THE 
OF 
INTERNAL 
EXERCISES 
By Dr. Stephen T. Chang 
Tao Publishing Acknowledgements 
The author gratef ully ackn owledges the support and help of: 
Vera Brown 
Helene Chang 
Shirley Dahn 
Mako Hayamizu 
Sam Matthew 
Ed McLean 
Rick Miller 
Bjorn Overbye, M.D. Grace Roessler, Ph.D. 
Cecilia Rosenfeld, M.D . Eugene Schwartz 
Alice Seig neur 
Joel Seigneur 
Leonard Worthington, J.D. About the Author 
Stephen Thomas Chang is an internation ally well-known scholar. His 
grandmother was a master-p hysician, while her father was both pers onal 
physician to Empress Tse-Shi and the first Chinese ambassador to the 
United Kingdom. Dr. Chang has been trained in both Chinese and Western 
medicine, and in addition to his medical doctor degree, he holds doctor 
degrees in law, philosophy, and theology . He lectures world-w ide on 
various aspects of Taoism, and he is the founder of the Foundation of Tao . He is also the author of: 
The Complete Book of Acupuncture, 
The Great Tao, 
The Tao of Sexology, 
The Tao of Management, 
and 
The Tao of Healing Diet: Secrets of a Thin Body. Several books have been translated into ten languages. Foreword 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of the honorable 
readers throughout the world who has purchased my books since 1978. I 
greatly appreciate the continuous support, which has been reinforced by 
thousands of letters of appreciation and inquiry. In regard to these letters, I 
would also like to take this chance to apologize to those whose letters I have 
not had a chance to answer. For these people, and others who wish to know 
more, I have written another book that will answer the many questions and 
satisfy the many appetites for knowledge. To let the reader know about the 
supplementations of a great many more healing techniques and new con­
cepts and corrections to the old text, I have changed the title from The Book 
of Internal Exercises to The Complete System of Self-Healing. Instead of 
showing only one room, the new book opens the door to the entire house. I 
have devoted forty years of intensive research, experience, and meticulous 
selection to make sure that the techniques within this book are: 
* Absolutely true Taoist teachings (such as the principle of mind and 
body unification). * Absolutely scientific. *Proven to possess great healing value. * Absolutely natural (equipment, which causes bodily imbalances, is 
not needed). *Absolutely safe (no side-effects) and free from time or space 
limitations. < 
I hope you will enjoy this book more, gain more riches in health and 
knowledge from it, and help more of those who are suffering with the aid of 
it. Stephen T. Chang An Important Note To The Reader 
This book was written only to introduce the Internal Exercises of 
Taoism as a gesture of goodwill. Since certain exercises, special 
techniques, and teachings which are introduced may be new to certain 
societies, since human beings are complicated and delicate in constitu­
tion, and since every individual is diff erent, please consult your 
physician before you try any of the contents of this book, for your own 
protection. The author and the publisher specifically disclaim liability for any 
loss or risk incurred by the use or application of any of the contents of 
this book. Table of Contents 
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 
IN'TR.. ODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 
PART I UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES 
1. TAOISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 
The Tao of Philosop hy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 
The Tao of Revitalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 
The Tao of Balanced Diet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 
The Tao of Forgotten Food Diet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 
The Tao of Healing Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 
The Tao of Sex Wisdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 
The Tao of Mastery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 
The Tao of Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 
2. THE ENERGY THEORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 
The Nature of Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 
Energy and the Human Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 
3. THE CIRCULATION THEORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 
4. THE SEVEN GLANDS THEORY .... ............. 39 
5. THE NERVE THEORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 
PART ll LIVING WITH THE WHOLE BO DY 
6. THE INTERNAL EXERCISES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 
Five Elements Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . 51 
Five Animal Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 
Eight Directional Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 
Twelve Zodiac Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 
Deer Exercise for Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 
Instructions for the Male Deer Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 The Deer Exercise for Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 
Instructions for the Female Deer Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . 95 
Prone Position for the Deer Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 
Crane Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 
Instructions for the Crane Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 
The Standing Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 
Solar Plexus Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 
Turtle Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 
Instructions for the Turtle Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 
Combining the Deer, Crane, and Turtle Exercises . . . . . . 115 
Sitting Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 
Standing Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 
w al.king . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 
Sleeping Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 
Head Rubbing Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 
Eye Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 
Nose Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 
The Ear Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 
Mouth Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 
Tongue and Saliva Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 
Gum Pressure Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 
Tee th Clicking Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 
Face Rubbing Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 
Thy roid Exercise ..... ....... o •••••••••• o • • • • 133 
Techniques for Relieving Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 
Hand, Arm, and Upper Body Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 
Ann and Hand Pressing Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 
Hand and Arm Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o o • • • o • • 136 
Lung Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 
Heart Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 
Heart Energizing Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 
Streng thening the Nerves Leading to the Heart . . . . . . 142 
Heart Healing Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 
Abdominal Strengthening Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 
Weight Reduction Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 
Stomach Healing Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Liver Exercis e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 
Kidney Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 
Lower Back Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 
Sun Worship Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 
Lower Body and Sexual Glands Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . 155 
