Shunamism

In shunamism, flagging physical vigour is said to be restored by drawing health from the heat, breath, bodily odours of and physical contact with young people. Examples where strength is received from a chaste relationship of an elderly man with a young girl are numerous, ranging from King David in the Old Testament to Gandhi. In contrast, psychic vampirism or parasitism involves the drawing of psychic or emotional energy from another. This may be deliberate, as in the case of black magic or of some spiritualists or clairvoyants; or it may be unsuspecting, the psychic "vampire" unknowingly gravitating towards those most able to give psychic energy, the latter often feeling drained by the experience. In these cases, the giver and receiver are born with these capacities. Spiritual healers are notable for their innate ability to donate psychic energy, and they too may be drained after the practice of healing. Deliberate parasitism of the old on the young has been recommended as a similar practice to shunamism. The disadvantage is that although the intention is for the young person to benefit the old, the flow may in this case be in the other direction, the vitality of the older person actually being drained by the young. It is a fairly frequently observed phenomenon that adults often associating with teenagers are easily fatigued.