MASTURBATION & SICKNESS: CAN YOU BEAT A COLD BY BEATING OFF

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Written by:✓

Barbara Santini
Psychologist and Sex and Relationships Advisor

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Veronika Matutyte
Medical Doctor

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Katie Lasson
Sex and Relationship Adviser

Masturbation has been known to have a variety of benefits, such as relieving stress, boosting immunity, and keeping you energized.

Masturbation is the act of self-pleasuring that sometimes leads to an orgasm. Masturbation is good because it allows us to know our bodies. According to Leonard (2010), masturbation is harmless and convenient for everybody. The reasons why people masturbate vary. Masturbation is stigmatized and has hints of selfishness. Masturbating can help you beat the cold in the following ways;

Boosting Immunity

According to Wolkowitz & Reus (2002), masturbation releases a natural steroid, DHEA, which boosts immunity and keeps our bodies fit. DHEA is released after orgasms. Moreover, masturbation temporarily causes an increase in immune cells, such as lymphocytes, that fight virus. When you are sick, you will not be able to go to the gym because you feel drained. However, it would be better if you still had some exercise, and masturbating is a very light exercise that leaves you feeling great while boosting your immunity. At the same time, exercise offers a mix of aerobics and muscle building. When we are sick, we get very horny and yearn for sex. The horniness can make you feel sick.

Keeps You Energized

When you are suffering from a cold, you feel drained. Masturbation can boost your energy and make you feel revitalized. If you want to have a good day while sick, try masturbating. 

The Adrenaline Can Unblock Your Nose

The excitement you feel as you are masturbating is good for your nose and may relieve it if it is blocked. Masturbating is free and convenient. You do not need anyone to help you with it.

Improves Your Cognitive Ability

When you have a cold, you want to sleep, and you cannot answer anything right because the illness has taken over your brain. Masturbating will keep you smarter than if you weren’t having any sexual energy happening in your life. 

Enables Better Sleep

When trying to beat a cold, the last thing you need is sleeping problems. A bad sleeping pattern can be improved through masturbating. You sleep better after masturbation because the body releases chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphin. These hormones will leave you sleepy. Masturbation seems to switch off the brain area to alert us when we reach orgasm.

Release Of Endorphins

When you have a cold, you experience headaches and body pains. According to Uca & Kozak (2015), masturbating can reduce pain and headache by releasing endorphins. Endorphins are referred to the natural painkillers. Studies have shown that women feel less pain and have higher pain tolerance than usual when they achieve pleasure through masturbation. 

Reduces Stress

Stress causes many problems, from muscle tension to insomnia and weakened immunity. Brancato (2021) noted that masturbation reduces stress and enhances the production of feel-good chemicals, such as oxytocin. Oxytocin is released during orgasm. It calms you down and helps you sleep. When you masturbate, your body releases hormones that can make you feel good such as serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant. Serotonin makes us feel happy and relaxed after masturbation.

Masturbation Improves Mood

When you are down with a cold, most people tend to be cranky. Masturbate in the morning and start your day happy. Masturbating will improve your mood, making you communicate with people honestly and intimately. Lack of sex can make us moody, and when you are sick, you are advised not to be near people so that you do not spread the infection. You can let your fingers do the walking. Masturbating is the best alternative to sex. Improving the mood through masturbating has been backed up by research. In 2016, a study found that masturbating releases good hormones for your happiness and mood regulation. Therefore if you have a cold, masturbate and find yourself smiling happily.

Improved Sense of Smell

Your sense of smell may not normally work when you are sick. Most people lose their sense of smell when they are treating a cold. When you masturbate, a hormone known as prolactin is released. Prolactin will help your sense of smell.

Boosting Self-esteem

Masturbation will increase pheromones, a hormone that makes us more attractive to the opposite sex. We want to look good even when we are sick, and this hormone can be very useful.

Conclusion

Masturbation may be considered taboo, but it is harmless. The benefits we get from penetrative sex are the same as those from masturbation. The end game for masturbation and sex is an orgasm. If sex can fight off or help quick recovery from illnesses, so does masturbation. The benefits of masturbation, helping in relaxation, promoting better sleep, and releasing endorphins, are still the same for sex. Masturbation is probably better because the practice does not spread diseases. It is a harmless habit that feels just as good as actual sex. Masturbation is less risky. Therefore, if studies have concluded that we can beat off cold with sex, then the same applies to masturbation.

References

Brancato, S. (2021). " Feeling Myself": Masturbation In Women's Coming Of Age Novels. Georgetown University.

Leonard, A. (2010). An Investigation Of Masturbation And Coping Style. In 38th

Annual Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference.

Wolkowitz, O. M., & Reus, V. I. (2002). Dehydroepiandrosterone as a Neurohormone in the Treatment of Depression and Dementia. Natural Medications for Psychiatric Disorders: Considering the Alternatives, 62.

Uca, A. U., & Kozak, H. H. (2015). Masturbation and orgasm as migraine headache treatment: Report of a case. Neurology Asia, 20(2), 185-186.