Toe Wiggling and Body Stretching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 
Internal Organ Relaxation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 
Meridian Massage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 
PART ill ADVANCED LIVING 
7. TAOIST MEDITATIVE, CONTEMPLATIVE AND 
BREATHING EXERCISES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 
Meridian Meditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 
Meditative and Contemplative Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 
North Star Meditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 
Candlelight, Sunlight, and Moonlight 
Contemplations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 
Concentration Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 
Breathing Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 
Reverse Crane I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 
Reverse Crane ll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 
Bone Breathing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 
Energizing and Relaxing Breathing Exercises . . . . . . . 192 
Brain Cleansing Breathing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 
Brain Cleansing I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 
Brain Cleansing ll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 
8. IMM ORTAL BREATHING: SMALL AND LARGE 
HEAVENLY CYCLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 
Small Heavenly Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 
Large Heavenly Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 
PART IV BEGINNING ANEW: FINDING PROBLEMS, 
SOLVING PROBLEMS 
9. TAOIST HEALING PRESCRIPTIONS ............. 207 
10. CON CLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 
IN'"D EX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 Introduction 
We spend our lives fulfilling two basic physical needs to maintain, 
nourish, revitalize, and prolong our lives. These are: 
1. Consumption (eating, drinking, etc.) 2. Motion 
a. Mind "movement" (thinking) 
b. Body ''movement'' (breathing and other functions of the inter­
nal organs and external limbs) 
c. Sex 
Life will cease if either of the two basic conditions is not fully or properly 
satisfied. Without consumption of nutrients, life is expected to cease within 
ten days. Without proper consumption of nutrients, life will shorten. Without motion, the body will atrophy. Without proper motion, the body 
will weaken. It was with this last consideration in mind that the ancient 
Taoists created the Tao of Revitalization, the philosophy and method of 
thinking, breathing, and moving. Tao of Revitalization is a system of many mental and physical move­
ments, called Internal Exercises. The Internal Exercises heal and energize 
the internal organs-the keys to youth, immunity against disease, and ttue 
health-through deceleration , smoothness, quietness, precision , natural­
ness, and an internal emphasis. The Internal Exercises are the very opposite of external exercises. While 
external exercises such as football, boxing, gymnastics, weight-lifting, Hatha 
Yoga, and martial arts may produce an attractive outer figure, they often do so Introduction 
by depleting the energy of the internal organs, thereby causing not only any 
number of illnesses, but also premature aging. The fatigue, stress, strain, pain, 
and contortions associated with the external exercises disrupt the delicate 
organic functions. Since responsibility for the body's regenerative processes 
and defenses against disease-ca using agents lies in the internal organs, disrupt­
ing their functions will impair the body's ability to replace old or worn cells 
and fight off genns and viruses. The internal organs do what thick muscles can 
not do: protect the body against age and disease. The Internal Exercises, in 
tum, protect, heal, and energize the organs. And when internal organs are 
healthy, attractive figures naturally result. The creator of this system of movements was the Yellow Emperor, who 
was also a father of Taoism, the science and philosophy of life and 
longevity. His original, untranslated name for the Tao of Revitalization is 
Yang Sheng Shu. One can define the latter term as the achievement of a 
happy, healthy, and long life through the utilization of mental and physical 
movements to prevent and correct all ailments, reverse the aging process, 
and improve all functions of the body. Tao of Revitalization has a six thousand year long history of success. Upon realizing its enormous medicinal potential, the Yell ow Emperor gave 
the Tao of Revitalization the title ''The Foremost of Therap ies''. In the Tao 
Te Ching, Lao-Tse called it the ''best therapeutic method for promoting 
and prolonging life''. Its reverent and faithful practitioners are multitu di­
nous. And it was effective even when its expansive teachings were frag­
mented and disarranged. Many versions of the Tao of Revital ization exist, each with appropriate­
ly descriptive names. These names, however, do not reflect the true 
meaning and function of the Tao of Revitalization. One version is Tao-Yin, 
which means the utilization of thought, tools, and certain body movements 
to guide the flow of energy to heal ailments of all kinds. Presently, this 
version of the Tao of Revitalization is immensely popular in Japan. Do-in, 
as it is called in Japan, is taught in Do-in clubs which are organized in every 
city, village, and neighborhood. Club members meet once or many times a 
week to help and encourage each other in the practice of selected methods 
of Do-in, thereby preventing and treating diseases. The form of Tao of 
Revitalization that is popular in China is Chi-Kung, also called Nei-Kung. The term Chi-Kung translates to Breath ing or Energizing Exercises. The 
term Nei-Kung translates to Internal Exercises. In China, a scientific study was conducted on Chi-Kung therapy by Dr. 
Pao Ling. His work, pub lished in Guolin Research Report, involved 2,873 
14 Introduction 
terminal cancer patients who took part in an experiment wherein Chi-Kung 
therapy was used to treat their afflictions. Within a six-month period, about 
12% of the patients were cured and about 4 7% showed significant improve­
ments in their conditions. About 41% showed no improvement . Another 
experiment involving school children was conducted to test one part of 
Chi-Kung -the eye exercises. Their exercise routine was accompan ied by 
music and instructional intercom announcem ents. As results of the exer­
cises, farsightedness, nearsightedness, and other eye problems became a 
rare affliction. Other experiments conducted on Chi-Kung therapy demon­
strated tremendous and rapid efficaciousness against sinus allergies , 
hemorrhoids, prostate problems, and aging. In the hospitals , clinics, and 
health organizations of China, Chi-Kung therapy reigns supreme above 
other treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery, and acupunctur e. Its 
effectiveness was found to lie in its ability to cure and prevent disease. In the U.S., a scientific study was conducted on the Internal Exercises by 
Dr. Cecilia Rosenfeld. After practicing the Internal Exercise and experi­
encing an immediate improvement in health, Dr. Rosenfeld decided to 
prescribe these exercises to her patients. Internal Exercises were taught to 
her patients, and within one week, about 80% of the patients showed 
positive results. Then eight nurses were hired, taught about the Internal 
Exercises, and trained in the instruction and supervision of patients. Afterward, several patients were assigned to each nurse after the patients 
were examined and given a prescription of specific Internal Exercises. Most patients reported that they experienced immediate improvements in 
health, without feeling pain or discomfort, and the nurses themselves 
