"There is no medicine or food or spiritual salvation that can prolong a man's life unless he understands or practices the harmony of sexual energy."

(P'eng Tsu - personal physician to the Emperor)

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the sexual act can be compared to the cooking of a delicious soup, where a reasonable force of fire gradually heats all the ingredients, but must not boil all the water with too much violence, and at the same time must not be quenched by the force of the water. Therefore, great attention must be paid to the regulation of fire and water, so that sexual energy and pleasure may combine and reach the desired peak.

In the view of traditional Chinese medicine, there is a mutual exchange of energies during the sexual act, with the man imparting his Yang energy to the woman and the woman irrigating the man with her Yin, which brings us back to the establishment of Yin and Yang balance, a beneficial balance and health. This is true if the man does not ejaculate, then sexual intercourse is healing, restores vitality and promotes longevity.

Sex resides in the Kidneys

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sexuality is directly linked to the Kidneys, or rather to the life essence Jing that resides in them. The Jing essence is a product of the Kidney's Yin and Yang. We can think of it as a burning candle, where the flame is Yang, the wax is Yin, the heat given off by the flame is Qi energy, and the light of the flame is the pure essence called Jing. The lifespan of our life "candle" is therefore dependent on both the strength of the burning flame and the quantity and quality of the wax.

That is why Asians know that the Kidneys are to be guarded like a treasure. The sad truth is that already at 45 years of age, according to this teaching, half the candle is gone, and the other sad truth is that most of the essence is lost by a man through ejaculation. The woman is somehow at an advantage because she does not lose the essence in orgasm.

The Taoists were and are above all realists who do not oppose the flow of life, on the contrary they can live and benefit in harmony with the forces of nature. So if you want to live to a great age, dear sirs, and celibacy is not the right path for you, there is another option. According to traditional medicine, another option is not to avoid sexual activity, but to avoid ejaculation itself. Western man sees it differently: orgasm equals ejaculation. You know the drill - intercourse and loss of semen/essence is followed by fatigue, loss of erection, loss of sexual desire. But the reality is different, according to the old masters, the two acts can be separated. It is possible to have an orgasm and yet not lose the essence, not feel fatigue, not fall asleep after the actual act, retain vitality and sexual desire even further. Not only Taoist techniques, even Indian tantra follows a similar path.

How many times...?

Su Nu Jingqi has compiled a table where, depending on a man's age, kidney health, and the season, he recommends how often men should indulge in sexual play so as not to deplete their vital essence too much.

Sex in ancient China

Sex, as a basic human instinct and means of reproduction, played an important role in Chinese life, and even the most respected thinkers and sages of antiquity did not shy away from the subject. For contemporary discourse, however, it is important to define the boundaries of what can be considered normal in the context of sexual life in China. Indeed, the main currents and tendencies primarily related to sex or sexuality have often become so ingrained in Chinese culture and society over the centuries that they have become an integral part of it.

One important basic approach is to place sex and sexuality in the context of traditional Chinese philosophical trends. Even among traditional Confucians, a negative attitude towards sex did not prevail, but rather an emphasis was placed on its natural function. In particular, Confucianism emphasised the subordination of women to men and sexual intercourse as a way of providing a successor and offspring for the preservation of the family. Confucians therefore considered the need to conceive as the only legitimate reason to engage in sexual intercourse. One of the principles of Confucianism was the satisfaction of human desires and needs, as well as adherence to the established hierarchy of relationships and the preservation of the lineage. This is illustrated by the famous statement made by Master Gaozi in a debate with Confucius' disciple Mencius: "the desire for food and sex is natural", and also by the statement from the Book of Rites: "drinking, food, men and women - these are the main human desires".

Another desire, the desire for an abundance of offspring, is also deeply rooted in Chinese thought and is due to several reasons. A large number of sons enhances the strength of the family, and also gives parents the chance that they will be cared for in old age. Passing on property to sons and keeping it in the hands of the family is one of the fundamental virtues of both fathers and sons, and the offspring also serve to one day worship the current generations within the ancestral cult, obliging their own sons to take care of the continuation of the family themselves. Failure to fulfill this obligation was therefore considered one of the worst sins and an offense against filial devotion in ancient China, as evidenced by one of Mencius' sayings.

In the words of the renowned Chinese sexologist and sociologist Pan Suiming, each of the dominant philosophical schools of ancient China adapted the concept of sex to suit its own needs: "Chinese Confucian culture drowned sex in the great jug of marriage, the Taoists turned sex from the ground up into a tool to achieve immortality, the Buddhists completely forgot the existence of sex, and Chinese medicine labeled it harmful to health."

