Orgasms help minimize pain and promote relaxation which can help strengthen our immune system. Achieving orgasm through masturbation provides a rush of feel-good hormones (such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin) and can rebalance our levels of cortisol (a stress-inducing hormone). This helps our immune system function at a higher level.
The increase in "feel-good" hormones also promotes a more relaxed and calm state of being, making it easier to achieve restful sleep, which is a key part in maintaining a highly functioning immune system.
Just as bad habits can slow down the immune system, positive habits (like a healthy sleep schedule and active sex life) can help strengthen the immune system which can prevent you from getting sick.
How masturbation affects the brain
Orgasms are a very common human phenomenon. As a result, the physical and mental health benefits have been studied frequently, yet there is still a lot to learn about how our bodies and brains react to chemicals and hormones released during and after experiencing this type of sexual release.
"The amount of speculation with respect to actual data on both the function and value of orgasm is substantial“Explains Julia Heiman, director of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction.
"Masturbation causes a rush of dopamine, which is a chemical associated with our ability to feel pleasure. Along with the flux of dopamine that is released during an orgasm, there is also a release of a hormone called oxytocin, which is commonly called the love hormone.".
This blend of chemicals not only improves our mood, but can also play a key role in reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Oxytocin reduces cortisol, which is a stress hormone that is usually present (in large volumes) during times of anxiety, fear, panic or distress.
According to the doctor Glory Brame, an BDSM researcher, an orgasm is the largest drug-induced dopamine explosion we can experience.
By increasing the levels of oxytocin and dopamine and subsequently decreasing our cortisol levels, the brain is placed in a more relaxed, euphoric and calm state.
Masturbation increases the immune system and increases the number of white blood cells
Arousal and orgasm increase the number of white blood cells in the body, making it easier to fight infection and disease.
How do these effects on the brain from reaching orgasm translate into an increase in our immune system and in making our bodies healthier? The increase in oxytocin and dopamine which causes cortisol levels to decrease can help strengthen our immune system because cortisol (known to be a stress-inducing hormone) actually helps maintain the immune system when released in small doses.
According to Dr. Jennifer landa, a specialist in hormone therapy, masturbation can produce the right type of environment for a strengthened immune system to thrive.
A study conducted by the Department of Medical Psychology at the Essen University Clinic (in Germany) showed similar results. A group of 11 volunteers were asked to participate in a study that would examine the effects of orgasm through masturbation on white blood cell counts and the immune system.
During this experiment, each participant's white blood cell count was analyzed through measurements that were taken 5 minutes before and 45 minutes after reaching a self-induced orgasm. The results confirmed that arousal and sexual orgasm increased the number. of white blood cells, especially natural killer cells that help fight infections.
The results confirm that our immune system is positively influenced by sexual arousal and self-induced orgasm, and they promote even more research on the positive impacts of sexual arousal and orgasm.
The benefits of masturbation have long been debated, but the more research is done on the subject the more we understand that there are many positive reactions that happen in our bodies and brains when after an orgasm. Orgasms can help prevent or mitigate pain, which boosts the immune system, preventing cold and flu symptoms.
According to the neurologist and headache specialist Stefan Evers, about one in three patients experience relief from migraine attacks by experiencing sexual activity or orgasm. Evers and his team conducted an experiment with 800 migraine patients and 200 patients who suffered from cluster headache to see how their experiences with sexual activity affected their pain levels.
The study showed that 60% of migraine sufferers experienced pain relief after participating in sexual activity that led to orgasm. Of cluster headache sufferers, about 50 percent said their headache actually got worse after arousal and sexual orgasm. Evers suggested in his findings that people who did not experience migraine pain relief during their sexual activity did not release as large amounts of endorphins as those who experienced pain relief.
According to the rheumatologist Dr. Harris McIlwain, people with chronic pain have immune systems that simply don't work at full capacity, so relieving pain (through orgasm, for example) can help strengthen the immune system.
Orgasms can also promote relaxation and facilitate falling asleep
Serotonin, oxytocin, and norepinephrine are all hormones released during sexual arousal and orgasm, and all three are known to counteract stress hormones and promote relaxation, which makes falling asleep much easier.
There are several studies showing that serotonin and norepinephrine help our body cycle through REM and deep non-REM sleep cycles. During these sleep cycles, the immune system releases proteins called cytokines, which affect infection and inflammation. This is a critical part of our immune response. Cytokines are both produced and released throughout our body while we sleep, which demonstrates the importance of a good sleep program for a healthy immune system.
Masturbation promotes a highly functioning immune system, a healthy immune system can prevent colds and flu
The immune system is a balanced network of cells and organs that work together to defend you against infections and diseases by blocking threats such as bacteria and viruses from entering your system. While there are many things we need to do to keep our immune systems functioning at optimal levels, masturbation (or other means of achieving orgasm) has been shown to have positive effects on the immune system as a whole.
Just as bad habits (such as an incoherent sleep schedule or harmful chemicals in the body) can slow down the immune system, positive habits (such as a healthy sleep schedule and active sex life) can help strengthen the immune system.