reported that they had boundless energy even after a day of performing and 
demonstrating the exercises. As one nurse explains: "It used to be that a 
nurse's life was miserable. Every day all we saw was sickness, suffering, 
pain , and death. We heard only complain ts. The patients never called the 
nurse to say 'Isn't it a nice day?' After working eight hours on our feet, we 
felt as if we were ready to die. But now, since we started using these 
exercises-a hundred times a day-we feel as if we're ready to jump 
through the roof at the end of the day! We have so much energy we can't 
stand it anymore!'' As a result of this study, the Internal Exercises became a subject of study 
for many universities, colleges, medical schQols , hospitals , and the general 
public. What underlies such miraculous results? Prevention, a principle of the Tao of Revitalization, is one key to the 
15 Introduction 
Internal Exercises ' efficacy: if minor health problems do not develop, 
major health problems do not develop, and if major health problems do not 
develop, we will not die. So the primary purpose of Tao of Revitalization is 
to help people increase their lifespan. Therefore , Tao of Revitalization is not a sport. It is not designed to 
provoke competition and strenuous movements, increase stress or tension, 
deplete energy, or, in other words, decrease one's lifespan. Neither is it a 
fonn of martial art. Unlike Kung Fu, Karate, etc., it involves neither 
strenuous movements nor tension. Although the movements in T' ai Chi 
Chuan appear slow, they actually build tension, for T'ai Chi Chuan was 
originally designed for combat. However, one aspect of T'ai Chi Chuan, 
that of the unification of mind and body, is similar to that of the Tao of 
Revitalization. Further, Tao of Revitalization is not Hatha Yoga in that it 
does not overwhelm the body with a series of twisting, bending, or 
stretching poses and motions. Lastly, Tao of Revitalization is not another 
fonn of meditation, because the objective of the most popular fonns of 
meditation is to ''empty'' the mind-inactivate the mind. The mind cannot 
be emptied, for directing it to do so is itself an activation of the mind. In the Tao of Revitalization, the emphasis has been lifted to internal, 
rather than external, development. Initially the Tao of Revitalization 
involves physical movem ent, but as one's practice gradually becomes 
refined, one's concentration upon physical moveme nt will be reduced and 
one's concentrat ion upon internal movement will be increased. One will 
become still externally, but alive and active internally. Anything that does 
not meet these principles is not Tao of Revitalization. Its strength also lies in Tao of Revitalization's flexibility. Anybody, 
regardless of age, health, or condition , can practice the exercises of his or 
her choice anytime, anywhere. No equipment is necessary. The most basic 
of metabolic processes, breathin g, can be transformed by the appropriate 
Tao of Revitalization techniques into a powerful therapy. The conscious 
state of mind and body movement are also potential therapies. The heartwanning benefits so immediately reaped from a sincere and 
selfless application of any of the exercises are enough to instill within us a 
kind of fervor which of itself will move us forward along the path of greater 
understandi ng, longevity, and spiritual development. When you do external exercises, 
you must do internal exercises. When you do internal exercises. you may forget to do external exercises. 16 PART I 
UNDERLYING 
PRINCIPLES 1 
Taoism 
The Complete System of Self-Hea ling : Internal Exercises is about one 
part of the living philosophy of Taoism. Taoism is the eldest of the world's 
religions . Its founder, Lao-Tse, the best-know n and perhaps greatest of 
Taoist sages, laid the groundwor k which was to support the Eight Pillars of 
Taoism when he wrote the Tao Te Ching . The Tao Te Ching itself is 
primari ly a political treatise and a theoretical representation of Taoism 
expressed from the point of view of an enlightened being. The formulation 
ot'the practical and functiona l aspects was left to other Taoist sages-the 
Yellow Emperor, for instance. When other ancient Taoist masters 
devised-in addition to the basic spiritual doctrines and philosophy of 
Taoism-innumerable techniques designed to ultimately transform and 
immortaliz e the physical body, the Eight Pillars of Taoism materialized. The Eight Pillars are eight branches of Taoist thought and practice, and 
they are symbolized as eight trigrams in the Pa-Kua, the symbol of Taoism. The Internal Exercises themselves form one pillar of Taoism. Taoism 
--
--
I 
I 
Figure 1. Pa-Kua (Symbol of Taoism). The eight trigrams 
(pointing in 8 different directions from the Yin-Yang symbol) 
represent The Eight Pillars of Taoism. Many true Taoist teachings have been kept secret for many centuries, so 
before we begin examining the Internal Exercises in detail, the Eight Pillars 
will be listed and then briefly summarized. 1. The Tao of Philosophy 
2. The Tao of Revitalization (Internal Exercises) 
3. The Tao of Balanced Diet 
4. The Tao of Forgotten Food Diet 
5. The Tao of Healing Art 
6. The Tao of Sex Wisdom 
7. The Tao of Mastery 
8. The Tao of Success 
20 Taoism 
THE TAO OF PHILOSOPHY 
The Tao of Philosophy discloses the logic underlying the way life 
unfolds and the purpose of destiny. It is a collection of guidelines that is 
used by the individual as well as the collectivity for attaining success and 
spiritual elevation. Based on the spiritual discovery of hidden but ever­
permeating and reliable laws of this universe, the Tao of Philosophy 
provides detailed information on the proper methods of governm ent and 
fosterage of social development and individual well-being. THE TAO OF REVITALIZATION 
This is the subject of this book, the purpose of which is to e xplain clearly 
the complete theory and practice of the Tao of Revitalization. The Internal Exercises direct the innate healing power to specific internal 
organs and glands to energize the entire body, balance the energy level, and 
promote a more effective functioning of the internal organs, in order to 
heal, adjust, correct, and above all prevent disease . In sum , their main 
purpose is to promote longevity. There are three categories of Internal Exercises. The first category of Internal Exercises includes those designed to 
21 Taoism 
correct sitting, reclining, walking, and working postures, to facilitate 
healing. These exercises are the Five Animal Exercises, Eight Directional 
Exercises, Twelve Zodiac Exercises, and Twelve Nerve Exercises. Also 
included are the basic exercises known as the Deer Exercise, the Crane 
Exercise, and the Turtle Exercise. The second category includes Meridia n Meditation, also known as 
Trip-Around-the-World Meditation, or simply Taoist Contemplation. A 
tremendous healing art, Meridian Meditation is used to adjust , balance, 
and elevate the energy level in the body. By meditating on the pathways of 
energy in the body, anatomi cally known as the meridians, a person is able 
to feel the energy flow along these pathways and balance the energies 
within the body. The mind, body, and spirit are comple tely integrated , and 
the individual is comple tely enlivened. Acupuncture and acupressure techniques, which originated from Merid­
ian Meditation , are used to help others, whereas Meridian Meditation is 
used to heal oneself. The third category of Internal Exercises concerns energy breathing 
techniques. Through these techniques, energy can be absorbed through the 
acupunctur e points which lie atop the meridians which traverse the body. Energy breathing is a vital step in self-healing and in forming an indivisible 
link with the energy permeating the universe. THE TAO OF BALANCED DIET 
The acid-alkaline balance of our food is very important. Foods that are 
