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The so-called sexual life refers to the intimate relationship between husband and wife. Sexual life health preservation involves adopting scientific and healthy sexual behaviors based on the physiological characteristics of the human body to improve the quality of life and maintain physical and mental health.
Taoist health preservation has a long history and rich connotations, covering all aspects of daily life, including sexual life health preservation. Many of its contents have very positive reference significance.
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Sexual desire should not be suppressed
The Book of Rites states: "Eating, drinking, and the desires between men and women are the great desires inherent in humans." Su Nu Jing (Classic of the Plain Girl) says: "Heaven and earth have their opening and closing; yin and yang have their transformation and reproduction. Humans follow yin and yang and adapt to the four seasons. If one avoids sexual intercourse, their vital energy and spirit will not be expressed, and yin and yang will be blocked. How can they nourish themselves?" Qian Jin Yao Fang · Yang Xing (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold · Nurturing Nature) notes: "A man cannot be without a woman, nor a woman without a man. Without a woman, a man’s thoughts will stir; stirred thoughts exhaust the spirit; exhausted spirit shortens life... Forcing oneself to suppress such desires is difficult to sustain and easily fails, leading to seminal leakage and turbid urine."
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The above all illustrate that heaven and earth have the opening and closing of yin and yang, and men and women have the mutual transformation of yin and yang. Humans must follow the interaction of heaven and earth’s yin and yang to support each other, thereby maintaining yin-yang balance. If healthy men and women lack sexual intercourse or forcefully suppress desires, yin and yang will be blocked, vital energy and spirit will be constrained, and the seminal passages will be obstructed. Over time, qi and blood circulation will be impaired, leading to various diseases and even shortened lifespan.
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Sexual desire should not be indulged
Zhong Zang Jing · Lao Shang Lun (Canon of the Middle Storehouse · On Overstrain) states: "Excessive sexual desire damages the kidneys." Qian Jin Yao Fang · Yang Xing warns: "People under forty often indulge freely; those over forty suddenly feel their strength decline. Once decline sets in, numerous diseases arise. If left untreated for long, it can be fatal." San Yuan Yan Shou Can Zan Shu · Yu Bu Ke Zong (Three Elements for Extending Life: An Appraisal · Desire Should Not Be Indulged) says: "Books state: Excessive desire impairs essence. What humans can preserve is life, what is worthy of pity is the body, and what is important is essence. Unstable liver essence causes dizziness and dim vision; unharmonized lung essence leads to emaciation; unconsolidated kidney essence reduces vitality; weak spleen essence causes loose teeth and falling hair. If one continues to dissipate true essence, diseases will follow, and death will come."
In short, unrestrained indulgence inevitably consumes essence and qi, harming health and even inducing various diseases. Therefore, Sun Simiao advised: "Those who are good at nourishing life, whenever they feel excessive sexual arousal, must be cautious and restrain themselves. They must not indulge their desires to harm themselves."
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Sexual intercourse is inappropriate during emotional disturbances
Qian Jin Yao Fang · Yang Xing notes: "If one engages in sexual intercourse while angry, when qi and blood are unstable, it can cause carbuncles and boils." San Yuan Yan Shou Can Zan Shu · Yu You Suo Ji (Three Elements for Extending Life: An Appraisal · Taboos in Desire) states: "Sexual intercourse during fear leads to yin-yang imbalance, causing syncope, spontaneous sweating, and night sweats, which accumulate into chronic illness."
Emotional activities are closely related to the circulation of qi and blood, which in turn affects the physiological functions of internal organs. States of emotional disturbance—such as anger, fear, or anxiety—disrupt qi and blood circulation and impair organ function. Engaging in sexual intercourse under such conditions, which further consumes essence and blood, will exacerbate physical damage.
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Sexual intercourse is inappropriate when physically or mentally exhausted
Qian Jin Yao Fang · Yang Xing warns: "Sexual intercourse after long journeys or fatigue causes deficiency and damage to the five viscera, reducing fertility." San Yuan Yan Shou Can Zan Shu · Yu Bu Ke Qiang (Three Elements for Extending Life: An Appraisal · Desire Should Not Be Forced) says: "Forcing sexual intercourse when exhausted depletes essence; depleted essence damages the kidneys; damaged kidneys dry up marrow qi, causing lower back pain that hinders bending and stretching."
Sexual activity involves the entire body, accelerating qi and blood circulation in internal organs and increasing energy consumption. After long journeys, heavy labor, or strenuous exercise, qi and blood are already depleted. Forcing sexual intercourse under such conditions will further damage essence and qi, triggering various diseases.
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Sexual intercourse is inappropriate after overeating
San Yuan Yan Shou Can Zan Shu · Yu You Suo Ji states: "Excessive sexual intercourse after overeating strains the body, causing blood and qi to overflow into the large intestine, leading to bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a condition called intestinal abscess."
Overeating already burdens the spleen and stomach. Sexual intercourse afterward diverts qi and blood to the entire body, reducing supply to the spleen and stomach and impairing digestive function.
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Sexual intercourse is inappropriate when intoxicated
San Yuan Yan Shou Can Zan Shu · Yu You Suo Ji warns: "Sexual intercourse while heavily intoxicated exhausts qi and damages the liver and intestines. In men, it reduces semen and causes impotence; in women, it impairs menstruation, leading to stagnant blood and malignant sores."
Intoxicated sexual intercourse is a major taboo in sexual health preservation. Alcohol distorts judgment and damages internal organs; sexual activity while drunk easily depletes kidney essence, with endless harmful consequences.
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Sexual intercourse should be cautious during illness
San Yuan Yan Shou Can Zan Shu · Yu You Suo Ji notes: "Sexual intercourse should be avoided during red-eye disease to prevent cataracts." It also states: "Sexual intercourse before a metal-induced wound heals disturbs qi and blood, worsening the wound." Qian Jin Yao Fang · Shang Han Fang Xia (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold · Treatises on Cold Damage, Part Two) says: "Those who engage in sexual intercourse within a hundred days of recovering from illness, before their strength is restored, almost always die."
Ill people suffer from insufficient qi and blood, yin-yang imbalance, and weakened organ function. Sexual intercourse during illness impairs vital qi and worsens the condition. This is especially true during recovery—avoiding sexual activity is critical, as exertion from it can trigger relapse or even life-threatening deterioration.
