Q: Dear Dr. Mao,
Someone who is studying Chinese medicine told me that men must not orgasm because each orgasm takes one day off of his life. Is there any truth in this statement?
A: It is true that in the ancient Taoist tradition, as well as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the male Jing, or essence, is stored in the sperm. By ejaculating, the male loses his essential energy. According to ancient Taoist cannons, the energy is far less during the full moon, so this is the time that males are allowed to ejaculate. I think logically, it makes some sense to restrain from excessive leakage of the male essence. In practice, I believe moderation is the key.
