Men need to strengthen yang, while women need to nourish yin. This is called discerning gender and applying tonics accordingly. When men talk about strengthening yang, they are referring to married adult men who aim to improve their sexual function to meet the needs of their sexual life with their spouse. However, not all married adult men need to strengthen yang. It can be harmful rather than beneficial for those with hyperactive sexual function. It is only suitable for those with erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence and premature ejaculation. For those who need to strengthen yang, they can start with diet and medication.
In terms of diet, regularly consuming seafood such as clams and oysters can increase the intake of zinc and copper. Zinc is an essential element for the human body, and it is closely related to metabolism, growth and development, as well as various other physiological functions. It plays an important role in maintaining the normal structure and function of the male reproductive system. Foods rich in zinc include fish, shrimp, scallops, seaweed, soybeans, and soy products.
It is also important to regularly consume foods rich in arginine and calcium. Foods rich in arginine include frozen tofu, mullet fish, tofu skin, peanuts, walnuts, soybeans, sesame seeds, seaweed, peas, octopus, and sea cucumber, as arginine can promote male sexual function and spermatogenesis. Foods rich in calcium include shrimp skin, salted eggs, dairy products, beans, egg yolks, and kelp. Calcium ions can stimulate sperm maturation, so eating more foods rich in calcium can help improve male reproductive ability. Especially for newly married men, they should start paying attention to supplementation before marriage and increase nutrition during the honeymoon period to ensure their own health and the health of the next generation.
Common foods with the function of tonifying kidney and strengthening essence include sea cucumber, shrimp, leek, mutton, and quail. Sea cucumber is a typical high-protein, low-fat, low-cholesterol food with a sweet, salty, and warm nature, which can tonify the essence and strengthen yang. Patients with prolonged weakness, consumption of essence and blood, dizziness, tinnitus, lumbago and fatigue, nocturnal emission, and frequent urination can consider sea cucumber as a nourishing food therapy. Shrimp is also a good food for strengthening yang, with a taste of sweet and salty and a warm nature. It has the function of strengthening yang, tonifying the kidney, nourishing the essence, and promoting lactation. Every 100 grams of shrimp contains 20.6 grams of protein, 0.7 grams of fat, 35 milligrams of calcium, 150 milligrams of phosphorus, and 360 international units of vitamin A, as well as various vitamins. Leek has the function of warming and tonifying the liver and kidney, and assisting yang and consolidating essence. Mutton can treat various conditions such as kidney deficiency and impotence. Boil the mutton and consume both the meat and soup. Quail not only has delicious meat and abundant nutrition, but also contains various inorganic salts, lecithin, hormones, and essential amino acids for the human body. These foods are both delicious and good for strengthening yang and the body, without any toxic side effects, making them the best choice for men to strengthen yang.
When using medication to strengthen yang, you can choose some mild tonics that strengthen essence and tonify the kidney, such as suoyang, cistanche, morinda, dodder seed, rhizoma curculiginis, astragalus, eucommia, pilose antler, and seal penis. These can be ground into powder or soaked in alcohol for consumption. It is important to limit the time and quantity of medication and not to use them for a long time or in excessive amounts. People with major visceral diseases should be even more cautious. For those with confirmed sexual dysfunction, they should seek guidance from a doctor and have a prescription tailored to their condition. It is important not to seek convenience and purchase and consume yang-strengthening drugs at will. There is currently a flood of various sexual health products on the market, most of which contain yang-strengthening drugs and are commonly referred to as "aphrodisiacs" in folk terms. The direct effect of taking aphrodisiacs is to stimulate sexual desire, leading to excessive sexual intercourse. Modern medical research has proven that the abuse of yang-strengthening drugs can cause harm to the body, and serious consequences can include testicular atrophy, prostate enlargement, and pituitary secretion disorders.
Yang-strengthening drugs are generally warm and drying in nature. For individuals with a constitution of yin deficiency and excessive internal heat, taking these drugs can exacerbate symptoms such as nosebleeds and internal heat. This is especially true for individuals with hypertension, as it can easily lead to cardiovascular accidents. In addition, fetuses conceived by parents who frequently use yang-strengthening drugs are more likely to have congenital deficiencies or deformities. Therefore, men should remember not to blindly and excessively strengthen yang.
