Can swearing help you emotionally?

Seven dirty words--but are they?

Editor - "I don't like swearing at all," she said. "I think there is just too much of it.  You hear it in the movies and everywhere.  I see no sense in it.  People who do that just don't need to let the rest of us hear it.  Besides it never does anyone any good."  But science has a different response to swearing, as research attests.

What the research observes is there is good and bad in swearing.  Out of Russia comes the observations about the value of swearing as well as the problems it might bring.


Swearing can lead to sexual dysfunction according to a researcher in Russia who says he has evidence that foul language can lead to impotence while Russian researchers say swearing negatively impacts the growth of seeds..

According to a resident of the Russian town of Yekaterinburg , Gennady Cheurin, the research manager of the Center of Ecological Safety, foul language may benefit man's survival but also cause impotence when used at the wrong time. Mr. Cheurin says that foul language contains sacred words and in ancient times these were used in special rituals to ask for God to increase their “virile essence.” They were allowed to use what some people call the obscenities only 16 days a year, and following that they were prohibited.

So Cheurmin concludes that using words for reasons other than religions ones and not within the sacred context can lead to  sexual dysfunction.

As unusual as Cheurmin's study might be, it has been confirmed by research headed up by Russian scientists. They have been examining how swearing affects water, which according to Cheurmin, possesses “memory.” The scientists used swear words directed at a water jar later used to water wheat seeds. Only 48% of the seeds watered with aggressive obscenities were said to have sprouted. Those watered with modest foul language saw 53% sprouted. Those watered with holy water produced 93% sprouts. 

Cheurmin tells us foul language works very well during war but otherwise should be kept for the worst situations. On the other hand he believes that in no other language can swearing cause more harm to the body than the language of Russian can. 

It isn't just a Russian scientist who has examined whether or not there is a place in civilization for foul language. One website outlines when swearing might be appropriate:
• As a warning/prelude to physical conflict
• As an enhancement to sexual pleasure
• As an "embellishment" to camaraderie
between members of the same sex . 

Swearing or the use of obscenities is also an area where religion and science again don't agree. A Christian writer maintains that there are things in the Scriptures that prohibit profanity such as in Romans 3:9-18. Paul , in verse 14 where after talking about sin the verses state their “mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 

Profanity is frowned upon when speaking in public. Those who examine decorum in language maintain that abusive, vulgar and irreverent language, which is the dictionary definition of profanity, should not be used in public speeches, unless it is done for emphasis in some special way.  They encourage people to learn good English for both reading and writing, as like artists of note who study the masters, one masters a language by examining a standard best.  That is also why those who use profanity a good deal are usually native speakers of the language they are using with the obscenities..  

Science maintains profanity can be beneficial at times, whereas religion says people should refrain from it. Perhaps it seems this great difference may be one of the reasons why folks have difficulty conversing when they have to be conscious of the whether it is scientifically or spiritually of value to curse or not.