The Tao of Sex - Shu Nu Ching

In ancient China, there were three distinctly different religious philosophies that were practiced and culturally embraced during separate periods in history. The three predominant teachings were Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

Buddhism placed little importance on sex except for the purpose of procreation. Ancient Buddhists considered sex a distraction in their quest for "enlightenment" as a means of breaking free from the recurring cycle of reincarnation. Confucius, on the other hand, placed great importance on the strong family bond of which sex practices played an integral part.

Originally Taoism was not a religion, but a philosophy. Taoism was developed as a means of finding the secret of immortality. Through their practice of alchemy and their experimentation with the use of herbs and chemical compounds they tried to discover the key to extending ones life... indefinitely. After centuries of trial and error they had come to realize that there was no "herb" that was capable of extending life. The secret they discovered was that the "key" to immortality was locked inside each of us.

They began creating techniques that would unleash this "herb." These included the use of Chi manipulation, the ingesting of certain herbs (as a means of stimulating and increasing the Chi flow) and the use of precise sex practices that if used correctly would extend a person's life indefinitely. The sex practices date back over 6,000 years to the reign of the Yellow Emperor and the secretive techniques which were recorded in the "Shu Nu Ching."

Throughout the centuries, Taoists have understood that the body's seven glands are the energy centers which are responsible for regulating the flow of energy (Chi) and lifeforce within the systems of the body. They believed it was the body's seven glands which gave life and had the power to extend life if it was protected. The seven glands in descending order are:

Pineal Gland: Intuition and conscience
Pituitary Gland: Mind and memory
Thyroid Gland: Metabolism
Thymus Gland: Governs heart and circulation
Pancreas: Digestion and sugar levels
Adrenal Gland: Kidneys and nervous system
Sexual Glands: Hormones, sexual energy, response and reproduction

Taoists refer to the sex glands as the "stove" or "oven." The sex hormones and sexual fluids are the body's "fire." The terms "stove" and "fire" are alchemical terms from the days when this information was kept secretive but they still provide an excellent metaphor to demonstrate how they understood the process of rejuvenation to work.

The philosophy of Taoist Sexual Health offers a natural way to keep the sex organs strong and healthy.