🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Qigong’s ability to preserve health and prolong life stems first from its capacity to unblock meridians and promote blood and qi circulation, especially enhancing original qi (yuan qi), thus strengthening the body and curing illness. Second, qigong practice integrates “Jing, Qi, and Shen” into a unified whole, enhancing the body’s vitality, naturally extending life, delaying aging, and promoting health and longevity.
Renowned Chinese qigong master Liu Guizhen, in his book *Practical Qigong Therapy*, elaborates on the principles of qigong health preservation in detail. Key points include:
1. Nourish Original Qi and Reinforce the Body Against Pathogens
Qigong theory centers on “qi as the foundation,” emphasizing nourishing original qi to strengthen the root. How does qigong achieve this? *Su Wen·On the True Innocence of Ancient Times* states: “Tranquility and emptiness allow true qi to follow; guarding spirit internally prevents illness.” This succinctly summarizes qigong’s mechanism for nourishing original qi. In TCM, Jing, Qi, and Shen are considered internal factors reflecting the body’s functional state. Qigong is a self-practice combining external training of sinews, bones, and skin with internal cultivation of Jing, Qi, and Shen—dynamic and static exercise. Jing includes prenatal kidney Jing and postnatal food-derived Jing. Both are distributed throughout the body via the lungs, heart, and spleen to support growth, development, reproduction, and other physiological activities. Qigong significantly affects Jing. With proper technique and consistent practice, both prenatal and postnatal Jing are strengthened. Conditions like male seminal emission, premature ejaculation, cold or thin semen, female leukorrhea, uterine bleeding, scanty menstruation, pathological amenorrhea—all fall under Jing pathology—are improved through qigong practice, proving its effect on Jing. Patients with digestive dysfunction or malnutrition improve through qigong’s “heart-kidney interaction” method: kidney yang seals, spleen yang becomes stronger; kidney water nourishes stomach yin, improving gastric descent and transformation, enhancing spleen transportation, and enriching nutrient distribution. Clinically, this manifests as increased appetite, greater food intake, enhanced digestive secretion, improved synthesis metabolism, and better nutritional status—clear evidence of qigong’s effect on postnatal Jing. Qigong also strengthens prenatal Jing. Prenatal Jing resides in the kidneys. The qigong practice of focusing on the Dantian and Mingmen points is precisely the method to enrich kidney water. Prenatal Jing relies on postnatal Jing for nourishment. Through techniques like suction, contraction, and closure, combined with moderation in desires and maintaining balance, Jing naturally becomes abundant and solidified. Kidney Jing, nourished by abundant postnatal Jing, becomes stronger, reinforcing yuan qi—this is the inevitable outcome of “transforming Jing into Qi.” Clearly, qigong’s effect in nourishing Jing and consolidating water is the very mechanism of nourishing yuan qi. Once yuan qi is enriched, it better stimulates and drives normal, effective organ functions—crucial for maintaining health. Moreover, it further activates “transforming Qi into Shen.” Shen includes innate Shen (original spirit) and acquired Shen (conscious mind). Original Shen originates from yuan qi; acquired Shen arises from postnatal Jing and Qi. Both originate from matter and act back upon matter. *Su Wen·Changing the Spirit and Transforming Qi* states: “Those who possess spirit thrive; those who lose spirit perish”—highlighting Shen’s critical role in life. This is another significant implication of qigong’s nourishment of yuan qi.
2. Regulate Yin and Yang
Experimental and clinical observations confirm qigong’s broad influence on balancing yin and yang. TCM believes form and Jing can transform into function—this is the normal physiological process where yang arises from yin. But when function becomes hyperactive, it consumes form and Jing. After qigong meditation, sympathetic nerve activity weakens, metabolic rate drops, and high-reactivity states are corrected. Hyperactive functions are adjusted—this is the concrete manifestation of qigong’s inhibitory effect on yang and reinforcement of yin. Qigong’s yang-nourishing effects are also extensive. Based on the “kidney deficiency” theory, observed changes in kidney yang deficiency patients after practice include: limbs changing from cold to warm, urinary ketosteroid levels returning to normal, plasma ATP and cyclic AMP levels increasing, and enhanced white blood cell phagocytic ability—all demonstrating qigong’s yang-nourishing effects. Qigong’s regulation of dynamic yin-yang balance operates through a dual regulatory mechanism—“suppressing excess, supporting deficiency”—manifesting at multiple levels. This is the core mechanism behind qigong’s therapeutic and health-preserving effects.
3. Unblock Meridians and Circulate Qi and Blood
Qigong’s healing and health-preserving effects are achieved through “unblocking meridians and circulating qi and blood.” Clinical observation shows patients with blocked meridians and unbalanced qi and blood exhibit unequal or vastly different measurements on both sides of the limbs. After qigong practice, those with weak qi and blood show varying degrees of improvement. During practice, phenomena such as noticeable meridian sensations and internal qi circulation along the Ren and Du meridians and other channels are observed—concrete manifestations of qigong’s meridian-unblocking effects.
These are detailed explanations by renowned qigong master Liu Guizhen on the mechanisms of qigong’s health preservation and longevity. They demonstrate that qigong is an excellent method for strengthening the body. Anyone wishing for health and “living out their natural lifespan” should study diligently and practice assiduously, truly inheriting and promoting this precious legacy of traditional Chinese medicine. But how exactly do qigong’s health-preserving, therapeutic, longevity-enhancing, and life-extending effects manifest? We briefly discuss from several aspects.