pH-balanced will not corrupt quickly, and the eater will be able to extract 
the maximum amount of nutrition available from those foods. If the food 
we eat is not pH-balanc ed, it becomes corrupt as soon as it enters the 
digestive tract. The body, instead of benefiting from the nutrients in the 
22 Taoism 
food, absorbs the poisons resulting from the corruption. (If one ever goes to 
the back door of any restaurant, one will find food corrupting in garbage 
cans. Not long ago, this food was served to customers. So the only thing 
separating the front and back of the restaurant is a wall and a few hours' 
time.) We would not purpose ly eat garbage because we know we will 
become sick from ingesting its poisons. Yet, we do eat garbage every time 
we eat without a thought for pH balance. (A telltale sign of food corruption 
in the stoma ch is bad breath.) For a complete study of the Tao of Balanced 
Diet, please refer to the Tao of Healing Diet: Secrets of a Thin Body. THE TAO OF FORGOTTEN FOOD DIET 
We rely on our regular diet for enjoyment and satisfaction: we take 
pleasure in the appearance, smell, and taste of our daily meals. But regular 
foods do not provide enough nutrients to maintain a continuous state of 
health. They must be suppleme nted with stronger foods, or herbal foods, 
which constitut e the second level of diet, or Tao of Forgotten Food Diet. Over the ages, Taoists thoroughly studied the healing compos ition of 
herbs and became highly proficient at the use of herbs. For example, 
several thousand years ago, surgeons were able to anesthetize their patients 
for six hours witl,tout side-effects just by using an herb tea. (Surgery was 
very popular at that time. The surgeons often removed the organs of the 
patient, washed them in herbal solutions, and reorganized them inside the 
body. This practice eventually died out as these doctors came to realize that 
it was an inefficient and incomplete treatment for illness es and that the final 
answer lay in illness preven tion. They realized that any illness. including 
tumo rs, was the result of a particular lifestyle; constant surgery could not 
prev ent the recurre nce of tumors, whereas a change in lifestyle could 
prevent the recurrence of tumors.) 23 Taoism 
Herbs have many properties that modem science has yet to discover. The 
Academy of Sciences currently estimates that there are approximately one 
million plant varieties in the world. As yet, only an insignificant portion 
has been examined by modem means of analysis. The food we buy in the supermarket is the weakest food available. The 
selection there is very limited if one considers the varieties of food actually 
available in the world. God created leaves, branches, trunks, and roots for 
our consumption, but they were completely overlooked by most people. Called ''forgotten foods'' by Taoists, herbs were forgotten because they 
were eliminated from our ancestors' diets through a process of selection 
which, over the course of thousands of years, rejected foods that were 
unappealing to the eyes, nose, or mouth. When man learned to cultivate his 
own food, he naturally chose to cultivate only those foods that appealed to 
his senses. As the saying goes, we are what we eat. If we eat stronger foods, 
we become stronger ourselves. If we eat better foods, our health improves. But, if we eat weak foods, we become more vulnerable to diseases. When 
we compare a magnolia tree to a bunch of celery, we will see that the tree is 
much stronger than the little clump of celery. Investigating further, we will 
find that the tree is of greater medicinal value than the celery. In fact, the 
various properties of the magnolia tree build up the stomach tissues and 
strengthen the female sexual organs. Ginseng is another example of a 
strong food. It grows in cold and harsh mountainous regions, yet it can 
survive for more than a thousand years. Imagine what such great vitality 
could do for your body. (Please use discretion when ingesting ginseng. It 
must be balanced with other herbs, since it produces strong side-effects as 
well as benefits.) In sharp contrast, a carrot grows only in tempera te 
climates and its lifespan is about three months. If you do not unearth it 
within three months, it will decay and disappear. Herbs give everlasting 
strength, whereas regular foods give only temporary strength. The foods we commonly eat and love are also eaten and loved by the 
germs in our bodies. They utilize this food (organic or junk) to maintain 
their lives just as we do. Fortunately, herbs do not nourish germs and 
human beings equally. Human beings, exercising their will power, are able 
to ingest sometimes distasteful herbs. Germs, not being blessed with will 
power, are simply repelled by herbs. When human blood is permeated with 
herbal nutrients, the germs in the body will starve to death, and the human 
body will be naturally cleansed and purified. The cleansing and purifying 
qualities that allow herbs to last for years without rotting are the greatest 
benefits to be gained from herbal diets . 24 Taoism 
THE TAO OF HEALING ART 
Like the Tao of Revitalization. the Tao of Healing Art adjusts, balances 
and elevates vital energy. Unlike the Tao of Revitalization, which is 
primarily a means for self-healing, the Tao of Healing Art is utilized for 
healing others. The Tao of Healing Art, also called Tui-Na, is basically a form of 
massage that follows the body's energy pathways, anatomically known as 
meridians, to regulate the body's vital functions. By using the sixteen 
different handling or manipulating techniques of Tui-Na, one can also 
reposition disarranged internal organs. In conjunction with these tech­
niques, which were designed to adapt to various parts of the body, appro­
priate mediums can also be used. These can be any of the five fundamental 
elements: earth, metal, water, wood, or fire. Acupuncture needles (used to 
channel energy into the body) and moxibustion are two of the best known 
metal and fire mediums in the West. Acupuncture and moxibustion are 
derivations of Tui-Na principles and methods. For more information, 
please refer to The Great Tao, Chapter 5. THE TAO OF SEX WISDOM 
25 Taoism 
Taoism was the first philosophy to take human sexuality fully into 
account, to present it in such a way that people could use their sexual 
energy to transfonn themselves. Taoist Sexology directs people so they can 
enjoy sexual play without depleting themselves, explains how to strength­
en the sexual organs and use sexual energy to cure specific ailments, 
strength ens the bond of love, elucidates various positions of therapeutic 
intercourse, provides natural methods of family plannin g and eugenics, 
even includes ways of selecting the sex of your child. For a complete study 
of The Tao of Sex Wisdom, please refer to the book The Tao of Sexology. THE TAO OF MASTERY 
The Tao of Mastery provides us with tools to help us gain insight into 
ourselves and others, bend surrounding energies to our nature and purpose, 
and become masters of ourselves. In order to facilitate personal and working relationships and reduce 
stress, the ancient Taoists developed a collection of different methods: 
I. PERSONOLOGY reveals the current abilities, attitudes, personal 
traits, and health conditions of an individual. Instinctive anticipation 
of forthcoming events is reflected in some of the I 08 locations of the 
face, constituting a recognizable warning system. 2. FINGERPRINT SYSTEM reveals the inherited part of personal­
ity and health tendencies. Also, fingerpri nts are changing delinea­
tions of our naturally developing per sonal and professional potentials 
and are warning signa ls of our inherited weaknesses, which we must 
be aware of in order to conquer them. 3. TAOIST NUMEROLOGY gives precise insights into our life 
patterns and circumstance s. 
