1 Sexual life and prolonging life

Sexual function is the human instinct. Only by bringing the instinct into full play can the biological mechanism of mutual causality "between matter and function", which the human body should abide by, achieve balance. On the contrary, failure to bring the functions of genitals into play may result in the disuse of the organs, and cause the disturbances of certain links of the closely-related functions of the organism. As a result, disturbances of vital activities will occur.

Compared with ascetics and people indulging in sensual pleasures, those with normal reproductive activities have marked enhancement of vital activities and obvious extension of life time. However, "Taking food and having sexual life are the human instinct." Sexual life is the human instinct for reproduction while asceticism inhibits this instinct. Nevertheless, indulgence in sensual pleasures may overconsume vital substances. Therefore, both asceticism and indulgence in sensual pleasures go against the basic requirements of health and longevity.

2 Measures for health care in sexual life

2.4.2.1 Avoiding extreme emotional activities

Healthy sexual life begins with the requirement of peaceful mind and stable emotions. However, excessive impetuosity is not permissible while fright and nervousness are not even more allowable, because all psychic factors like anxiety, nervousness, fright or excessive excitement may exert bad effects on the psychology and physiology during the sexual intercourse and consume human vigor wastefully. If the situation continues long, it may give rise to disturbances of reproductive functions, even disturbances of general functions.

2.4.2.2 Moderating sexual intercourse

The basic viewpoint of TCM life cultivation is "preserving essence and cherishing qi." Sexual overstrain may overburden cerebral cortex, genital gland, and genitals etc. and consume a lot of refined nutritious substances. Genitals in particular are more susceptible to overexcitement and local congestion due to sexual overstrain. If the situation continues long, it will inevitably cause the imbalance between excitement and inhibition. This, in addition to excessive consumption of refined nutritious substances, may give rise to pathological changes of reproductive system or general functional injuries. These injuries are not confined to men, but also involve women.