Traditional Chinese Medicine

- Continued from the last issue

As Qi Gong and Tai Ji touch on the same principles as Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is necessary to have a basic knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory.

Traditional Chinese Medicine adopts a materialistic (as opposed to a philosophical) approach. It concerns itself with:

1. Life - which it perceives as being made from material substances, manifested in the body. The body/life is also affected by substances, For our purposes, the body is composed of:

   • The Organs

   • Original/innate Qi

   The essence of male and female come together to form a person. From this the materialistic self evolves from birth to death.
   

2. The Spirit (Shen) - which controls the mind.
   1 and 2 combine to form a person (under the umbrella of materialism).

The mind needs the body to sustain it. This idea forms the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A person has an internal environment which is more important than the external, but cannot be entirely separated from it. A Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor would approach treatment based on this principle.

To cure disease the Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor looks at:

On that basis, each person is treated as an individual, and the doctor assesses the patient's level of Righteous/Proper Qi, and then tries to get rid of harmful Qi and build up the level of Protective Qi.

Similarly, the purpose of Tai Ji and Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong is to build up Protective Qi and get rid of harmful Qi, thus leading to good health. Therefore, Dao Yin and Tai Ji nourish the body (the physical), the Shen (the spiritual) and the Righteous/Protective Qi.

Therefore form without mind is no good, but if they are done together, then the protective Qi is nourished.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor uses four main ways to diagnose"

1. Observation. Looking carefully at the patient's eye colour, state of mind, whole body appearance and tongue.

2. Listening. To symptoms, tone of voice, breathing.

3. Smelling. Either picking up odours from the patient or the patient's surroundings.

4. Enquiring. Asking leading questions, taking pulses.

The patient is obviously subjective about how she/he feels, but the doctor applies his knowledge objectively.

In creating Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong, Professor Zhang has taken the above factors into account when devising the exercises. This makes Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong more specific than many Qi Gong systems. Therefore Dao Yin Gong is a method of treatment rather than just a set of exercises. Therefore the instructor has a responsibility to the students to help them to identify the exercises which are most beneficial for their particular state of health.

However, we do not have to be too anxious about this responsibility, as the exercises are both curative and preventative.

N.B. The Bones Exercises may be particularly beneficial for Parkinson sufferers as they deal with those aspects of ageing which are linked with the disease Ü muscle pain, degeneration of the bones.

The Dantian

In Dao Yin and Tai Ji the Dantian is an important area, as it is in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is located about 3 cm below the navel. It is not a point, but an area of about 4 inches radius around that point. The point itself is called Guanyuan. Dantian is deep within the body whereas Guanyuan is near the surface. Therefore when you concentrate on Dantian, your mind should be focused deeper within the body.

The Dantian is the beginning of the Conception Vessel Channel. Guanyuan (The Gate of the Source of Original Qi) - the fourth point on the Governing Vessel Channel. It is the meeting point of the Spleen, Liver and Kidney Channels.

Jing Qi is stored there. It has the ability to mobilise Qi throughout the body/organs. This point can help to prevent strokes, headaches, dizziness. Benefits the urinary system. Can control the frequency of passing water. Helps to cure blood in the urine and difficulty in passing water. Keeps urine the proper colour.

In men it benefits the reproductive system, controlling early ejaculation and erection problems and wet dreams.

In women it helps to regulate periods, ease menopausal problems and after birth pain. It regulates the Endocrine System, regulating ovulation.

In both it benefits the digestive system. Can control vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhoea and blood in the stools.

It can be used to treat high blood pressure. It is particularly beneficial for the urinary system, regulating the movement of the bladder.

Lifting the anus by using the muscles. Contract the muscles for about 5 seconds. For health care do this 30 times per day.

Combine with the breathing - In = contract, Out = relax.

When contracting, contract the whole area between the testicles and the anus with the perineum in the middle. This movement connects the Du and Ren Channels. When these channels are unblocked, then the whole body is healthy.

This practice helps the metabolism, in particular waste removal problems which can cause toothache, headache, piles, high blood pressure, and in extreme cases, heart problems and strokes.

If the metabolism isn't working properly, then that can lead to a build up of toxins. It is important to go to the toilet in a natural way Ü i.e. don't force it and don't hold on to it too long.

This practice is therefore good for constipation, as is eating sesame, honey, hazel nuts, bananas and vegetables.

For health, try to keep the anal area clean by washing with warm water after use if possible.