26 Taoism 
4. NORTH STAR ASTROLOGI CAL SYSTEM-more compre­
hensive and scientific than Western astrology-reveals our destinies 
and financial prospects; describes the phys ical, mental, and spiritual 
attri butes of our spouse and children; and unveils all other facets of 
our lives . 5. DIRECTIONO LOGY is the study of the surrounding physical 
laws of nature , especially those of electromagnet ism. A complete 
knowledge of such forces allows us to orient ourselves and our 
belongings in ways compatible with the electromagnetic influences, 
in order to live in harmony with the laws of nature and facilitate 
obtai nmen t of goals. On the collective level, it can be used to reduce 
in -fighting and promote the "chemistry" or cooperation between 
workers. It is used in modem Japan to organize working groups as 
well as coordinate the various departments of a company. In the 
West, the awareness of these influences is reflected in conversations 
about the "ambience" or the "morale" at working places. 6. SYMBOLOGY deals with forms and symbols related to the laws 
underlying natural events. It can be used to condition, for instan ce, 
weather changes, business trends, self-defeating habits, etc. THE TAO OF SUCCESS 
The Tao of Success discloses the precise mechanics of life's greatest 
events and the forces that shape all events. The ancient Taoists discovered 
analytical methods to study these forces, identified recognizable patterns of 
change, and systematized strategies of success to deal with these patterns. The Tao of Success helps you adjust your everyday actions in accordance 
with the universal law, to make every aspect of life more pleasant . 27 Taoism 
A clear and powerful instrument of Taoist wisdom, the Tao of Success is 
divided into three parts: 
I. The study of symbols and signs that represent the endless changes 
that occur throughout the universe. These phenomena are governed 
by exact laws defined by physics, chemistry, biology , geometry, 
algebra, and other branches of mathemat ics. 2. The Tao of Change, or the study of social philosophy and trans­
actional psychology, as represe nted by sixty-four hexagrams. Each 
hexagram is composed of six lines, each of which represents a 
developing stage in individu al or group transactions. Recognition of a 
certain pattern allows one to develop successful, detailed , and accu­
rate strategies against the causes of adversity. The Tao of Change is 
invaluable to those who wish to develop wealth, power, harmonious 
familial relations, social position, and foresight fully. 3. The actual practice of forecasting events, known as the Space and 
Time 1-Ching System. This system is based on the principle of 
cyclical ness-that is, everything that has happened is going to hap­
pen again, and everything that is going to happen has happened 
already in some form. Like Albert Einstein, the ancient Taoists 
understood that time was illusory. Like him, they studied situations in 
the space-time system . Thus, they arrived at a means for interpre ting 
events occurring within our time concept. This is the key to "fore­
casting", or seeing into the future. The Eight Pillars of Taoism cover every aspect of our daily existence. They were designed to completely satisfy our basic physical needs in a 
manner that allows us to realize our full potential as human beings. Then 
may we leap beyond the dege nerating aspect of time, to live with the Tao, 
or God. 28 2 
The Energy Theory 
The root of the way of life, of birth and change is Chi (energy); the 
myriad things of heaven and earth all obey this law. Thus Chi in the 
periphery envelops heaven and earth. Chi in the interior activates 
them . The source wherefrom the sun, moon, and stars derive their 
light, the thunder, rain, wind and cloud their being, the four seasons 
and the myriad things their birth, growth, gathering and storing: all 
this is brought about by Chi. Man's possession of life is completely 
dependent upon this Chi. Nei Ching 
The ancient Taoist texts, expounding on the basic theories that energy 
supported all life and matter in the cosmos, were written to convey basic 
scientific principles in a style that attracted the attention of even those who 
were not inclined toward a serious study of science . This is not to imply that 
the barriers between the artistic, scientific, and practical ways of life were as The Energy Theory 
distinct and offered such a marked degree of specialization as are those 
characterizing modem civilization. The integrated man, as he existed in 
ancient China, was one who constantly strove to maintain a balance 
between the various modes of life-the artistic, the scientific, and the 
practical . It was no great effort for the scientist to record his observations in 
a style that today would be called ''poetic'' in form-it came to him 
naturally. That scientific principles could be conveyed in such imaginative 
form attests to the unification of art and science which typifies the Golden 
Age of Chinese civilization. It may well be that because the basic principles of Taoism are poetically 
stated, many modem scientists choose to reject them, avowing them to be 
"unscientifi c", "purely philosophical", "mystica l", and "primitive". But the rejection of traditional principles on these grounds, far from 
indicating a greater degree of objective awarene ss on the part of the modem 
day men of science, suggests instead a growing gap between science and 
the true ''art of living''. The principles of Taoism and the Internal Exercise 
system as they have come down through the ages are just as applicable 
today as they were in the past, but they must be interpreted through a proper 
understanding of the poetic form that has enshrined and carried them 
through the ages. THE NATURE OF ENERGY 
Energy is a dynamic force, in constant flux, which circulates throughout 
the body. Many people plausibly substitute the word life for the word 
energy, since the essentia l difference between the two words is so subtle 
that it eludes all but the semantic ist. Each term is vital to developing an 
accurate understa nding of the energy theory as it applies to the body. For all practical purposes, it can be stated that life is an indication of 
energy within the body. All that comes to mind on hearing the word 
life-breat hing, talking, sleeping, eating, even the ability to read, think, 
and hear-all these can be achieved only because of the energy within the 
body. This invariably applies to those functions or activities that are not 
