Practical Tai Chi for Preventing and Treating a Hundred Illnesses

Author: Yang Wolin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Tai Chi is a treasure of the Chinese nation. Through the long passage of time, Tai Chi has proven to be an excellent exercise for health preservation, disease prevention, and treatment. The earliest medical classic of China, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, states: "When one remains tranquil and free from desires, the true Qi follows; when the spirit is kept internally, how can disease arise?" The Eastern Han Dynasty physician Hua Tuo created the "Five Animal Frolics" as exercises for health preservation,, and disease treatment. Hua Tuo proposed: "When the body is constantly moved, the grain Qi is consumed, the blood vessels are unobstructed, and disease does not arise. Just as a door hinge does not decay, so too should the human body remain active." The ultimate goal of medicine is health preservation, disease prevention, and treatment. The practice of health preservation and disease prevention in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is integrated into daily life. Through thousands of years of continuous exploration, comprehensive measures and methods for maintaining health and preventing/treating diseases have been formed, in addition to the use of medicinal herbs. These include acupuncture, surgery, massage, bone-setting, moxibustion, guided breathing, qigong, dietary therapy, and Tai Chi—natural non-pharmacological therapies that fully demonstrate the strong practicality of TCM. There are already many books discussing Tai Chi in the market. This book takes a unique approach by exploring the therapeutic and practical value of Tai Chi from the perspective of TCM.