Abstinence Harms Health
Abstinence Harms Health
Sexual activity is an essential part of human life, indispensable for physical and mental well-being, longevity, marital affection, and family happiness. As ancient wisdom says: "Food and sex are innate human desires." Sex, like eating, is a fundamental instinct and a physiological and psychological need. Thus, normal individuals naturally possess sexual desire, which, when properly managed, contributes to longevity. Yet some elderly people, despite having normal sexual function, cease sexual activity—a mindset harmful to both partners.
Traditional Chinese medicine has long warned against the detrimental effects of abstinence on health. The ancient text "The Threefold Longevity and Support Manual: On the Impossibility of Complete Abstinence" states: "The Yellow Emperor said: 'Yin and Yang together constitute the Dao; imbalance of Yin or Yang leads to illness.' He further said: 'If one fails to understand the balance of Yin and Yang, it is like having spring without autumn, winter without summer. Harmonizing them is the way of sages. Sages do not cut off sexual union, but value closure and secrecy to preserve true nature.'" This means that the balance of Yin and Yang is a universal natural law. Generally, equilibrium maintains health. Imbalance leads to disease. Moderate sexual activity serves as a means to harmonize Yin and Yang. Kidney essence is continuously replenished through postnatal nourishment from food and water. When kidney essence is abundant and ascends to nourish heart fire, "desire flames" arise, triggering sexual urges. Therefore, sexual activity is neither dispensable nor excessive—moderation benefits health.
Traditional Chinese medicine also holds that prolonged abstinence can lead to "blocked menstrual flow and lack of nourishment to the genital organs," resulting in "weakness and uselessness." This indicates that long-term abstinence may permanently impair sexual function. Abstinence disrupts Yin-Yang balance, suppresses innate sexual drive, and prevents the release of accumulated sexual tension, ultimately harming both mind and body. Sexual tension, a form of biological energy, obeys the law of conservation—it can only be transformed, never eliminated. Normal, moderate sexual activity allows sexual desire to be fulfilled and tension released. If unrelieved over time, sexual tension builds up. This affects men more severely than women, manifesting as irritability, poor mood, insomnia, vivid dreams, and difficulty concentrating. Unless relieved through intercourse or masturbation, these symptoms persist.