Chapter Thirty-Six: Symptoms, Differential Diagnosis, and Treatment of Hypersexuality

◇A Guide to Caring for Your Husband's Health as a Good Wife◇

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Treatment and recuperation of common diseases

What are the symptoms?

Typical symptoms of hypersexuality include being constantly consumed by sexual urges and exhibiting a strong desire for sex in all aspects of life. To achieve sexual satisfaction, individuals seek out every possible sexual partner and every opportunity for intercourse. When this desire is intense and has no outlet, patients may experience anxiety, agitation, palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, weakness in the limbs, and blank stares. Their reactions are also abnormally intense; even hugging or kissing can produce powerful orgasms, and they may even commit suicide due to unbearable pain or extreme shame.

Which diseases should it be differentiated from?

1. Anejaculation: The entire process of sexual intercourse includes sexual desire (sexual arousal), penile erection, orgasm (ejaculation), and the refractory period after sexual satisfaction. Hypersexual individuals may have frequent intercourse but can complete the entire process each time, and this behavior occurs between spouses. Anejaculation may involve frequent or prolonged intercourse, but without orgasm or ejaculation; that is, the entire process of intercourse cannot be completed, and there is no irregularity; repeated intercourse is possible.

2. Sexual perversion (paraphilia): This refers to abnormal sexual psychology, characterized by sexual arousal, selection of sexual objects, and methods of satisfying sexual desire that differ from normal sexual activity. It generally involves obtaining sexual satisfaction through unconventional methods, such as fetishism, exhibitionism, and homosexuality.

3. Priapism (abnormal erection of the penis): This often occurs after sexual intercourse, where the penis is erect but there is no sexual desire. It is characterized by rapid onset and a high risk of leaving permanent erectile dysfunction.

4. Sexual hooliganism: Sexual hooliganism is a crime with a clear purpose, and it is often a planned and premeditated crime, aimed at harming women to achieve personal satisfaction. In addition to insulting women, it can also result in serious crimes such as rape and even murder.

5. Infatuation (psychosis): This refers to abnormal sexual behavior that occurs under conditions of impaired consciousness. Whether excessive sexual desire constitutes a psychotic state requires differentiation by a neuropsychiatrist.

The above-mentioned behaviors of infatuation, sexual perversion, and sexual hooliganism all occur between non-marital partners and are completely different from hypersexuality; they should not be confused.

Is hypersexuality the same as physical strength?

Hypersexuality is not the same as being physically strong. Hypersexuality is a medical condition, primarily caused by endocrine disorders. Certain tumors in the testes, pituitary gland, or hypothalamus can cause hypersexuality. About 10% to 20% of people with hyperthyroidism also exhibit hypersexuality in the early stages. Some mental illnesses, such as mania, also present with hypersexuality. Due to the mental disorder leading to a decreased ability to inhibit sexual arousal, about 65% of people, regardless of gender, will show a tendency towards hypersexuality. Common symptoms include elevated mood, euphoria, hyperactivity, racing thoughts, and impulsive behavior. Environmental influences during adolescence play a role in the onset of the condition, such as sexual promiscuity of parents or friends, premature sexual activity by the patient, or exposure to excessive pornography.

How does Western medicine treat this?

First, the cause of the hypersexuality must be identified. If there is no organic lesion, the couple can separate for a period of time to reduce sexual stimulation. Simultaneously, psychological therapy and sex education should be provided. Participation in recreational and sports activities should be encouraged, and energy should be focused on work and study to allow the sexual nerves adequate rest. In addition, appropriate medication can be used, such as sedatives to relieve the patient's sexual urges, such as diazepam 2.5 mg three times daily, or chlorpromazine 0.2 g three times daily, or chlorpromazine 25 mg three times daily. Hormone therapy can also be used to antagonize its effects; for example, estrogen can be used for male hypersexuality. For hypersexuality caused by organic lesions, treatment should target the underlying organic lesion.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine differentiate syndromes and treat diseases?

