after peeling an onion and watching a sad movie, respectively). When scientists analyzed the content of the tears, they found each type was very different. Reflex tears are generally found to be about 98 percent water, whereas several chemicals are commonly present in emotional tears [Source: The Daily Journal. First is a protein called prolactin, which is also known to control breast milk production. Adrenocorticotropic hormones are also common and indicate high stress levels. The other chemical found in emotional tears is leucine-enkephalin, an endorphin that reduces pain and works to improve mood. Of course, many scientists point out that research in this area is very limited and should be further studied before any conclusion can be made."
Crying can, quite literally, act like a stress valve!
Maybe those hormones are in emotional tears because that's what's in the blood at the time, same as breast milk containing alcohol if you've imbibed recently.
In other words, tears reflect the body's hormones rather than influencing them.
I want to agree with what you say but "ridding toxins" etc is classic bullshit. You may be releasing some helpful or at least stimulating chemicals in response. You may be activating different neuropathways, epigenetics, etc, even, to play down the buzzword path.
That's exceptionally context dependant, and in this one:
> First is a protein called prolactin
> Adrenocorticotropic hormones are also common
> leucine-enkephalin
You've made the wrong call. I'm all about detoxes being pseudoscience, but you have more than one organ in your body dedicated to ridding it of toxins.
"The phrase "having a good cry" suggests that crying can actually make you feel physically and emotionally better, which many people believe. Some scientists agree with this theory, asserting that chemicals build up in the body during times of elevated stress. These researchers believe that emotional crying is the body's way of ridding itself of these toxins and waste products.
In fact, one study collected both reflex tears and emotional tears (after peeling an onion and watching a sad movie, respectively). When scientists analyzed the content of the tears, they found each type was very different. Reflex tears are generally found to be about 98 percent water, whereas several chemicals are commonly present in emotional tears [Source: The Daily Journal. First is a protein called prolactin, which is also known to control breast milk production. Adrenocorticotropic hormones are also common and indicate high stress levels. The other chemical found in emotional tears is leucine-enkephalin, an endorphin that reduces pain and works to improve mood. Of course, many scientists point out that research in this area is very limited and should be further studied before any conclusion can be made."
Crying can, quite literally, act like a stress valve!