Spermatorrhea
Spermatorrhea
Excessive, involuntary ejaculation
Spermatorrhea is a condition of excessive, involuntary seminal discharge. In several cultures, this referred to ejaculation outside of certain approved sexual practices and was thus a subjective term. A more modern medical definition is the excessive release of semen with no accompanying erection or orgasm.[1]
This article needs more reliable medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources. (August 2015) |
In Western medicine during the nineteenth century, spermatorrhea was regarded as a medical disorder with corrupting and devastating effects on the mind and body.[2] The cure for spermatorrhea was regarded as enforced chastity and avoidance of masturbation, with circumcision sometimes being used as a treatment.[3][4][5]
Traditional Chinese medicine counts the production of semen as one of the biggest strains on jing (kidney essence). It is a recognized disorder in traditional Chinese medicine, in which certain patterns of involuntary ejaculation reflect problems with kidney qi.[6][7]
In Ayurvedic Medicine, Ashwagandha and Bala are used to treat this vata ailment. Indian Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) also has medicinal prescription using the herb.[8]
In the 18th and 19th centuries, if a patient had ejaculations outside marital intercourse, or released more semen than is typical, then he was diagnosed with a disease called spermatorrhea or "seminal weakness". A variety of drugs and other treatments, including circumcision and castration, were advised as treatment.[4][9][10] Some alternative practitioners, especially herb healers, continue to diagnose and advise treatments for cases of spermatorrhea.[citation needed]