Enhancing Sexual Health And Wellbeing
Padma Shri Dr Prakash Kothari started his address by stating that health is complete physical, mental and social wellbeing. It is not only the absence of disease or infirmity. Focusing his professional attention on sexual health he said, “At the outset, let me clarify that sexual potency isn’t separable from the entire vitality of the whole body. What is good for the whole body is good for sex. I am going to focus in a way of not just what to do about it but how to go about it.”
He then went on to speak about how a man gets aroused either by the sight or touch, which enhances the sex center in the brain where the messages are enough and the messages go through the spinal cord, there is flow of blood and a man gets aroused and so does a woman. Hormones are needed to complete the sexual arousal. He also spoke about how different parts of our body such as the brain, heart, hormones, muscles or bones etc. play a huge role in the sexual arousal of a man or a woman. He also included the topic of orgasms and what desire is in the absolute sense. His definition of sexual arousal is instinctual inclination towards sensual gratification.
He also stated, “Lubrication is the barometer of sexual arousal. When it reaches the peak, it leads to orgasm. When a woman reaches orgasm, it is like a sneeze and if a woman has had one she knows about it otherwise any attempt to explain it is like explaining a rainbow to a blind man. A woman doesn’t ejaculate as a man does. So where does this energy come from? It comes from nutrients in presence of oxygen converts into energy. So, more oxygen leads to more conversion and hence more energy. Ayurveda and food play an important role. Food is medicine. Modern medicine doesn’t have the same conception that Ayurveda has.”
He said unlike allopathy and homeopathy, it is Ayurveda that takes care of the complications of Diabetes. Ayurveda mentions that if we chew our food properly, digestion gets better. Digestion leads to better assimilation. That is what wellbeing is. Water shouldn’t be consumed before or after right after food. Hormones are of utmost importance. Fenugreek contains both Estrogen and Testosterone.
He further explained, "We are not following Ayurveda properly, compared to the saying that goes like – you can’t paint on a dirty cloth. Similarly, for medicines to be effective, the body needs to be in the pure state." He went on to describe certain principles that he believes in. "If a patient has lot of anxiety or deep depression it affects the body tremendously."
He also said that synthetic hormones are wonderful. Lack of estrogen can have some effects which are not very normal. Exercise and especially walking in the morning under sunlight, in a park is similar to HIIT – high-intensive interval training. He suggested that, "Emotional disturbances can be healed through exercise. Sexual health comes from overall good health. Exercise plays a great role for men and women to have good sexual and personal health. Yoga is of great help as well. Blood flow is very important for sexual organs to function well. Breathing right also influences the body is a big manner."
On a conclusive note he said that foreplay is important for enhanced arousal. After play is also very important. Masturbation and oral sex are a part of good sexual health and to have healthy and sound sex during intercourse. Whatever is sexual is sensual, but all that is sensual is not sexual. Sexual literacy is very important to handle the psychological problems one might have. Anxiety in our country is high due to certain myths which should be avoided. If a case of erectile dysfunction is cured but there is no sexual literacy which leads to anxiety prevailing in the case of a person.
Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief BW Businessworld, appreciated his speech and pointed out all the positive wisdom that Dr Kothari highlighted. Pornography was discussed as well. Dr Kothari went on to explain that if a literate person watches pornography it is beneficial for him or her.
