TCM Dietary Therapy for Female Sexual Indifference and Anorgasmia

Sexual indifference, in a broad sense, includes: (1) Lack of sexual desire to the extent of completely refusing and detesting sexual intercourse. (2) Absence of orgasm, where there is sexual desire and no refusal of sexual intercourse but orgasm cannot be achieved. (3) Rare occurrence of orgasm, leading to a lack of interest in sexual intercourse. Although these three situations are distinct from each other, their etiologies, pathogeneses, and supports principles are basically the same. Moreover, all these three situations can be summarized as the inability or great difficulty in achieving orgasm.

Lack of orgasm is often clinically classified into four categories: primary, situational, voluntary, and secondary.

Primary anorgasmia refers to the condition where a woman does not experience orgasm under any circumstances. Situational anorgasmia refers to the condition where a woman can achieve orgasm only under certain conditions. For example, some women do not experience orgasm during sexual intercourse but can achieve it through masturbation or other forms of stimulation. This type of situational anorgasmia is also known as coital anorgasmia. Some women’s orgasms are influenced by other environmental factors; for instance, some women can only achieve orgasm at night but not during the day, or only with the lights off but not with them on, which falls into this category. Casual anorgasmia refers to the condition where a woman can experience orgasm during various sexual activities but not frequently. Secondary anorgasmia refers to the condition where a woman previously experienced orgasm regularly but no longer does so.

Sexual indifference and lack of orgasm are common among women. According to reports by foreign scholars, approximately 35% of women have no interest in sexual activity and adopt an indifferent attitude. Five percent of married women have never experienced coital orgasm, and 10% of married women have rarely experienced sexual climax, ranking first among female sexual dysfunctions.

I. Causes of sexual indifference and lack of orgasm

1.Psychological factors

Sexual indifference and lack of orgasm are predominantly caused by psychological factors. For example: (1) Women who lack sex education and basic sexual knowledge, are heavily influenced by feudal thoughts, do not have a correct understanding of sexual knowledge, consider sexual behavior as lewd, vulgar, and unclean, and forcibly suppress their sexual feelings and behaviors. Over time, this leads to the inhibition of excitement in the sexual desire center of the brain. (2) Traumatic sexual experiences during childhood or adolescence, such as rape, incest, homosexuality, sadism, masochism, and other sexual traumas, along with feelings of sexual guilt, can damage the autonomy of sexual life. (3) Poor marital relationships, or a lack of physical attractiveness, accompanied by mistrust, annoyance, or even hostility during sexual activity, or differences in views on sexual love. In addition, the following situations may also cause sexual indifference and lack of orgasm, such as fear of pain during sexual intercourse, fear of pregnancy, leading to fear and depression towards sexual life; crowded housing conditions where several generations live together in one room, resulting in a suboptimal environment for sexual intercourse and interfering with the ambiance of sexual life; excessive mental stress and difficult family life.

Difficulties, exhaustion from being constantly on the move, reduced interest in sexual activity, suffering from sexually transmitted wellness, etc.

2. Disharmony in sexual life

Disharmonious sexual life is also an important cause of sexual indifference and lack of orgasm. During sexual intercourse, if the couple ignores the differences in sexual desire between men and women and lacks sexual arousal before intercourse, the man may rush into sexual intercourse before the woman has sexual desire, leading to the man quickly reaching sexual climax and ejaculating, thus ending sexual activity prematurely, while the woman fails to achieve orgasm and sexual satisfaction. Alternatively, if the man is rough during sexual intercourse, causing vaginal pain in the woman, she will be unable to derive pleasure and satisfaction from sexual intercourse. Over time, this can lead the woman to develop an indifferent attitude towards sexual life.

3.Organic lesions

Almost all chronic conditions may suppress sexual desire, primarily by affecting the nervous and endocrine systems, thereby reducing the levels of sex hormones in the blood. Additionally, female pelvic nerve damage, vaginal blood circulation wellness, major gynecological surgeries, chronic vaginal infections, and congenital vaginal abnormalities can all lead to a lack of female orgasm.

4. TCM understanding of the etiology of sexual indifference and lack of orgasm

In traditional Chinese medicine, this wellness is considered to be related to the Liver, Kidneys, Heart, and Spleen. Pensiveness is associated with the Spleen, and the Heart governs the mind. Excessive pensiveness can injure both the Heart and Spleen, leading to a lack of source for biochemical transformation and thus a lack of sexual desire in the Heart. The Liver stores blood and is responsible for planning and decision – making. The regulatory function of emotions and spirit is closely related to the Liver. If emotions are not properly expressed and Liver qi stagnates, there will be a lack of sexual desire, which can lead to this wellness. The Kidneys are the foundation of congenital constitution and the repository of true yin and true yang. They are the root of human growth, development, and reproduction and play an important role in sexuality and fertility. If the true yang in the Kidneys is insufficient and the fire of the gate of life declines, there will be no sexual desire; if the true yin is insufficient and essence and blood are deficient, the thoroughfare and conception vessels will be undernourished, resulting in a lack of sexual climax.

