Peace & Love man!  – Devin D. from New Orleans (via Facebook)

Yes…from an ancient Taoist perspective it is technically true that “releasing sexual ENERGY,” as you phrased it, causes one to lose CHI (general energy). Such a loss of energy, in and of itself, is not such a big deal. For example, one can experience orgasm without ejaculating. In such a case there would be some loss of energy, though no loss of FLUID. During ejaculation, on the other hand, there is a loss of sexual FLUID (JING as opposed to chi). Compared with losing sexual energy (ching chi), losing sexual fluid (jing) is considerably more harmful to health. Men who ejaculate too frequently (for example, more than twice a week in the Spring time–the amount varies by season and environmental conditions) can experience permanent kidney damage as early as the age of 24 years old. Having more frequent orgasms is technically only healthy when practiced with the proper retention of sexual fluid (an advanced technique that should only be attempted with professional training).

Women don’t typically lose significant fluid during sex (discounting “squirters”). Even women who squirt are not at the same health risk as men, since the loss of the type of fluid they ejaculate does not cause the same health damage as does the loss of sperm. Losing sperm is very damaging to health, and Taoists refer to the event as a “little death.” One drop of semen is considered as important as 100 drops of blood. That said, one ejaculation in Winter is considered 100 times more harmful to health than one ejaculation in Spring. Winter has cold, harsh environmental conditions in many parts of the world, whereas Spring does not negatively tax one’s energy system in the same way. So, if one is going to ejaculate more frequently, Spring is the time to do it. Still, I would caution you not to ejaculate more than twice a week in the Spring time. Many men (and their partners) don’t like this advice, but keep in mind you can have all the orgasms you want as long as you learn how to retain the fluid.

Women, by the way, lose fluid and energy primarily through the process of menstruation, rather than through sexual intercourse. Thank you for your astute question.  More information on this subject is available from the author and Taoist master Mantak Chia, from whom I have borrowed much of the information I have shared with you in this blog post.