What Are Endorphins? Understanding the Body’s Natural Pain-Relieving Hormone

Introduction

Have you ever noticed that you feel happier after a good workout, a warm hug or a heartfelt laughter? This is because your body has its own natural way of making you feel good or better. One of the important chemicals that help your body in this are endorphins, which are commonly known as “feel-good chemicals”¹. This article will help you understand what endorphins are, how they work, why they are important, what happens if they are low and how to naturally boost their levels. 

What Are Endorphins?

Endorphins are natural opioid peptides produced by the body and released in response to activities such as exercise, laughter, pain, stress, and excitement. They are mainly produced by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus and act within the brain and nervous system to help reduce pain, dampen stress responses, and contribute to feelings of well-being. Since they contribute towards pain-relief, endorphins are often called the body’s natural painkiller¹. 

Endorphin Hormone Function in the Human Body

Endorphin hormones play different roles in our body. The following are some important functions of endorphin hormones: 

1. Help Reduce Pain Naturally

Endorphins are released when the body experiences pain or stress (physiological). They help reduce the pain by slowing down the transmission of pain signals to the brain. This natural pain-relieving effect allows your body to better cope with physical strain, injury, or temporary discomfort². 

2. Help the Body Cope with Stress

Endorphins are released during stressful situations such as when you become upset, anxious, etc. These chemicals help reduce discomfort and create a sense of calm, making it easier for you to handle short-term stress³. Hence, they promote a feeling of well-being, helping your mind recover after challenging situations¹. 

3. Regulate Mood and Emotional Wellbeing

Endorphins are released along with other happy hormones such as serotonin and dopamine during enjoyable activities such as laughing, dancing, or spending time with loved ones. This helps you feel more positive and hence improves your mood by creating feelings of happiness, relaxation, and emotional comfort¹. 

4. Encourage Physical Activity and Endurance

During physical activity, your body releases endorphins. These help you keep going and create a happy and energised feeling often experienced after exercise, known as the “runner’s high¹.” 

5. Support Immune System

Recent studies² suggest that certain immune cells (such as T cells, B cells, and macrophages) may produce endorphins when the body is fighting inflammation. These naturally released endorphins may help you by reducing pain while supporting your body’s immune response and healing process. 

6. Help Regulate Appetite

Endorphins play a role in regulating appetite and maintaining the body’s energy balance. Hence, they may affect your eating behaviour⁴. 

Potential Benefits Due To Endorphins

Endorphins offer several health benefits. The common benefits include the following: 

• Supporting mood and making you feel happy and positive 
• Helping to stay motivated to perform physical activity 
• Helping in managing pain and discomfort 
• Making you feel calmer during stressful situations¹ 
• Lowering the risk of inflammatory diseases by supporting immune system² 
• Helping you get a better sleep and feel relaxed³ 

What Happens When Endorphin Levels Are Reduced or Increased?

Differences in endorphin hormone levels can affect both your body and mind. Here’s what you may experience when your endorphin levels are reduced or increased: 

Reduced Endorphin Levels

When your body has low level of endorphins, you may not feel the usual mood-boosting and pain-relieving effects. Low endorphin levels are not necessarily the primary cause of health problems, but they can cause symptoms including low mood, increased stress, fatigue, irritability, poor sleep, and increased sensitivity to pain or physical discomfort^1,3. As a result, you may find it difficult to enjoy everyday activities, feel more easily overwhelmed by everyday challenges, have less energy, get frustrated more quickly, struggle to sleep peacefully, or notice that little aches and pains are more painful than usual. 

Increased Endorphin Levels

Naturally elevated endorphin levels are usually temporary . They are frequently observed following activities such as strenuous exercise, laughter, dancing, exciting experiences, or other joyful moments. During this moment, you may feel happier, calmer, energised, or less sensitive to minor pain¹. Endorphin levels eventually return to normal as your body recovers. 