II. Syndrome Differentiation and Dietary Therapy

1.Deficiency of the Heart and Spleen

It is mostly caused by physical weakness, prolonged wellness leading to disharmony, excessive mental strain, or overexertion and fatigue, which damage the Spleen qi, resulting in the consumption of Heart blood and deficiency of Spleen qi. signs of imbalance include lack of sexual desire, aversion to sexual activity, accompanied by

Excessive thinking and worry, palpitations and timidity, insomnia and forgetfulness, sallow complexion, dizziness and mental fatigue, poor appetite, pale tongue, and thin and weak pulse. The supports principle is to nourish the Heart and Spleen. One can consume Chinese wolfberry stewed mutton.

Formula and Preparation Method: 500 grams of fresh lamb meat, 100 grams of Dioscorea Opposita (Chinese Yam), 25 grams of Lycium Chinense (Chinese Wolfberry), 15 grams of Dimocarpus Longan (Longan Aril), and 10 pieces of Jujube. First, wash and slice the lamb meat, then add Lycium Chinense, Dioscorea Opposita, Dimocarpus Longan, ginger, jujube, wine, star anise, and other seasonings, and stew until cooked. Consume the meat and soup every night before bedtime. One dose per day, with a course of supports lasting 10 days.

In the formula, mutton is sweet in flavor and warm in nature, capable of warming the middle-jiao to dispel cold, strengthening the Spleen and tonifying the Kidney; longan flesh and red dates nourish the Heart and Spleen, and replenish qi and blood; Chinese yam and wolfberry fruit tonify both the Spleen and Kidney. When all these ingredients are combined, they work together to achieve the effects of tonifying the Spleen and replenishing qi, warming the Kidney and nourishing the Heart.

One can also take Sparrow Meat and Codonopsis Decoction. Formula and preparation method: 5 clean sparrows, 15 grams of Codonopsis pilosula, 15 grams of Polygonatum sibiricum, an appropriate amount of cooking wine, soy sauce, monosodium glutamate, and stock. First, arrange the cleaned sparrows in a soup bowl, add Codonopsis pilosula and Polygonatum sibiricum, then pour in the stock, cooking wine, soy sauce, and monosodium glutamate. Cover tightly, seal the opening with cotton paper, place it in a pot, and steam it over water until it is thoroughly cooked and tender.

In the formula, the sparrow is a product from flesh and blood with emotional attributes. It is aphrodisiac in nature, capable of stimulating sexual nerves, enhancing sexual desire, and invigorating yang and benefiting essence. Codonopsis pilosula and Polygonatum sibiricum can both replenish qi, nourish the Heart and Spleen, and also have the effects of promoting fluid production and benefiting blood. When these three substances are used in combination, they produce remarkable effects.

In addition, one can also choose food therapy prescriptions that nourish qi and blood for consumption .

2.Liver Qi Stagnation

This syndrome is mostly caused by psychological factors. Traumatic sexual experiences, discord between husband and wife, or prolonged disharmony in sexual life can all lead to emotional distress and Liver Qi Stagnation. It manifests as melancholy, restlessness, fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, low sexual desire, lack of orgasm, and a wiry pulse. The supports focuses on soothing the Liver and resolving depression, and Hehuan Tea can be taken.

Formula and Preparation Method: 10 grams each of Flos Albiziae (he huan hua), Herba Epimedii (xian ling pi), and Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis (fo shou), along with 6 grams of Flos Mume (lv e mei). Steep in boiling water and use as a tea substitute. An appropriate amount of white sugar or honey can be added for flavoring.

In the formula, Albizziae Flower (He Huan Hua), Greengage Flower (Lü E Mei), and Bergamot (Fo Shou) are all herbs for soothing the Liver and relieving depression, while Epimedii Herb (Xian Ling Pi) is added to invigorate Kidney yang. This can resolve Liver depression, tonify Kidney deficiency, and supports various signs of imbalance.

One can also consume Zhugan Hehuan Soup. Recipe and preparation method: 10 grams of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus (fingered citron), 10 grams of Albiziae Flos (fresh: 20 grams), and 150 grams of fresh pig Liver. Soak the Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus and Albiziae Flos in a bowl with water for 1 hour, then remove them. Slice the pig Liver and place it together with the soaked herbs in a steaming bowl. Add a small amount of refined salt, cooking wine, green onions, and ginger. Steam in a pot over water until cooked, then remove the Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus, Albiziae Flos, green onions, and ginger. Add a little sesame oil, mix well, and serve.

In the formula, fingered citron regulates qi and harmonizes the middle-jiao, soothes the Liver and helps with occasional depression; silk tree flower, with its fragrance, helps with occasional depression and regulates qi, harmonizes the middle-jiao and stimulates appetite. When used together, they have the strongest effect in soothing the Liver and relieving depression. Pig Liver nourishes the Liver and benefits the blood. The entire formula is dispersing without being drying and tonifying without being greasy, making it just right for supports sexual indifference and lack of orgasm caused by Liver Qi Stagnation.