conspicuously perceptible; for example, the metabolic processes within 
each single cell could not be accomplished without energy to sustain those 
functions. Energy is the basis for the apparent solid structures of the body 
30 Th� Energy Theory 
and all that pertains to its anat omy. For what is a solid structure such as a 
bone, except a mass of living cells? All forms and activities of life, both 
anat omical and physiological, are supported by, and simultaneous ly de­
plete, the energy within the body. Althou gh most people assume that inert matter is completely solid or 
dense, it is energy that binds the protons, electrons, and neutrons within 
each indiv idual atom. Inanimate matter, then, is simply energy at a differ­
ent rate of vibr ation than that of other forms of life. Energy therefore is the 
absolute basis for all forms of life and matter in the universe. Food and air are considered to be the primary sources of energy to be 
depleted through daily living rather than as fuel to be metabolized by the 
body. Energy, thou gh, is not obtained from the gross molecular aspects of 
food and air, but rather from what can be called its "vibrational" essence, 
or, its elec tromagn etism. For instance, the nutrients within any particular 
food can be accurately reproduced in a chemist 's laboratory, but life cannot 
be sustain ed over a prolonged period of time by ingesting those synthetic 
nutrients alone: it is possible to obtain every single vitamin, mineral, and 
chemical that comprises an egg, and yet it is impossible to transform them 
into anything that vaguely resembles a genuine egg. Neither is a person 
able to exist over a prolonged period of time on pure oxygen which has been 
obta ined by laboratory methods, or in a room in which the air has been 
filtered by an electrical air-condition er. In all of these instances something 
is lacking, and that ''something'' is the particular object's life force, its 
electr omag netism-that invisible energy which enlivens gross molecular 
aspects of any object. Electro magnetism is a force with which most of us are not yet fam iliar . It 
was Western scientists who ing eniously verified the existence of electro­
magneti sm, providing thereby a means for the logical explanation for many 
of the health enhanc ing benefits obtained through the practice of the 
Internal Exercises. In short, electromagnetism is an intensity force that 
permeates the atomic structures of all objects, including the surrounding 
atmosphe re. Because it is a natural force, it has a rapport with the energy 
within the body. The Internal Exercises are mediums through which energy 
is channeled from the atmosphere into the body to stimulate the body's 
natural abilities to replenish the energy depleted through daily living. ENERGY AND THE HUMAN BODY 
31 The Energy Theory 
The self-perpetuating human body can be considered as a type of battery. The human battery is composed of three vital parts: 
I. Structure-the cells and the organs, bones, muscle, skin layers, 
blood vessels, nerves, and other physical structures that they form. 2. Liquid-the intra-and inter-cellular liquids tha t play important 
roles in the generation of electrical energy. 3. Electrical charge-the charge that is responsible for activating the 
body and its structures. It is called the ' 'life force'' , ''life energy' ' , 
"spirit", or electroma gnetism. Taoists refer to this force as "Chi". Of the three components , the last-electr ical charge-is least under­
stood since its. presence is not immediately obvious to the naked eye. Electrical energy is detected only in a roundabout way, because it is most 
obvious when it is absent. If there is a partial absence of energy in the body, 
weakness or disease invades and grasps hold of the body. When there is a 
total absence of vital-energy, there is death. (Cessation of heartbeat does 
not necessarily mean death, for many yogis have stopped their own 
heartbeat , yet remain alive because their bodies still hold vital energy.) Exhaustion is a symptom of low energy levels. Anytime you use your body 
or your mind, you lose energy. If you fix your eyes on an object for just one 
minute, it will take you twenty minutes of rest to recharge the amount of 
energy lost, according to scientific studies. Furthennore , studies have been 
done in which dying people have been put on a scale and weighed. At the 
point of death, there has been recorded a weight loss of about six ounces, 
the exact amount varying from individual to individual. So it is apparent 
that the approximate six ounce weight loss reflects the weight of this vital 
energy, which is material and measurable. In one particular instance, howeve r, energy can be seen by the naked eye 
to emanate from the body and act as an indicator of health. The ''aura'' or 
energy field around a person's body has been known for thousands of 
years, but is only now been proven to exist with the advent of Kirlian 
photograp hy . It is able to capture the aura in photograph s so that many 
people can see it first hand. A simple description of the aura can be that it is 
made up of colored ''flames'' of energy that are emitted from the human 
body. The colors of the aura have been determined to be reflective of its 
owner's health and energy level. Light, clear colors indicate good health 
and high energy levels. Dark, heavy colors indicate disease. The color of 
death is black. 32 The Energy Theory 
Minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day we are losing energy 
as our attention is caught by continuous external objects and activities, as 
we move our bodies in inefficient ways. or as we use energy in continuous 
mental activities. In time, through this constant loss of energy, we grow 
weak and are unable to fight off invasion by germs and other harmful 
disease-causing agents. Illness drains the body of energy, and with out 
energy, cells and tissues stop regenera ting and shrivel and die. So weak­
ness is the first step towar d disease . If we have no weakne ss, then it will be 
impossible to contract a mild illness , and if we never have a mild illness , 
then a serious disease will never deve lop. Of course we also acquire vital 
energy too, through food , air, and cosmic radiati on. But as we grow older , 
we tend to use more energy than we take in, and this empties our store of 
energy until a fina l loss of energy results in death . Then there is the matter of energy imbalance, the importance of which 
