Gary and I were interested to discover that there is a very active forum on a popular science site in the UK called "Naked Scientists" about Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome, known as "POIS." These men (and a few women) suffer debilitating symptoms after orgasm, such as exhaustion, insomnia, flu-like symptoms, brain fog, anxiety, depression, weakness, indigestion and so forth. It tends to last for a few days until around two weeks.

Cupid, or the God Eros, is often represented as a mischievous, chubby child. Could it be because Eros generally serves biology's procreation agenda above any other?

Emotional distance between lovers after orgasmic sex is not unusual. We have suggested that prolactin, a hormone that has many functions in the body, may be a chief culprit. It rises sharply after sexual satiation, and no one knows how long it remains elevated (or continues to surge) as a result.¹

Remember the myth of Tantalus? The gods punished him by immersing him in water up to his neck, but when he bent to drink, it all drained away. Luscious fruit hung on trees above him, but when he reached for it, the winds blew the branches beyond his reach. The Mick Jagger of the ancient world, Tantalus "got no satisfaction."

An ancient Chinese Taoist might answer that sex heals by setting up a nurturing exchange of subtle energy, which occurs naturally between the polar opposites of yin and yang.

In this newsletter we often look for the parallels between esoteric knowledge and recent research, so we naturally wondered if there were any scientific support for this concept. Surprisingly, the answer is "yes," although the evidence is somewhat subtle.

A German reader recently shared some material from an article by Loil Neidhöfer. He roughly translated and summarized some of it as follows:

Scientists have recently discovered a chemical that makes people trust each other. Liquid Trust is the world's first Trust Enhancing Body Spray, specially formulated to increase TRUST in YOU. Unleash the power of Liquid Trust and instantly build relationships that were never possible before! -Vero Labs-

At every presentation we give, we recommend that couples emphasize such behaviors as selfless giving, nurturing affection, close companionship, feelings of appreciation, and quiet time together. Why? Because these behaviors naturally encourage the production of oxytocin and increase its effectiveness by stimulating the growth of new oxytocin receptors on key nerve cells. After we describe the many benefits associated with oxytocin (countering addiction and depression, facilitating bonding, speeding healing, strengthening immunity…), someone inevitably asks, "Can’t I just take an oxytocin pill?" No, and spraying it around won’t duplicate the same benefits as choosing the behaviors that produce it in the right parts of the brain either.

Article by Mary Sharpe from London's "City Security" magazine, December, 2005

With the current series of suicide bombings, many theories have been advanced about the root causes: grievance at the West and its foreign policies in Muslim countries; anger towards the occupiers in Palestine; frustration at an inability to integrate fully into mainstream society in the West; the Jihadist desire to kill the infidel and prove one’s status as true believer in the righteousness of Allah and the Qu’ran (thereby earning the ultimate reward of 72 perpetual virgins in Paradise).

While any of these may play a part, they do not induce all aggrieved Muslims to react in such an extreme way. The vast majority of suicide bombers (and criminals) are young men aged between 15 and 25 years, at their sexual peak, raging with hormones and boundless energy, seeking an outlet and a mission in life.

Ah, women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent. - Friedrich Nietzsche

Ever wonder why you can stay obsessed with a potential lover...until you have sex? Or why masturbation doesn't have the profound aftereffect of orgasm during intercourse?

Scientists have just learned that prolactin rises 400 percent more after sexual satiety with intercourse than it does after masturbation. In other words, Mother Nature knows whether you actually complete the task she has set you. There is no rest for the lonely; they haven't delivered their genes.

Some turn to yoga or t'ai chi, others swear by red wine. No stone has been left unturned in the age-old pursuit of a long and healthy life. But now medical researchers have concluded that the secret of longevity may lie in nothing more outlandish than what comes naturally to mothers the world over.

A good old-fashioned cuddle, say the scientists, can reduce heart disease, cut down stress and promote longevity. The researchers even advise nervous public speakers to indulge in a bit of hugging before they go on stage to face their audience.