Sex
IMMORTALITY
Sexual Kung Fu
Eternal youth, multiple orgasms and sexual prowess comparable to a god's—these are the gains that the Tao way of life purports to give you. We found out if the promises could be delivered upon
By Sishi Green; Photographs by Jake Versoza; Styling by GR Diaz; Make Up by Toto Bagamasbad; Model: Bianca Valerio, shot on location at Victoria Court
What a load of old nonsense. Yin and yang, feng shui, ch'i—all that stuff about life force and energy—it's best left to the kind of folk who wear beads round their necks and live in tee-pees, right? Easy, crouching tiger—don't be so quick to write off an ideology that's existed for several thousand years and is still popular. To misquote Kiefer Sutherland in the Lost Boys, 30million Chinese people can't all be wrong.
Tao means "the way" and began as a philosophy of life emphasizing pacifism. Taoism teaches its followers to cast aside worldly pleasures, honours and glories and to be content with their lot. Over time the way of life was adapted and became a religion—it ranks as the second major belief system in China, after Confucianism. The two essential ideals of Taoist religion are individual longevity and immortality, and social harmony and peace.
In order to assess the validity of this way of life we've put 10 Taoist principles under the scientific spotlight—asking urologists, oncologists, and sex therapists to give us their verdict on each one—and providing you with a easy, no-hassle method of using each maxim to your benefit. »
PRINCIPLE 1
He who does not emit semen 10 times will be immortal
To maintain your yang, your masculine energy, you can emit semen only twice a day—and that's if you're strong and aged between 15 and 20. If you're thin you get to ejaculate once a day. Strong men of about 30-years-old can afford one explosion each day, as you get older you're allowed fewer ejaculations.
There are benefits to withholding your precious liquid cargo too: If you have sex without ejaculating, your vital essence will be strong; do it twice and your hearing and vision will improve. Three times and any diseases you might have will disappear… things continue to get better the more times you achieve sex without ejaculation until on the 10th occasion you become immortal.
Verdict: Shoot your load—it might save your life. According a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "high ejaculation frequency was related to a decreased risk of total prostate cancer."
But there is evidence that semen holds regenerative powers and properties—for women. A study at the State University of New York suggests that semen acts as an antidepressant. Females having sex without condoms had few signs of depression than those that abstained from sex or used condoms. A Dutch study also found that women who swallowed semen had a lower risk of preeclampsia, a dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy. Even so, being able to control ejaculation undoubtedly leads to a better performance—you can keep going until she's come—so there's some wisdom in the Taoist way.
Tao know-how: If you have trouble holding back, practice solo. During masturbation, try pulling down on your testicles to prevent ejaculation. "This is an effective way to slow the process down," says psychosexual therapist Vicki Ford, "and you can use the same method during sex too."
PRINCIPLE 2
He who engages in solo cultivation will revitalise his body
Masturbation (solo cultivation) is an essential way to develop ejaculatory control and of learning to circulate sexual energy. According to Tao philosophy, the different parts of the penis correspond to different parts of the body so the entire penis, including the shaft and head, should be stimulated so as to avoid overstimulating one part of your body.
It is also important to take time to enjoy self-pleasuring. If you can last 15 minutes during masturbation, you will be able to last as long as you like during intercourse.
Verdict: "There are numerous advantages to masturbation," says Ford, "one being reduced risk of prostate cancer. But many men hurry the process—when doing it slowly, thinking about the sensations that they are experiencing, is the best way to do it." Doing so, says Ford, will improve the intensity of your orgasms and make you last longer, too.
Tao know-how: Take time to masturbate. Lock the doors, turn off your phone and spend time enjoying the build-up—relish every moment, getting yourself more and more aroused. Then, when you get really stimulated, hold back a little—savor the moment, explore the physical sensations you're experiencing and enjoy it—then start again. "The more you build up tension before you let it go, the more explosive the climax will be," says Phillip Hodson, a fellow of the British Association of Counseling and Psychotherapy.
PRINCIPLE 3
He who copulates as often as possible will live long and well and be contented
Around 300 AD, the philosopher Ko Hung, the Master of Embracing Simplicity,wrote "the more a man copulates, the greater will be the benefit he derives from the act..."
Verdict: Anyone who's ever experienced a chafed penis knows that you can indeed have too much of a good thing. But aside from those once-in-a-lifetime sexathons, plentiful intercourse is definitely something that puts a smile on our faces.
And you're smiling for good reason: there's evidence that oxytocin, a chemical that surges before and during climax, helps heal wounds faster, regenerating cells. And according to a study by Professor Beverly Whipple, whose accolades include having coined the term G-spot, pain tolerance threshold and pain detection threshold increased by 74.6 percent and 106.7 percent, respectively. There's no doubt it keeps you fit—a man's heart rate rises from about 70-80 beats per minute to 110-180 during orgasm itself—that's about the same intensity as vigorous aerobic exercise. It can also burn about 360 calories—equivalent to two pints of beer—if you give it your all.
Sex also boosts DHEA levels (dehy-droepiandrosterone), a hormone that improves your sense of emotional well-being, increases energy levels and reduces the risk of heart problems.
Tao know-how: If you lack the energy or desire for sex after a hard day's work, try visualising yourself doing it on the way home. "This is a great technique for preparing the body for sex," says Hodson, "It builds anticipation, which helps fire up energy reserves in preparation for sex."
PRINCIPLE 4
He who drinks of a woman's juices will be impervious to sickness and disease
The Taoist master Wu-hsien described a woman's saliva as her "jade spring," flowing from two points under tongue and "greatly beneficial" when drunk. The flow of both her saliva and her vaginal secretions could be enhanced by drinking the "white snow" from her nipples.
Verdict: Somehow we doubt that there are many lactating mothers who are happy to breastfeed their partner as well as a baby. But, even taking breast milk out of the equation, the health benefits of drinking a woman's juices are questionable. You can contract HIV, herpes, syphilis, and hepatitis B through cunnilingus, so if you plan to be a heavy drinker, make sure she's STD-clear beforehand. »
Tao know-how: Rather than "drinking" her saliva, try exchanging some—kissing makes you produce more saliva and so, like chewing gum, helps prevent tooth decay. And when you do go down on her—if you're not sure if she's STD-clear or not —use clingfilm or a dental dam to protect yourself. "Apply a little bit of lube to her vaginal lips beforehand," recommends Ford. "This create increased sensation for her, making her climax more easily."
» Sex archive
Men's Health Philippines - May 2006 Issue
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