Most of us have probably thought at some point about how to stay healthy and happy for as many years as possible. For some, like biohacker Bryan Johnson — who has spent over $2 million trying to crack the code to immortality — that goal becomes an intense personal mission.
But rather than turning to extreme or costly medical procedures, researchers have revisited a 1,000-year-old Japanese manuscript. It suggests that certain intimate practices in the bedroom might be one of the most effective ways to promote longevity.
The texts take a holistic approach to wellness, weaving together advice on herbal remedies, nutrition, and sexual health. Scroll 28 in particular focuses on the concept of jingqi, the creation and preservation of vital life energy, and offers guidance for maintaining it.
Scholar Denis Noble explained that the writings reflect the belief that the human body works as an “integrated communicative system,” where different functions are closely connected and influence one another.
It’s now believed that extending and maintaining telomeres could help slow down or even reverse some effects of aging.
Leslie Kenny, founder of Oxford Healthspan and co-founder of the Oxford Longevity Project, told the publication: “All we need to do is find something that activates telomeres.”
Kenny also noted that sexual activity can increase levels of oxytocin, a hormone known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, which also supports wound healing and boosts immune health. All of these factors may contribute to a longer and healthier life.
She added that intimacy can work as a natural stress reliever and even help us regulate our emotions more effectively, making it a benefit to both body and mind.
In fact, research from 1997 involving 900 men aged between 45 and 59 found that those who experienced orgasms more frequently had a 50 percent lower rate of premature death compared to those who did not.
However, Scroll 28 of the Ishinhō offers an interesting twist — it recommends that men reduce how often they ejaculate. According to the ancient text, releasing sperm too frequently could weaken the body and possibly speed up the aging process.
She explained: “When a man ejaculates, he actually will deplete his body of testosterone, what the Eastern sages have called a ‘man’s essence.’ There have been studies done that show that immediately after ejaculation, a man will lose testosterone.”
She added: “Sperm also include vitamin C, magnesium, glutathione, which is the body’s master antioxidant, and zinc.” Kenny said. “There are a lot of important minerals and antioxidants that the man is losing, so he needs to top up with these other things to replenish.”
