Male sexual health and vitality is an issue for men of all ages. It is the key to healthy relationships and self-image. Unfortunately many men do not understand the necessary elements of maintaining sexual vitality throughout their lifespan. Most men believe that it is a function of aging to lose sexual potency. Nothing could be further from the truth. With proper education, nutrition and lifestyle management, vigorous sexual health can be maintained into the late stages of life. Many people are surprised to read reports of octogenarians who have satisfying sexual relations with their partners. This should not be surprising if it is understood that good health is the foundation of a man’s sexual potency.
The Foundation of Sexual Energy and Vitality
The basis of a strong sexual libido (sex drive) in Traditional Chinese Medicine is an abundant life energy called ‘Jing’ or ‘Ching’. Jing energy is the fundamental life force also known as ‘Essence’ and is basis of all good health. Jing energy is both inherited from our parents and also revitalized through the food we eat and air we breathe. Jing is stored in the kidneys and kidney meridian energy system. It is said in Chinese medicine that the kidneys are the gate of life. Therefore a strong sexual force can only be maintained through conservation and cultivation of Jing energy. The contradiction of this for a man is that Jing energy is lost through the aging process, stress and most abundantly through ejaculation. Ejaculation leads to a direct loss of a man’s life force. This is why many men feel tired after sex even if intercourse lasts only a few minutes. So the first step in recovering sexual potency is the revitalization of the kidney energy.
Kidney Yin and Yang: The Basis For Male Sexual Libido
Restoring Jing/Essence is done through nourishing Kidney Yin energy. Many people have heard of the duality of energy known as Yin and Yang. A fundamental tenent of TCM is the balancing of the body’s energetic forces called Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang energies are two distinct components of an integrated whole of energy. Yin and Yang energies are opposing yet interdependent forces active in the body. Yin and Yang energies interact rhythmically through cycles where one force may be predominant while the other is in recession. However, no permanent state of imbalance of forces should ever be achieved, as the cycle must repeat itself. This rhythm and cyclical of interaction of Yin and Yang forces is a metaphor of a larger cycle of forces at play throughout Nature and the Universe itself. Therefore, the human body is but a microcosm of the larger order.
On its most basic level Yin may be understood as the part of the energetic cycle wherein energy is being accumulated, assimilated and stored, while Yang can be thought of as the part of the cycle in which active expression or manifestation is taking place. Thus Yin can be thought of as being water (receptivity, ‘feminine,’ quiet, passive) and Yang as Fire (activity, ‘male’ and movement). While these forces are in direct opposition, they cannot exist in and of themselves. They are dependent on the other for existence.
As stated earlier a man loses his Kidney Yin or life force through excessive ejaculation. Ejaculation weakens the Kidney Yin energy. Excessive ejaculation coupled with aging will severely diminish this force and open the door to the dreaded premature ejaculation. Kidney yin energy is responsible for a man’s ability to maintain an erection. Therefore if he is weakened through excess sex a man must enhance his life force/kidney yin in order to stay hard and stop premature ejaculation. There are a number of Chinese tonic herbs which nourish kidney yin energy and are known to promote male sexual energy. These herbs have a known safety profile and have been a part of the traditional Chinese materia medica for thousands of years. Chinese tonic herbs that nurture kidney yin include Rehmannia, Lycii Fruit, and Cornus Fruit.
So the old phrase “Behind every strong man there is a good woman” is actually true. Without a strong Kidney yin energy, a man is a sexual weakling!