| Objectives:Chronic diseases have ranked among top lists in the spectrum of diseases.Humans have been suffering from psychosomatic diseases since the social and psychological diseases gradually replaced the pathogenic factor induced ones.The occurrence and development of chronic diseases are closely related to body function,mental health,social function,etc.Improper life style,adverse mental state,weak awareness of health maintenance have played important roles in promoting or aggravating chronic diseases.The "preventive treatment of disease" concept in traditional Chinese medical theory emphasizes the maintenance of both the body and the mind,as well as cultivating vital essence,Qi and Shen(? in Chinese,)equally.This study aims at exploring the theory of health maintenance based on the body,Qi and Shen and trying to explain the mechanism of sport-type health preservation,which may offer deeper theoretical basis and practical evidence for the popularization of the traditional sport-type health preservation.Methods:1.Through literature research method,the records about sport-type health preservation in True Qi,Primordial Shen and the combination of body,Qi and Shen have been sorted out and made clear from ancient literature as Huangdi Neijing(Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon of Medicine,??????in Chinese).2.Deductive method was used to discuss the origin of True Qi and Primordial Shen,as well as their characteristics,physiology,pathology and maintanence from the most basic theory of TCM: Yin-Yang theory.In this way,their nature and functioning pathway were explored.3.This dissertation elucidates the mechanisms of True Qi and Primordial Shen promoting life process and activities via the method of induction.In addition,theory of simultaneous cultivation of the body,Qi and Shen has been discussed.4.Experimental studies were conducted in college student group with unbalanced physique constitution,observing the effects of the Twelve Movements of Health Maintenance Qigong for Guiding Qi Movement on the indexes related to body and mind,such as sleep,fatigue,anxiety.Results:1.Literature research revealed that the True Qi originates from the inborn Primordial Qi that stored in the Life-gate.It flows in every part of the body together with the acquired essence of water and grain and the inhaled air from nature.The True Qi is reinforced by the acquired essence of water and grain and its wax and wane is closed related to the transformation and transportation functions of the Spleen and the Stomach.When stays in the Zang organs,the True Qi is Zang True Qi,while it is the meridian Qi when flowing in the meridian.The pathogenesis of True Qi and Primordial Qi has their similarities and differences.Methods of its maintanence include preserving vital essence and Primordial Qi,keeping smoothly the Sanjiao(triple energizers)and meridians and collaterals,conducting life activities in accordance with the rule of the nature,harmonizing Zang-Fu organs and getting rid of pathogens.The Promordial Shen is generated in the unity of opposites of Yin-Yang movement between the innate vital essence and Primodial Qi under the effect of the innate fire of the Life-gate.It is also the life necessary existence as Primordial Qi.This property determines that it exists in movement but relies on static status,it governs the body but does no specific life functions,it does not exist alone without body,it manifests life activities,it stays in good condition while it is harmoniously corresponding to the nature,it hurts in conditions of excessive coldness,heat,phlegm and dampness,over movement without rest or sleep.One should keep himself tuned with Yin-Yang laws of nature,abstinence,cultivating Qi and exercising the body,cherishing the vital essence and cultivating Primordial Qi,with unobstructed Sanjiao,meridians and collaterals.2.Deduction in this dissertation revealed that(1)the True Qi is closely related to but different from Primordial Qi.It originates from the innate Primordial Qi and fills the body with the digested nutrition and the inhaled air.The True Qi is the functioning property of Primordial Qi,while in turn the Primordial Qi is the basis of the True Qi.(2)This dissertation also made it clear that Primordial Shen originates from the unity of opposite of Yin-Yang movement that comes with the process of primordial vital essence transforming into Primordial Qi and in turn regulates this process.This regulation makes them a system of trinity.(3)Health maintenance should be conducted in trinity of body,Qi and Shen.3.The induction method in this study revealed that(1)Primordial Shen,on its formation by the movement of primordial vital essence and Primordial Qi,regulates the Qi movement of the body as ascending,descending,exiting and entry via modulating the proportion of Yin and Yang property within,so that it promotes and maintains life activities.Primordial Shen guides Primordial Qi to aggregate in different parts of the body to form Zang-Fu organs and stabilize the Qi movement pattern.That is to say,Primordial Shen originates from Yin-Yang movement,and in turn regulates Yin-Yang movement of the whole body according to the Yin-Yang movement of the nature,and,it generates Recognition Shen when stimulated by the surrounding circumstance under the property of "the innate feature is responsible for generating life functions".(2)The Heart spirit plays a similar role as True Qi,it is the intermediate state between the innate and acquired Shen.When someone is exercising Qigong,the more his mind is calmed,the greater the Primordial Shen takes charge of the body.The Heart spirit is more close to Primordial Shen in such status and makes the True Qi to follow its guidance.This is the explanation of regulating the mind in the sport-type health maintenance Qigong.(3)Based on the theory that conveys the concept of "The Brain is the house of Primordial Shen","The Life-gate is the root of Primordial Shen",and the induced concept "The heart is the organ that executes the function of Primordial Shen",the concept of the "Brain-Heart-Life-gate axis" was proposed.(4)This study advocates that True Qi responses to Primordial Shen via the connection of Heart spirit.When the mind is calmed into a state of nothingness,the innate Qi and innate Shen will be attracted to each other and work together to make the human Qi movement more natural.In addition,with the movement of the body,body Qi grows stronger and smoother.In this way,this dissertation explains that regulating the mind links the regulation to the body and breath.It is essentially aiming at making the three regulations----regulating the mind,regulating the body,regulating the breath----into the state of trinity,so that the body is strengthened with Qi reinforced and Shen reinvigorated.4.A before-after clinical trial observed statistically influences in the sleep and anxiety aspects of the enrolled college students after they exercised the Twelve Movements of Health Maintenance Qigong for Guiding Qi Movement.However,no statistical difference was observed in the fatigue aspect.Conclusions:Holistic approach should be emphasized in health maintenance,that is,the body,Qi and Shen should be put on the same significance.The body is the material basis of life.The Qi is the functional basis of life.Shen governs all body activities.Traditional sport-type health maintenance Qigong guides Qi to reach the harmonious status of Qi and the flexibility of the body through regulating the body gestures,movements and breath.It leads the True Qi flowing in the body via making body movements.By calming the mind,it calm the whole body and mentality enters a recuperation state so that the natural way the Primordial Shen possesses will guide the flow of more innate featured True Qi.Then the body will enter a state of nothingness following the combination of the three regulations and enjoy the most powerful function of the life promoting of the innate nature the body has.This state makes the body Qi flows harmoniously,Shen in good status and body in good condition.The future studies need to deal with the following factors to ensure homogenization: awareness of health maintenance,understanding of the sport-type health maintenance Qigong,mastering the Qigong movement,techniques for securing the three regulations. |
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