Sexual desire and lust, however, were often stronger than Confucian principles, Taoist theses on the conservation of life energy, Buddhist ascetic prescriptions, or the advice of Chinese medicine, and therefore developments in the field of sex and sexuality often occurred diametrically opposed to all established principles and prescriptions. For sexual culture in China, this has meant a greater openness in sexual matters, a diversification of sexual practices, a development in conjunction with medicine, art and Taoism, and above all a healthy development of the sexual tendencies and preferences of the people of ancient China with a minimum of sexual deviance.

This does not mean, however, that we have no evidence of these practices. In Sexual Life in Ancient China, an example of incest from the Warring States period is given: "In 494 B.C., Ling, Duke of Wei, had as his wife Nanzi, a woman infamous for an incestuous relationship with her own brother. To please her, the duke even summoned her brother to his court. This incest was widely known, and even the peasants in the fields sang bawdy songs about it."

Acupressure and sexual desire

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese healing method where pressure is applied to certain places on the body. This is used to relieve pain and cure illness. But did you know that this method can also help you with your love life? You just need to discover the right point! It's called San Yin Jiao, abbreviated SP6.

You find it by placing four fingers over the inside of your ankle. There is a small depression under the bone. The point is located in this area under the tibia, the weight-bearing bone of the lower leg. What happens if you stimulate it daily?

At a medical science university in Iran, they thought they would put traditional Chinese medicine to the test. They asked 86 university students in their twenties to participate. First they had to fill out health questionnaires, then the researchers divided them into two groups.

The members of the first one came to the researcher every day for two months, who pressed the SP6 point with his thumb for six seconds each time, then released the pressure for two seconds. This cycle was repeated for a full 30 minutes. The second group underwent the same procedure, but in this case a different location on the body was massaged. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of San Yin Jiao acupressure. How did it all work out?

• The group that received stimulation of the SP6 point reported better health after just one month of practice, which certainly could not be said for the other participants in the experiment. According to the testimonies of the "happier group", psychological irritation, tension, stress, anxiety, headaches or fatigue disappeared. Uninterrupted and better quality sleep was also highlighted for both sexes. But that's not all
• Women confided that they don't suffer as much from menstrual pain, and almost half of them said they have a greater appetite for sex and seek it out more often!

Scientists believe that stimulating the SP6 point affects women's hormone levels and has a positive effect on fatigue and headaches, which are often related to a lack of desire to make love. And the other good news? According to them, acupressure doesn't have any side effects, as it does with other methods. So apparently, it's a chance for better sexual experiences.

Deer power

In YaoMedica's range, Deer Power is one of the most popular herbal tinctures. Based on the You Gui Wan Jia Jian recipe, its power lies in the fact that it warms and replenishes Kidney Yang and Ming Men Fire, and adds Jing essence and blood to the mix.

Do you have any idea what "Kidney Yang" is? It is the so-called ministerial fire that belongs to the Kidneys and warms all the tissues and fluids in the body. Imagine what a cold broth looks like: fat is solidified, everything is thickened, no movement. When we warm it up, it completely changes consistency and begins to smell beautiful. This is the case with all the tissues in the body, but the reproductive system and a strong libido have the closest relationship with the Kidneys and their Yang.

It is advisable to take the mixture for a few weeks - usually the effect is felt within a month. It does not act "instantly" (like the blue pill), but it is safe, with no adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.

It can also be taken long term, in which case a scheme is chosen: 1st month of Yangu Ledvin support, 2nd month of Yinu Ledvin support, 3rd month of pause - and then repeat.

Deer Power is especially suitable after the age of 45.

MycoStamin

MycoMedica's interesting blend combines the effects of vital cordyceps mushroom and Chinese herbs. It is formulated based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, according to which it works to promote vitality and creativity with an emphasis on sexuality. The MycoStamin blend is based on the traditional Chinese medicine recipe Dong Chong Si Mao San.

So may life be good and may everything worthwhile be worthwhile!

Ondřej Vicher - Sex Vocabulary in Chinese - Master's Thesis - Palacký University in Olomouc, Faculty of Arts, Department of Asian Studies - Olomouc 2017, MUDr. Petr Hoffmann - PatentMedicína.cz, Vitalia.cz, MycoMedica.cz, Martin Řezníček - MartinReznicek.cz, Lucie Meixnerová - ProŽeny.cz