Post-coital energy replenishment and functional awakening: Three types of nourishing soups and the aphrodisiac effects of epimedium.

Excessive sweating during sexual intercourse is called "xie" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It typically manifests as excessive sweating during sex, followed by cold extremities, palpitations, shortness of breath, dry throat, joint pain, and general weakness. This is due to the depletion of Yang energy, damaging both Yin and Yang, and is common in those with weak constitutions or the elderly. In such cases, it's necessary to supplement with foods that nourish Qi and blood, such as longan, lotus seeds, chicken, pigeon, and jujubes. These can be used to make soups to replenish Qi and Yin, astringe sweat, and strengthen essence. Experts recommend yam and goji berry soup. Prepare 200g fresh yam, 20 dried lotus seeds, 20g goji berries, 6 dried white fungus, and a small amount of rock sugar. Peel and cut the fresh yam into sections, and place it in an oil-free earthenware pot with the other ingredients. Add water to soak, and simmer over low heat for 2 hours until the soup thickens.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) refers to excessive sexual activity that depletes Yin essence as "exhaustion," commonly seen in newlyweds with high sexual frequency. This can be addressed by drinking beverages that nourish Yin and replenish marrow; experts recommend clam and cuttlefish soup. Prepare 30g of clams, 6 cuttlefish, 10g of Rehmannia glutinosa, 2 pieces of Codonopsis pilosula, and 20g of ginger. Clean the clams and cuttlefish, cut the cuttlefish into sections, and crush the ginger. Place all ingredients, including the clam and cuttlefish, in an oil-free earthenware pot. Add enough water to cover the ingredients and simmer over low heat for 2 hours. Add 3g of salt before serving. Avoid adding too much salt, as excessive salt can damage the kidneys. TCM also refers to shortness of breath and mental confusion during sexual activity as "irritability." This is often seen in office workers with high work pressure and chronically poor mood, leading to infrequent and low-quality sexual activity. This can be addressed by drinking beverages that regulate Qi and disperse stagnation; experts recommend papaya, kelp, and black-boned chicken soup. Prepare half a papaya, 50g of kelp, half a black-boned chicken, and 2 pieces of Codonopsis pilosula. Remove the seeds and peel from the papaya, wash and cut the kelp into pieces, chop the black-boned chicken into small pieces, put them in a pot with water, simmer over low heat for 2 hours, and then remove from the pot with 4 grams of salt.

Legend has it that during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the physician Tao Hongjing discovered a wild herb with strong kidney-tonifying and aphrodisiac effects. He later included this herb in the pharmacopoeia, naming it "Epimedium." Epimedium can promote hormone secretion, increase male libido, and has aphrodisiac and sexual function-enhancing effects. The *Kaibao Materia Medica* records that epimedium, "if taken by men for a long time, will enable them to conceive." The *Compendium of Materia Medica* discusses epimedium, stating that it is "as potent as *Xianlingpi*, *Qianliangjin*, *Fangzhang*, and *Gangqian*." Traditional Chinese medicine believes that epimedium is pungent, sweet, and warm in nature, entering the liver and kidney meridians. It can be used as a tonic for sperm and overall health. It has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening muscles and bones, boosting yang and essence, tonifying the kidneys and enhancing sexual function, dispelling wind, cold, and dampness, lowering blood pressure, and fighting viruses. It is used to treat impotence, seminal emission, frequent urination, lower back and knee pain, neurasthenia, amnesia, rheumatic pain, and hypertension. Modern pathological research suggests that the main effects of Epimedium include: enhancing sexual function, anti-aging, bidirectional regulation of the body's immune system, and regulation of the cardiovascular system. Epimedium is warm in nature and pungent in taste, and can tonify the kidney yang, making it a commonly used drug in clinical practice for treating kidney yang deficiency. However, it is not suitable for those with colds and fevers, dry mouth and tongue, dry and itchy skin, or hard stools.

Two Immortals Porridge: Warms kidney yang, replenishes bone essence, and clears kidney fire. Suitable for impotence, premature ejaculation, lower back pain, and cold knees caused by kidney yang deficiency; however, it is not suitable for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire. Take 9 grams of Epimedium, 4 grams of Curculigo orchioides, 100 grams of japonica rice, and 20 grams of rock sugar. Decoct the Epimedium and Curculigo orchioides in water, decocting and filtering twice. Combine the two decoctions, put them in a pot, add japonica rice and water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until the rice is soft. Add rock sugar and cook for a few more minutes. Epimedium and Yam Noodles: Nourishes kidney and blood, enhances memory, and calms the mind. Take an appropriate amount of dried noodles, 10 grams of Epimedium, 20 grams of yam, 20 grams of longan pulp, and appropriate amounts of cooking wine and soy sauce. Wash the epimedium, decoct it to extract the juice, add water, yam, and longan pulp to the juice and simmer for 20 minutes. Then add noodles, and once the noodles are cooked, add cooking wine and soy sauce. Take once daily for one week. Through the application of epimedium in dietary therapy based on its specific type, men can achieve effective regulation and precise enhancement of sexual function.