3.Deficiency of Kidney yang

The Kidney is the foundation of yang qi throughout the body. Insufficient yang qi in the Kidney leads to sexual indifference and lack of sexual climax. When yang deficiency fails to warm the blood vessels, coldness in the genitals and cold limbs occur. Insufficient production and transformation of qi and blood result in the spirit lacking nourishment, thus presenting signs of imbalance such as timidity and fatigue. The waist is the mansion of the Kidney. Kidney yang deficiency causes soreness in the waist accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, pale complexion, pale tongue with white coating, and deep and thin pulse. The appropriate supports is to warm the Kidney and replenish essence, and Modified Lycium barbarum and Mutton Soup can be taken.

Formula and Preparation Method: 250 grams of lamb, 2 pairs of lamb Kidneys, 30 grams of Lycii Fructus (Gou Qi Zi), 15 grams of Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix (Fu Pian), 15 grams of Eucommiae Cortex (Du Zhong), 15 grams of Morindae Officinalis Radix (Ba Ji Tian). Wrap Lycii Fructus, Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix, Eucommiae Cortex, Morindae Officinalis Radix, along with five seasonings in gauze. Cook them together with the lamb and lamb Kidneys until the lamb is thoroughly cooked. Remove the herbs and seasonings, add a small amount of salt for seasoning, and the soup, lamb, and lamb Kidneys can be consumed.

In the formula, mutton and lamb Kidney can warm and tonify Kidney yang. Adding wolfberry fruit, eucommia bark, and morinda root nourishes the Kidney and replenishes essence, strengthens tendons and bones, and warms the extraordinary meridians. Aconite root is added to enhance the effect of warming the Kidney.

In addition, dietary therapy prescriptions for warming the Kidney and strengthening yang are also selected for consumption.

4.Deficiency of Kidney yin

The Kidney governs storing essence, governing bones, and producing marrow. Prolonged wellness with deficiency or Liver depression transforming into fire consumes and scorches Kidney yin, leading to deficiency of true yin and insufficient essence and marrow. Common signs of imbalance include soreness of the waist, night sweats, dry mouth and throat, sallow complexion, low sexual desire, lack of orgasm, and a deep, thin, and rapid pulse. The supports should focus on nourishing Kidney yin, and one can consume cuttlefish stewed with chicken.

Formula and Preparation Method: Stew 250 grams of cuttlefish, one soft-shelled turtle, and one black-bone chicken together until thoroughly cooked, season with salt, and consume the meat and soup.

In the formula, cuttlefish can nourish blood and enrich yin, soft-shelled turtle meat can enrich yin and cool blood, and black-bone chicken can replenish essence and fill marrow. When used together, they collectively exert the function of nourishing yin and consolidating the foundation.

One can also consume Pig Kidney Soup. Recipe and preparation method: Take 2 pig Kidneys (remove the fascia and cut them), 250 grams of Chinese wolfberry leaves (cut them), and 50 grams of fermented soybeans. Cook them together to make a soup, and season with salt, vinegar, pepper, and scallions.

In the formula, pig Kidney and Chinese wolfberry leaves can nourish Kidney yin and helps with occasional deficiency heat, while fermented soybean can dispel heat and eliminate restlessness. When these three ingredients are combined, they work together to achieve the effect of nourishing yin and tonifying the Kidney.

In addition, one can choose to take dietary therapy prescriptions that nourish yin and replenish essence.

III. External Folk and Proven Prescriptions

The “New Compilation of Proven Prescriptions” records the External Use Siqi Seed Pill, which is mainly used to supports uterine cold in women, decreased sexual desire, and prolonged infertility. Prescription: High-quality Os Draconis, Cynomorium songaricum (washed with vinegar), Actinolitum, Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum (soaked in water overnight and dried in the sun), 90 grams each; Osmanthus fragrans (mixed with human milk and dried in the sun), Herba Spirodelae, Evodia rutaecarpa (soaked in vinegar overnight and stir-fried), Cinnamomum cassia Presl, 60 grams each; Purple-tipped coral mushroom, Cistanche deserticola, Punica granatum L. pericarp (baked dry on a tile), Amomum villosum (washed with wine and baked dry), Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Lycium barbarum (deseeded and stir-fried), Angelica dahurica, Rhododendron molle, Elephant hide powder, and genuine opium, 10 grams each; Moschus, 3 grams; Ginseng stem and scape, 15 grams; and 49 Ricinus communis L. seeds (shelled and with the oil removed). Grind all the above herbs into a fine powder, and make pills with refined honey, each pill being the size of a small longan. Coat the pills with clove oil. (If opium is not available, 60 grams of pericarpium papaveris can be decocted into a paste as a substitute). Usage: After menstruation is clean and within 7 days, first insert one pill into the vagina. After the time it takes to eat a meal for the pill to dissolve, engage in sexual intercourse. The warmth and tightness will be like that of a newlywed couple.