Shannon's Journal Discussion

[Nox]

Quick question - Is semen retention healthy and good over the long run versus ejaculation? I really want a definitive answer. Experts themselves are quite divided. Shannon, anyone else having a deep know how?

Shannon's answer is spot on, but I can add a bit to it also. Sperm is a prime component of Jing. When you think jing think hormones and bodily base functions. Your body is designed to rebuild itself and repair itself through that rebuilding process. Maximizing your body's ability to repair itself necessitates keeping all processes functioning optimally. If you go too long without an emission your body slows those processes because they're not being used, which has a counter productive effect across the board. Less jing means less and/or more hazardous qi.

Practicing semen retention techniques to where the semen is diverts into other parts of the body are also unhealthy, and it starts pumping a mass amount off a fluid into an area not designed to hold that much of the substance. There's always some sperm in urine, but that doesn't mean taking a load in your bladder is a good idea.

If you're not into internal alchemy or cultivation practices then an orgasm once or twice a week is adequate for normal emission cycles to maintain energetic health. If you ARE into internal alchemy or cultivation then once every two or three weeks is a better idea as your body is using jing differently, but you still need that periodic release to make things run properly.