equ als energy loss. Energy imbalance among the organs (functionally 
interlocked like clockwork) is another source of illness. The energy level 
with in an organ is determined by the vigor and regularity of its pulsations. The normal heart rate is 72-78 beats per minute. If this rate reaches or 
exceeds 80 beats/minute , a fever or high energy is indica ted. The normal 
pulsation rate of one kidney is 36 pulsations per minute, and because we 
have two kidneys, the total rate is 72 pulsations/minute. The heart and 
kidn eys are therefore balanced with respect to each other. Now if the 
person owning these organs takes diuretic pills, that person is forcing more 
pulsations into the kidneys. What happens to the heart? The heart, in order 
to maintain balance, pumps faster, and this results in high blood pressure 
and increa sed blood flow to the kidney s. Since the kidneys filter urine out 
of blood , more blood means more work for the kidneys. In taking the 
diuretic pills , that person has created a vicious cycle between his heart and 
kidneys. How wou ld this affect the rest of the body? If one cogwheel of an 
intricate clockwork speeds up, the other cogwhee ls must also speed up, 
otherwise all the springs and wheels will jam and bring all activity to a stop. Thus we expose ourselves to grave dangers . To be totally free of disease, however, does not guarantee a state of 
physical immortality, for the body must be able to accommodate the influx 
of additional energy which in the end will transfonn it into a vehicle 
unconditioned by space and time. How can we avoid energy loss and imbalance and their aftereffects and 
still be able to transform our bodies? Let us examine some methods that 
may fulfill these conditions. 33 The Ener gy Theory 
The first is restful sleep. Normally, the human ''battery'' recharges itself 
every night when you sleep. After the day 's activities, thoughts, and 
concentrations have depleted most of your energy, you will feel drowsy 
and fall asleep, so that your body can recharge itself. Sleep relaxes the 
meridiana! points of entry and exit and allows the energy of the universe to 
enter all the acupu ncture points, travel through all the meridians (to be 
discussed later), and reach and recharge every cell in your body. The next 
morning when you awaken , your battery is recharged and your energy level 
is high again. Like the battery and generator in a car, the human battery 
recharges automatically-if everything is functioning as it should be. If 
everything functions excellently, everything takes care of itself and you do 
not have to do anything . But when you do not sleep well, the natural 
processes are blocked. Then what do you do? Another alternative can be acupuncture . Since energy supports all vital 
functions associated with the body, adjusting that energy with acupuncture 
regulates those functions supported by that energy. This is achieved be­
cause of the antenna-like qualities of the acupuncture needles, which serve 
to bring more energy into the body and make efficient use of its beneficial 
properties. (An alternate form of acupuncture, called acupressure because 
hands are used instead of needles, can be used to achieve similar results.) But acupuncture has a limited range of use. It is effective only when the 
problem is a lack of energy; any problem related to cell structure or liquids 
will prove acupuncture useless. Another alternative, external exercises, would not be the proper solu­
tion. As explained before, external exercises hasten the aging process and 
energy depletion , and they offer no means for recover ing the energy lost. Only the three categories of Internal Exercises meet the dual require­
ments of preservation and transformation. Through the Internal Exercis es, 
diseases of the body can be eliminated by readjusting the ener gy imbalance 
that is the unseen cause of the apparent dysfunction, and self -healing, 
which is the natural result of doing these exercises on a regular basis, is 
guaranteed . The ways the Internal Exercises preserve the interna l organs to 
preserve health and youth will grad ually unfold in the following chapters, 
as well as the ways the Internal Exercises generate and utilize the high er 
order of energy to awak en the spiritual center of the body . By learning 
the Internal Energizing Exercises we are thus able to gain cont rol over the 
vast energy upon which life depends . We can then use this energy to heal 
ourselves as well as others. and insure our con tinuin g heal th and spiritual 
growth. 34 3 
The Circulation Theory 
The circulatory system of the human anatomy is in many respects a 
transportation system. Oxygen fixated upon red blood cells in the lungs is 
transported in the bloodstream to every cell in the body. The wastes 
eliminated by cells are conveyed thr ough the bloodstrea m to the excretory 
system, which excretes the wastes but saves the blood cells for further 
utilization. Nutrients are also conveyed from the intestine to the cells 
through the bloodstream. When circulation of the blood is impeded, the body is besieged by 
problems. Upon the delay of nutrients or oxygen, cells die from the lack of 
sustenance . Upon the impediment of blood flow, efficiency of cellular 
waste elimination is greatly reduced . And upon the accumulation of waste 
matter due to cellular dysfunction, health problems develop. This would lead some people to conclude that increasing the rate of 
circulation will decrease the chances of problems developing inside the 
body. The method that comes to most people's minds as appropria te for The Circulation Theory 
accelerating the circula tion is exercise-external exerc ise. Acc elerating 
the circula tion through the acceleration of the heart by external exerc ise 
seems logical, when one brings into mind two widely known facts: blood 
vessels are connected to the heart, and the rate of blood flow is sync hro­
nized with the heart rate. Consequentl y, an ideal heart rate during exercise was determined for 
different chronological ages . Anyone can determine his or her ideal heart 
rate by applying the following eq uation: 
220 beats/minute-Number of years (age)=maximum heart rate 
The maximum heart rate for a person at forty years of age would be 180 
beats/minute (or beats per minute). This is the ideal rate. If that person were 
to eleva te his or her current rate to 80% of the ideal rate during exerc ise, 
then that person will be in the normal category . The rates achieved by 
normal people of diff erent ages are as follows: 
