Chanyi is the name for traditional Shaolin medicine. It is a unique branch of Chinese medicine developed over generations of clinical practice of Chanwuyi by Shaolin monks. Its basic theories include pathology, pharmacology, health promotion, health maintenance, etc., all based on the foundation of Chan and Qi. The training of a virtuous mind is the prerequisite to the training of a strong body, and psychological health is the foundation of physical health. There are thousands of orifices and meridians in the human body. Unblocking the orifices and meridians will strengthen both physical and psychological health.
What is the similarity between Shaolin Chanyi and Chinese medicine?
Shaolin Chanyi is similar to traditional Chinese medicine in that it is based on the theories of the circulation of the Qi and blood, meridians, pulses, yin-yang, and the five elements. The causes of human diseases, according to both Chanyi and traditional Chinese medicine, are abnormalities in the weather, lifestyle and dietary habits, and emotions. All persons are affected by the changes in weather (spring, summer, fall, and winter). Whether one gets sick or not depends on one's physical condition and immune defense mechanism. Lifestyle and dietary habits, emotions, and physical training can all affect one's immune defense mechanism.
What is the difference between Shaolin Chanyi and Chinese medicine?
Shaolin medicine was developed based upon Chinese medical theories. It is a branch of Chinese medicine unique from all other branches. First of all, Shaolin Chanyi emphasizes the healing of the mind and the purging of evil thoughts and cleansing of the mind, as it advocates that all human diseases stem from evil thoughts. There is a saying that "all diseases stem from the mind". Negative thoughts originate from human greed, anger, and cravings, all of which harm the internal organs and the circulation of the blood and Qi. For instance, anger will harm the liver, being worrisome will harm the spleen and stomach. Therefore, to heal a disease, one must first heal the mind. One must first purge the
negative thoughts and quiet down the mind before one can treat the psychological and physical problems. This concept is different from traditional Chinese medicine.
In addition, Chanyi emphasizes a healthy diet because it believes that "diseases enter the body through the mouth". Many diseases are related to an unhealthy diet. Thus Chanyi advocates the adoption of a healthy diet over medication, to take vegetarian food, and reduce the ingestion of food that causes inflammation in order to improve physical and
psychological health. Furthermore, Chanyi emphasizes "blockages cause diseases". Many diseases are caused by blocked orifices and blocked circulation of the blood and Qi. Chanyi utilizes different methods to unblock bodily orifices and the circulation of the blood and Qi.
What is the main Chanwuyi treatment method?
The main treatment method of Chanwuyi is training the Qi and unblocking the orifices. It teaches the practitioner to use his/her own breathing to guide the Qi and unblock the orifices. Other means include the use of herbal medicine and adopting a healthy diet. For serious conditions, Chanyi practitioners can also apply one-finger Chan to unblock the patient's circulation and orifices.
What is meant by unblocking the Qi?
Smooth circulation of the Qi and blood will lead to a natural and tranquil mind. But human emotions, cravings, and unhealthy diets can cause blocked circulation. Prolonged blocking of the circulation will have a negative impact on physical health. For instance, when one is unhappy or angry, one would feel pressure building up in the chest to the extent that breathing is interrupted, sometimes even causing dizziness and neck pain. According to the theory of blood and Qi circulation, this phenomenon is caused by blocked Qi in the chest.
Chanyi unblocks Qi circulation using methods including guided breathing exercise, mind-body exercise, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary restriction, purging of evil thoughts, etc. For example, when one feels blocked Qi in the chest, one can practice "smoothing the Qi" to guide the Qi back to the Dan Tian. When the blocked Qi dissolves from the chest, one would feel more comfortable.
To practice tranquil standing every day is another method. Tranquil standing is beneficial to unblocking the circulation of blood and Qi. To practice tranquil standing in the morning has the beneficial effect of exhaling the blocked Qi accumulated from the previous night and inhaling the fresh morning air. This is what is meant by "exhaling the old and inhaling the new". Chanyi also utilizes supplementary Chinese herbal medicine to unblock the circulation. There is also the adoption of a healthy diet so that there would not be too many residues built up inside the body. Built-up residue is one of the causes for blocked circulation. Finally, to "purge evil thoughts" is also a way to unblock the circulation in Chanwuyi. Human emotions are one of the causes for blocked circulation. When one's negative thoughts are purged, one's mind can become tranquil and the circulation will become smooth.
What is meant by unblocking the orifices?
Blocked circulation causes diseases. Minor diseases begin by blockages of the surface orifices. If the blockages are not treated, failure in the bodily mechanism will result, leading to serious illnesses. The major causes of blocked orifices are: (1) unhealthy diet, (2) inappropriate treatment, (3) extreme emotions, (4) careless dress and grooming, and (5) not wearing warm enough clothing. These reasons can cause blockages inside the body, which will aggravate from the surface to the inside, causing the death of tissues in the internal organs and inability to inhale Qi. Thus Chanyi advocates the unblocking of the surface orifices in the human body, which include the seven orifices of the nose, mouth, ears, eyes, pores on the skin, and the two murky orifices in the lower part of the body. Through the method of guiding, for example, using Chinese herbal medicine, bathing of the nose and tranquil standing, to unblock the nose and pores on the skin. Passive Dan Tian breathing and active Dan Tian breathing can also help unblock the nose, mouth, and the murky orifices in the lower part of the body.
What are the three types of individuals that Chanwuyi cannot help treat?
Chanyi advocates that "life is in one's own hands", and therefore requires individuals to help themselves in improving their own health through improving one's diet, mental state, and lifestyle habits. There are three kinds of persons that Chanyi does not treat:
(1) Those who refuse to improve their diet: patients have to refrain from spring onion, Chinese chives, mustard, chili spices, ginger, meat, fish, etc., food that creates heat and then inflammation. If the patient does not refrain from these foods, there is no point in healing because no medicine would do any good.
(2) Those who get angry easily: This is because anger can cause a large amount of blood to rush to the head, which would cause inflammation in the nose.
(3) Those who frequently "leak Qi": this means over-indulgence in sexual relationships. Extreme lustful acts are
harmful to one's energy, weaken the immune system, and dry out the liver. This will invite different diseases to enter the body.
What is the relationship between Chanyi and Buddhism?
Buddhist teaching has often likened itself to the medical practitioner: the Buddha is a great healer, the teachings are the medicines, the monks are the nurses, and the lay people are the patients. Buddha has been named "the Great Doctor", taking on himself the responsibility to heal mental diseases in the public. Medicine is not only a means to purify the human spirit, but also a practical way to do charitable deeds in the real world for Buddhists, especially those under the Chan branch.