1. Heart Fire Excess Type: Symptoms include hypersexuality, easy penile erection, frequent sexual intercourse, poor sleep, five-center heat (heat in the palms, soles, and chest), dark yellow urine, dry mouth and throat, red tongue tip, and thready and rapid pulse.

Treatment principle: calm the mind and soothe the spirit.

Prescription: 12g Rehmannia glutinosa, 6g Rheum palmatum, 6g Scutellaria baicalensis, 3g Coptis chinensis, 10g Lilium brownii, 10g Poria cocos, 10g Polygala tenuifolia, 10g Platycladus orientalis seed, 10g Ophiopogon japonicus, 10g Ziziphus jujuba seed, 6g Schisandra chinensis, 1g Cinnabar (to be taken separately).

2. Phlegm obstructing the mind type: Symptoms include mental confusion, intense emotions, being naked, shamelessness, unpredictable laughter, longing for women, being in a daze, and even fainting and convulsions, clenched teeth, drooling, hypersexuality, pale and swollen tongue, white and greasy tongue coating, and wiry and slippery pulse.

Treatment principle: Resolve phlegm and open the orifices.

Prescription: Arisaema heterophyllum 10g, processed Pinellia ternata 10g, Citrus aurantium 10g, Citrus reticulata peel 3g, Acorus tatarinowii 3g, Codonopsis pilosula 10g, Poria cocos 10g, Bambusa textilis 10g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 3g, Bambusa textilis 10g, Bambusa textilis sap 1 spoonful.

3. Yin deficiency with excessive fire type: Symptoms include strong libido, easy penile erection, frequent intercourse, sweating after intercourse, lower back pain and weak knees, tinnitus and dizziness, thirst and preference for drinking, red tongue with little coating, and thready, wiry and rapid pulse.

Treatment principle: Nourish Yin and reduce internal heat.

Prescription: 12g Rehmannia glutinosa, 6g Anemarrhena asphodeloides, 10g Phellodendron chinense, 15g Testudinis plastrum (decocted first), 10g Alisma plantago-aquatica, 10g Paeonia suffruticosa, 10g Cornus officinalis, 10g Asparagus cochinchinensis, 15g Fossilized teeth (decocted first).

Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating hypersexuality

1. Take 24 grams of gypsum, 12 grams of anemarrhena asphodeloides stir-fried with salt, 9 grams of phellodendron chinense stir-fried with salt, 9 grams of rhubarb, and 15 grams of alisma plantago-aquatica. Decocted in water and taken in two divided doses, one dose per day.

2. Take 30g of Scrophularia ningpoensis, 30g of Adenophora stricta, 60g of Ophiopogon japonicus, 15g of Paeonia suffruticosa, 3g of Coptis chinensis, and 3g of Cinnamomum cassia. Decocted in water and taken once a day.

3. Take 9 grams each of Phellodendron bark, rhubarb, dragon bone (decocted first), anemarrhena rhizome, and immature bitter orange peel, and 6 grams of rehmannia root. Decocted in water and taken orally once a day.

4. Bupleurum chinense 9g, Scutellaria baicalensis 10g, Pinellia ternata 7g, Codonopsis pilosula 7g, Phellodendron chinense (stir-fried with wine) 10g, Plantago asiatica (wrapped) 15g, Alisma plantago-aquatica 12g, Eupatorium fortunei 10g, fresh ginger 5g, jujube 5g. One dose per day, decocted in water and taken orally.

5. Take 10 grams of gentian root, 10 grams of magnetite, and 10 grams of lotus seed heart, decoct in water, and take one dose daily.

6. Dissolve 10 grams of Angelica dahurica and 5 grams of borneol in 2000 ml of water, cool in the refrigerator to about 4°C, and then soak the penis, scrotum and perineum in the solution once a day for 15 minutes each time.

7. Take 2 grams of Coptis chinensis, 2.5 grams of apricot kernel, 3 grams of Schisandra chinensis, and 3 grams of Houttuynia cordata. Grind them into powder, mix with cool water to form a paste, and apply to the penis, scrotum, and perineum once a day. One week is one course of treatment.