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"Shenkui" is a culture bound syndrome native to china in which the individual suffers somatic symptoms with anxiety, believed to be caused by a loss of semen.

Shenkui or shen-k'uei is one of several Chinese culture-bound syndromes locally ascribed to loss (or fear of loss) of yang (positive/male energy).Shenkui is believed to result from a deficiency in yang, obtained through the loss of semen. Semen is believed to be "lost" through excessive sexual activity or masturbation, nocturnal emissions, "white urine" which is believed to contain semen, or other mechanisms. Symptoms within the Chinese diagnostic system include dizziness, backache, tiredness, weakness, insomnia, frequent dreams, and complaints of sexual dysfunction (such as premature ejaculation or impotence). From an ethnopsychiatric perspective, additional symptoms are preoccupation with sexual performance, potential semen loss, and bodily complaints which may be taken as symptoms of lost yang.

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Shenkui

Shenkui is a culture bound syndrome, centered in China, attributed to the loss of semen. Losing semen reduces Yang, causing an unbalance in the body. Nocturnal emissions, too much intercourse, and masturbation resulting in ejaculation lower the levels of semen, causing loss of Yang. Somatic symptoms may include body soreness, aches, lack of energy, fatigue, and possibly problems in sexual performance.

A person suffering form Shenkui may endure body aches, dizziness, tiredness, inability to sleep, and sexual dysfunction, all for which no physical cause can explain. [3]

The passing of semen too often is avoided because it is believed to be crucial to a person’s health and safety. It is believed to be life threatening if too much semen is lost. [4]

"Chinese martial artists that remained celibate through years and years of extensive training were believed to be most powerful, therefore maintaining the power of one’s vital essence."[5]

Symptoms

• Dizziness

• Backache

• Tiredness

• Weakness

• Insomnia

• Frequent dreams

• Sexual dysfunctions; premature ejaculation or impotence.

Origin

Chinese folk beliefs hold that the Yin represents femininity, slow, cold, wet, passive, water, the moon, and nighttime. And that Yang represents Masculinity, fast, dry, hot, aggressive, fire, the sun, and daytime. [7]

Loss of yang would result in an abundance of Yin. It is also believed that if a case of Shenkui is severe enough, it could result in death. Informal or incomplete education about sexual health in China leaves a lot of room for folk beliefs to thrive. Often, advertisements support such beliefs to encourage use of traditional medicines. In Chinese folk beliefs, the loss of semen can cause imbalance in the body, leaving you with aches and pains and trouble performing. [2]

Treatment

Specific treatments are not mentioned. The affected person may go to a medical clinic that specializes in sexual health. If no medical problems are found, therapy may be used to help deal with stress, or anxiety medicines may be used.

Disorders, who they affect, and how they affect are different within each culture. In order to diagnose someone, it is necessary to make the effort to understand their home culture. Whether it is a culture bound syndrome or not, a person’s background determines how they see and interpret their own symptoms and how it must be treated.

References

Traditional Chinese Society. April 03 2000. Shenkui (Semen Loss) And Syndromes of Excessive Yin. June 16 2011. [2]

Timothy McCajor Hall. 04, 2000. ‘‘Culture Bound Syndromes in China –Shenkui and syndromes of semen loss’’. June 16, 2011. From Culture Bound Syndromes in China [3]

Ho-wai So, Fanny M. Cheung. May 2005. Review of Chinese sex attitudes & applicability of sex therapy for Chinese couples with sexual dysfunction’’.June 16 2011 from The CBS Interactive Business Network. [4]

J.Frater 08/2009. ‘‘Top Ten Bizarre Cultural Disorders’’. June 16 2011 from Listverse [5]

cwadswor April 12, 2010. ‘‘Culture Bound Syndromes in the DSM IV’’. June 16, 2011.from Quizlet [6]

Frank Y. Pak Agostinelli.2008. ‘‘Cross-Cultural Comparison of Mental Disorders’’. June 16, 2011 from [7]

Daniel Goleman. December, 1995. ‘‘Making Room On The Couch for Culture’’. June 16, 2011 from New York Times [8]

Osgood, Charles E. "From Yang and Yin to and or but." Language 49.2 (1973): 380–412 . JSTOR. 23 June. 2011 [9]