Factors that May Affect Endorphin Levels

Several factors can affect the production or release of endorphins in your body. The most common ones include: 

• Physical Activity: Reduced physical activity can cause a significant drop in endorphin levels¹. 
• Sleep: Poor-quality sleep may impact overall brain function and affect endorphin release⁵. 
• Stress Levels: While short-term stress may trigger endorphin release, ongoing stress can negatively affect your overall well-being and reduce their positive effects³. 
• Diet: Unhealthy or poor diet can interfere with endocrine pathways and affect production of different hormones⁶, including endorphins. 
• Age: Natural changes in the body over time may affect endorphin levels⁷. 
• Overall Health: Certain health conditions may influence how your body produces and responds to endorphins. 

Simple Ways to Experience Endorphin Benefits

There are several ways by which you might experience Endorphin effects better. These include the following: 

• Performing moderate exercises such as aerobics or brisk walking 
• Practising relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing, which can make you feel calm and this might enhance endorphin effects 
• Laughing more by watching a funny movie or spending time with people who make you smile 
• Listening to your favourite music, singing along, or dancing 
• Trying a gentle massage or acupuncture, which stimulate the pressure points  

When Should You Consult a Doctor?

Everyone experiences changes in mood from time to time. However, it is important to consult a doctor if you experience: 

• Persistent low mood lasting for several weeks 
• Long-term sleep issues 
• Frequent feelings of stress or anxiety that interfere with daily life 
• Persistent or unexplained pain (any body part) 
• Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy 

Do not forget that natural endorphin production is not sufficient to manage chronic conditions³. Therefore, consulting a doctor is important, as he can identify the underlying cause of these symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment if needed. 

Also Read: What Does Oxytocin Do? Everything You Need to Know About the Love Hormone

Conclusion

Endorphins may help as natural pain relievers that also contribute to emotional well-being. They help alleviate discomfort, boost mood, induce relaxation, and make it easier for you to deal with stress. While the body naturally creates endorphins, healthy lifestyle choices like regular exercise, adequate sleep, meaningful social interactions, and enjoyable activities are important for their release. If you are experiencing prolonged mood swings, pain, or other worrying symptoms, it is best to consult a doctor to diagnose the exact cause and receive the appropriate treatment. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

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2. Sprouse-Blum AS, Smith G, Sugai D, Parsa FD. Understanding endorphins and their importance in pain management. Hawaii Med J. 2010;69(3):70-71. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3104618/  

3. Pilozzi A, Carro C, Huang X. Roles of β-Endorphin in Stress, Behavior, Neuroinflammation, and Brain Energy Metabolism. IJMS. 2020;22(1):338. doi:10.3390/ijms22010338. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33396962/  

4. Endorphins. Doi: Available from: https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=165521  

5. Phillips B, Cooper KR, Newsome HH, Dewey WL. Effect of Sleep Loss on β-Endorphin Activity, Epinephrine Levels, and Ventilatory Responsiveness: Southern Medical Journal. 1987;80(1):16-20. doi:10.1097/00007611-198701000-00004. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3299928/ 

6. Paramasivam A, Murugan R, Jeraud M, Dakkumadugula A, Periyasamy R, Arjunan S. Additives in Processed Foods as a Potential Source of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: A Review. JoX. 2024;14(4):1697-1710. doi:10.3390/jox14040090. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39584955/  

7. Gambert SR, Garthwaite TL, Pontzer CH, Hagen TC. Age-related changes in central nervous system beta-endorphin and ACTH. Neuroendocrinology. 1980 Oct;31(4):252-5. doi: 10.1159/000123083. PMID: 6252495. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6252495/ 

8. Benton D, Donohoe RT. The effects of nutrients on mood. Public Health Nutr. 1999;2(3a):403-409. doi:10.1017/S1368980099000555. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10610080/  

9. Garbarino S, Garbarino E, Lanteri P. Cyrcadian Rhythm, Mood, and Temporal Patterns of Eating Chocolate: A Scoping Review of Physiology, Findings, and Future Directions. Nutrients. 2022;14(15):3113. doi:10.3390/nu14153113. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35956290/  

10. Bosland PW. Hot stuff – do people living in hot climates like their food spicy hot or not? Temperature. 2016;3(1):41-42. doi:10.1080/23328940.2015.1130521. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4861186/ 

11. Dopamine. 2025. Doi: Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dopamine  

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