Tai Chi and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the human body is an interconnected whole, centered around the internal organs, connected through the meridians that circulate qi and blood, linking to other bodily structures like the sense organs. Within this whole, the internal organs, meridians, and qi and blood are interrelated and mutually restrictive. Under the leadership and coordination of the "Heart - the Monarch's Palace" (the cerebral cortex and central nervous system), they perform various physiological activities, maintaining the balance of yin and yang. Tai Chi Chuan, created based on the theories of yin and yang, internal organs, meridians, and qi and blood, can be summarized in one phrase: "Intention and qi as the ruler, bones and flesh as the ministers." The three adjustments are: adjusting the heart, adjusting the qi, and adjusting the body. The nine essentials are: stillness, concentration, connection, smoothness, sinking, fluency, relaxation, correctness, and integration. During practice, one must achieve tranquility of the mind and spirit, relax both internally and externally, move qi with the mind, move the body with qi, and unify spirit and form, intention and qi. Long-term and consistent practice will thus achieve the goal of strengthening the body. 1. Strengthening the Heart "The heart is the master of the five internal organs and the six hollow organs." Tai Chi Chuan particularly emphasizes "calming the mind and using intention," using the mind to guide movements, thus achieving tranquility of the mind and spirit, concentration of thoughts, and relaxation of the body. This allows the internal organs to function normally and achieve relative balance. A calm mind results in quick thinking and fluent speech. Smooth circulation of heart qi enhances its function of governing blood circulation, reducing and eliminating internal blood stasis. With smooth and abundant blood flow, the complexion naturally becomes rosy.