Orgasms over advil

Lindsay Le Blanc is a Canadian media artist, traveler, herbalist, and creator of symptomologie. @petitcanadien

A woman once called into the Herbal Clinic I was working at in Roncesvalles, Toronto and told me she hadn't slept for days.  She was in a state of head-throbbing exhaustion that saw no end.  "Is there anything you'd recommend?" she asked, her voice cracking in desperation. "Ya," I replied, "a hot bath and an orgasm."  She laughed and thanked me, knowing this kind of simple "household" remedy might offer her just the kind of release she needed to finally turn off.

Chamomile, passionflower and valerian are among the list of relaxing sedative herbs I'd have mentioned could help her get to the same state, but sometimes the answer is so so simple we don't need even need to steep a tea or pop a pill. 

Orgasms are known to help migraine sufferers although I don't know if there are any double blind studies that have been conducted by the medical community to track their efficacy.  (eye roll) 

For me the beauty in knowing this, is to have gained the recognition that entering into ecstatic states of consciousness can release us from needless mental collapse.  Bringing ourselves to orgasm is a way to give ourselves permission to let go.  Tuning into our breath, our body and activating our pleasure centre while escaping into a vivid other world of fantasy can help us to stop the cascade of thoughts that fill us with tension, induce anxiety and thwart our need to sleep.

Next time you find yourself in a state of debilitating stress, or feel too wound up to sleep - ask yourself when was the last time you had a decent orgasm?  When you see sexual climax as good medicine, and something you can do as an act of self-care, it can then present itself as an option available to you as readily as opening the cupboard for an advil.