🌿 Folk Prescriptions

"Though the sunset is infinitely beautiful, it is only near dusk." Facing the passing years, many elderly people often lament thus. Time flies, and regardless of their physical or mental energy, elders are no longer as vigorous as before. Bound by traditional beliefs, many have long regarded sex with fear. Moreover, influenced by the mistaken notion that sexual activity in old age is "indecent," many elderly people abandon their desire for a fulfilling sexual life.
Modern urban elders enjoy greater happiness than in the past, yet they still feel a certain emptiness in some aspects; they yearn for a satisfying sexual life but face numerous frustrations. In the face of the surging "silver wave," elders need our understanding and care—they also have the right to enjoy sexual fulfillment, which is a normal physiological and psychological need.
Long-term suppression harms health
Some mistakenly believe that abstinence preserves essence and prolongs life, so they stop sexual activity after age 60. However, experts indicate that prolonged abstinence suppresses sexual function, potentially causing mental distress and severe physical discomfort, even leading to physical and mental illness. In fact, abstinence is detrimental to health and longevity.
International surveys show that abstinent individuals have an aging rate and mortality rate over 30% higher than those with normal marital relations. Data from Russia and Japan indicate that most long-lived individuals still have their spouses alive. Conversely, widowed individuals tend to live shorter lives. Thus, health and longevity do not belong exclusively to those who abstain.
China's population census data reveals that among over 2,300 centenarians, more than 800 couples were still together. These centenarians continue to maintain moderate sexual activity. This clearly shows that the elderly actually need the nourishment of sexual fulfillment—harmonious and fulfilling marital life is undoubtedly a potent remedy for healthy aging and longevity.
Traditional Chinese medicine has long warned against the harm of abstinence to both body and mind. Ancient texts such as *The Book of Three Elements on Prolonging Life: On the Impossibility of Eliminating Desire* state: "The Yellow Emperor said: 'Yin and Yang constitute the Dao; imbalance between Yin and Yang leads to disease.' He further said: 'If one fails to understand the balance between the two, spring lacks autumn, winter lacks summer. Only through harmonization can one achieve the sage’s measure. The sage does not abolish the way of union, but values secrecy and preservation of natural essence.'" This means that the dialectical unity of Yin and Yang is a universal law of nature. Under normal circumstances, balance must be maintained for health. Imbalance leads to illness. Moderate sexual activity is precisely a means of balancing Yin and Yang. Kidney essence is replenished by postnatal nourishment from food and water. When kidney essence is abundant and ascends to warm the heart fire, sexual desire arises. Therefore, marital relations are indispensable and should neither be excessive nor insufficient—moderation benefits health.
Elderly Should Enjoy Sexual Fulfillment Too
Sexual science experts, after years of research, confirm that except for certain specific diseases, most elderly people can maintain some form of sexual activity into their 70s or 80s. Among men over 60, 90.4% still have sexual desire, with over half having strong sexual needs. These figures clearly demonstrate that enjoying sexual fulfillment is a normal physiological and psychological need for the elderly.
Meanwhile, scientific studies prove that regular sexual activity in the elderly not only benefits physical and mental health, strengthens family harmony, stability, and happiness, but also achieves the health-preserving effect of extending lifespan.
International Standard for Kidney Tonic Recently Established
On June 3, 2004, the *People's Daily* reported: Kidney deficiency, a condition in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has become one of the three major killers of men, its harm comparable to chronic hepatitis. According to incomplete statistics, in 2003, millions died worldwide due to kidney deficiency (physical exhaustion, physical depletion). Consequently, the World Health Organization called upon countries to submit solutions for male kidney deficiency and establish international standards for tonifying and invigorating the kidneys. The selected solution came from a global pharmaceutical giant—the Citibank Pharmaceutical Company of the United States. The company proposed a "chain-based kidney tonic" approach and five international standards for kidney-tonifying and yang-enhancing products, which experts recognized as effective solutions and standardized industry guidelines. These five international standards are: 1. No toxic side effects; 2. Comprehensive, systematic, and holistic enhancement of male function; 3. Activation of male function within one day; 4. Elimination of physical fatigue within three days; 5. Sustained maintenance of optimal condition.