'Thermal healing'

Fellow travelers after some years of neidan practice may reach the stage where the Qi flows continuously within the body, twenty four hours a day. They will then feel the heat or warmth all over the body, limbs, head and face from these flows. (The presence of heat or warmth is additional to the tingling sensations commonly felt by practitioners including Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan experts.)

This natural heat generated by the qi flows can be harnessed to speed up healings and bring quick relief to minor ailments such as bruises, swellings, cuts, muscle aches, stiff necks, and sprains either for self or others. Over the years, one has also found that this heat is also effective against viral infections of the throat; especially those flu related viruses which doctors invariably treat with antibiotics.

The way to utilize the heat is to gently place a hot palm above the bruises, swellings or cuts (including stitched cuts, whether recent or fresh) for a couple of minutes before replacing it with the other palm. This also allows the heat to help disperse blood clots, if any, in and around the affected area. (Gently rub the affected area with the fingers or the palm in a circular motion if the affected area is black and blue.) One usually starts with the right palm, although both palms are equally hot, before replacing it with the left palm. This rotation will allow the heat to be regenerated in the other (free) palm. The 'thermal' treatment is more effective if the bruises, swellings or cuts have been cleansed and treated with medical balms beforehand. The heat applied this way will help reduce pain and speed up the natural healing process for bruises, swellings and cuts.

For the relief of muscle aches in the limbs, stiff necks and sprains, one will use the above 'thermal' method followed by a brief and gentle massage with both hands over the affected area. Remember that the heat is more important than the massage.

However you have to stop the massage immediately if your forearms’ muscles suddenly turned taut. It means that ‘wind’ (usually located in the limbs) from the patient’s rheumatism has crossed over to your arms. This may occurred if the 'patient' is elderly and your qi is not strong enough. If the cross over happens, stop altogether; shake both your forearms and flip your hands from side to side continuously for a few minutes. If the muscles still remain taut, use one hand and qi to push the ‘wind’ down from the elbow to the fingertips of the other hand to expel it. (Then work on the other forearm in a similar fashion.) Any remains of the ‘wind’ will be expelled when you next practise your meditation. If you are obligated to help the same ‘patient’ again (as it could be your loved ones or a good friend), do so only after a few minutes of meditation. The meditation will strengthen your qi.

To cure any onset of a sore throat or coughs, gently place your hot palms on the affected area for a few minutes. Then place the palms around the neck; sides, front, and back. Thereafter place a palm below the chin for ten to twenty seconds before replacing it with the other palm. Work on the affected area again briefly and that is all to it. The sore throat or coughs will mysteriously disappear the following day after a good night's sleep. My family and I have not suffered a full blown flu for the past few years using this new found ‘cure’ for the common ailment.

The above self taught methods arose from my own experiments over the years after analyzing how Buddhas heal with the heat and the Light. (Refer April 21 entry on Buddhas rest under trees.) One has found these 'thermal healings' to be effective. Please take note that there is no transfer of qi to the ‘patient’, just the use of natural heat present in both palms to quicken the natural healing process within the body.

The likely drawback as explained above is that the qi of the practitioner may not be strong enough to block ‘wind’ from rheumatic ‘patients’. Therefore it is entirely up to fellow travelers whether or not they want to try the methods out for themselves. If you ever decide to give them a try, please take care not to think about the qi or attempt to transfer the qi to the ‘patient’.

Qi healing is not recommended for these minor and superficial ailments, and should only be done with much caution and constant feedback. Consequently, please leave qi healing to those with years of experience or the experts.