The idea that taking a sauna will cause infertility and the etiquette of combing hair and plucking beards.
[Sauna use can cause infertility] Sauna is a bathing method that mainly involves "steaming and baking." In a small, enclosed wooden cabin of a few square meters, the temperature can reach at least 60°C to 70°C. The appeal of this fashionable Western bathing method lies in the feeling of relaxation and pleasure that comes after the skin has been subjected to high temperatures.
As the man entered the sauna through the narrow door, which was so cramped he could only squeeze through sideways and with his head down, a wave of scorching heat hit him. Soon, every pore on his body opened, and the intense heat seeped through his skin and into his very bones. His testicles, inside his scrotum, were unbearably hot. However, the body ignored the testicles' suffering and continued the relentless "steaming" treatment, causing the scrotum's temperature regulation to malfunction. The temperature inside the scrotum continued to rise, and the testicles gradually became numb from the intense heat.
Under such high temperatures, sperm have nowhere to hide, and the weaker sperm quickly succumb to the heat. After a few days of rest, these "sick" sperm, having just begun to recover, may succumb to the temptation of saunas and return, causing even more sperm to become sick or die. In this way, batches of sperm in the testicles die under the torment of high temperatures. Some sperm may survive, but they may suffer severe damage from the heat, resulting in the man losing his reproductive ability.
If the problem occurs during adolescence, the consequences of high temperatures are even more severe. Because the testicles are not fully developed during adolescence, prolonged exposure to high temperatures will hinder normal testicular development, leading to a loss of sperm production and lifelong infertility. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can induce mutations in testicular cells, potentially causing cancer, with unimaginable consequences.
Combing hair is also a man's job. Combing hair is generally considered a woman's activity, but little do people know that it also has health benefits. Therefore, men should also comb their hair regularly.
The head is traditionally known as the "head of all Yang meridians." Near the hairline, the Governing Vessel, Bladder Meridian, Gallbladder Meridian, Stomach Meridian, and Triple Energizer Meridian run, containing acupoints such as Baihui, Sishencong, Touwei, Shangxing, Fengchi, Yifeng, and Yamen. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that using a comb instead of acupuncture needles to massage and stimulate these acupoints and meridians can have a "acupuncture" effect, clearing the meridians, promoting blood circulation, regulating nerve function, relieving fatigue and exhaustion, and improving mental clarity and alertness. It may even yield other unexpected health benefits.
According to medical literature such as "The Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion", "Ling Shu: Febrile Diseases", and "Su Wen: On Qi and Acupoints", long-term massage and stimulation of acupoints such as Baihe, Fengchi, and Yamen can treat stroke, tinnitus, headache, dizziness, neck and back sprains, sinusitis, neurasthenia, epilepsy, aphonia, deafness, decreased sexual function, and other intractable diseases, and has the effect of prolonging life.
Therefore, combing one's hair can indeed have a special massage and health-preserving effect. It's natural for women to comb their hair, and men should also comb their hair regularly. An expert on human health and longevity once said, "The reason men have shorter lifespans than women is because they rarely comb their hair." Upon closer examination, this statement makes sense, and it seems that men should also cultivate the good habit of combing their hair.
[Plucking Beards Can Cause Big Trouble] Beard growth is a characteristic of males and a normal part of physical development. Some young men find sparse beard growth unsightly and like to pluck them out one by one with their hands or tweezers. This is unnecessary and impossible. Even if you pluck a beard, the hair follicle remains, and the beard will grow back.
Beard hair is a type of hair, containing skin appendages such as hair follicles and sebaceous glands. The dermal papilla at the end of the hair root contains abundant nerve endings and blood vessels, which is why plucking a beard causes pain. Since plucking typically only removes the hair shaft and root, but not the hair bulb, dermal papilla, and follicle, the beard will grow back. However, if the skin, hair follicle, or sebaceous gland is damaged during plucking, bacteria on the skin's surface can easily enter, causing folliculitis, sebaceous gland inflammation, boils, or swelling of the lips or even the face.
The area around the nose and lips has a rich network of blood vessels that communicate with intracranial blood vessels. Therefore, this area is medically known as the "danger triangle." If you pluck your beard carelessly, bacterial infections of the skin around the lips, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands can easily spread to the cavernous sinuses within the cranial cavity, potentially causing meningitis or septicemia-a very dangerous situation. Furthermore, even if the skin infection heals, severe damage can leave scars, induration, or pigmentation, resulting in a more unsightly appearance instead of a desired aesthetic outcome.
[Men should not wear synthetic fiber underwear] Among patients visiting infertility clinics, nearly half suffer from male reproductive disorders. Conditions such as semen liquefaction problems, oligospermia, and sexual dysfunction are showing an increasing trend year by year.
Dr. Shafik of the Medical School at Cairo University in Egypt has been researching male infertility for 20 years. His study, "The Influence of Textile Type on Sperm Production, Pregnancy, and Sexual Activity," found that compared to pure cotton underwear, synthetic fiber underwear and underwear made from a blend of cotton and synthetic fibers cause a sharp increase in testicular temperature and significantly abnormal hormone levels in the blood. After wearing such underwear for 14 months, men experienced a significant decrease in sperm count and libido. However, after removing synthetic fiber underwear for 4-8 months, the men's testicular and sperm conditions returned to normal. Clearly, underwear has become a major culprit in male infertility.
So, which type of underwear is more suitable for men? In terms of shape, regardless of age, loose-fitting boxer briefs are the best choice for reproductive health. However, some men have thicker thighs, and to avoid boxer briefs constricting their thighs, increasing genital skin temperature, and hindering blood circulation, they can choose looser triangle briefs. Regarding material, pure cotton may not be the best choice for men who sweat a lot. While pure cotton underwear absorbs sweat, it doesn't dry easily, especially in summer. The sticky feeling in the genital area is not only uncomfortable but can also lead to scrotal inflammation, causing itching and stinging reproductive system diseases.
Wearing underwear is for health reasons; it's not good for some men's health not to wear underwear. If you frequently don't wear underwear, your testicles are constantly hanging down, which can easily lead to varicocele. So, it's necessary to wear underwear. Briefs are more suitable because they fit snugly, but they don't allow for proper ventilation. Boxer briefs are better, as they allow for better heat dissipation. Both briefs and boxer briefs have their advantages and disadvantages.