Table 1. Maximum Heart Rates During Exercise 
Age Beats/minute 
20 160 
30 156 
40 144 
50 136 
60 128 
70 120 
80 112 
Accordi ng to the above table , the capacity of the heart deteriorates as age 
increases . The deterioration increases until the heart ceases to function . Many exerc ise books advise that one should try to meet the rates 
spec ified in Table 1 for a certain length of time-one hour weekly or 
more-to maintain good health . But does forc ing the heart to increase its rate really improve the circula­
tion and benefit the heart? Not necessaril y. In the hospital one often sees a patient who suff ers from 
both poor circulation and very high heart rates. Although this person lies in 
bed with cold hands and feet, his heart beats continuously at 160 beats per 
36 The Circulation Theory 
minute. These inconsistencies can be explain ed by the fact that circulation 
does not depend entirely upon the heart rate, for it is also dependent upon 
the blood vessels. Artery disease, injury, stress, strain, tension, etc. can 
block the blood vessel and cause the blood supply to diminish . The body , 
equipped with fail-safe mechanisms, will respond to the obstruction of the 
blood vessel by accelerating the heart. Howev er, the supply of blood will 
remain in a diminished state as the cause of the problem-th e blockage­
still remains . Not only does the circulation problem remain unresolv ed, but 
the heart also is exhausted. At this point we may ask, "If backup efforts to 
correct poor circulation through heightened heart activity fail, how can 
further punishment of the heart through exercise be effective?'' Furthermore , the heart also suffers from imbalances in nervous stimula­
tion. The heart is controlled by the the vagus nerve, which lowers the heart 
rate, and the sympathetic nervous system, which increases the heart rate. The vagus nerve originates in the hindbrain and the sympathetic nervous 
system originates in the spinal cord. Due to the control of the nerves , the 
heart pumps involuntarily and continuously from the moment it appears 
two weeks after conception to the moment death is officially announced . Throughout its lifetime the heart is stimula ted more by the sympathetic 
�ervous system than by the vagus nerve.· Anger, smoking, coffee drinking,· 
ball-game watching, horror- movie watching, lovemaki ng, stair climbing, 
etc. are common causes of the exhaustion of the heart in that they accelerate 
· the heart rate through stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. If ·exercise is added to the burdens of the heart, its chances of resting and 
assimilating nutrients necessary to its tissues are greatly diminish ed. Then 
it will fail. So a better method of improving circulation without adding m ore burden 
to the heart is needed . The Internal Exercises are more than qualified for meeting these needs, 
as they give total consideration to all factors involved in any ailment. The 
objective of the many Internal Exercises is different from that of the regular 
exercises: their main purpose is to relax the entire body so that the afflicted 
part can receive nourishment and heal itself. Heart exhaustion can be 
prevented by the utilization of certain Internal Heart Exercises to train or 
direct the brain to stimula te the vagus nerve (originating in the brain) to 
lower the heart rate. Local circulation can be improved through utilization 
of, for example, the Crane Exercise without affecting the heart. In addition, stress, strain, tension, and hyperten sion can be relieved 
through the practice of Meridia n Meditation and Crane Exercise (wisdom 
37 The Circulation The ory 
of the Crane) , etc. Within the past seventeen years in the San Franc isco Bay Area, 863 
people from my audience have sought help for h eart problems and circula­
tory problems. Their ages ranged from 35 year s to 93 years . There were , 
however, two people who were in th eir 20's. All of them began practicing 
Tao of Revit aliza tion instead of ''cardiov ascular exercises''. These were 
the results: 761 individuals led complet ely healthy lives; 72 indiv idua ls did 
very well after comb ining their practice with light dosages of med ications 
prescribe d by physicia ns; 27 individuals remained uncha nged ; 1 indi­
vidual, a 93-year old lady , died from an accidental fall; another indiv idual , 
a 56-year old man , died after having two surgeries within five mont hs; and 
another individual, a 72-y ear old man , died from a stroke after a family 
argu ment . Many others throughout the world devoutly believe in the Internal 
Exercises and that they are the best answers for the problems or potential 
probl ems of the cardiovascular system . 38 4 
The Seven Glands 
Theory 
The ancient Taoists und erstood that the huma n body could not exist 
unless ther e was a continuous supply of ener gy coming into the tissues and 
organs . They real ized that health exis ted when the ener gy within the body 
was balanced and that disea se occurred when there was a state of ener gy 
depl etion or weakn ess. We receive much of the ener gy we need from the 
food we eat and in the air we breathe . Howe ver, the body , much like an 
expens ive auto mobile, m ust be finely tuned if it is to run properl y and 
utilize this ener gy to its maximum level . Thr oug h the centuri es, the seven 
glands within the body have been und erstood to be energy cent ers, re­
spon sible for regu lating the flow of energy within the various systems in the 
body . The seven glands , in ascending orde r within the body , are as follows: 
I. The sexual glands-t he prostate and teste s in the male and the 
ovari es, uteru s, vagina , and breasts in the female -a re respon sible 
for hormone secretions, sexual energy and response , and reproduc­
tion. The sexual gland is called the ''stove'' because it is the ''fire'' or The Seven Glands Theory 
energy producer for the other six glands. It is called the House of 
Essence . 2. The adrenal glands-situated on the kidneys-sup port the func­
tions of the kidneys, bones, bone marrow, and spine. (The drug 
cortisone destroys the adrenal glands, causing anemia and bone 
weakening.) The adrenal gland is called the House of Water. 3. The pancreas gland, also called the House of Transcende nce, 
helps maintain control over the entire digestive system, including 
blood sugar levels and body temperat ure. If the pancreas is weak and 
begins to leak its secretions (insulin) into the bloodstream, it will 
neutralize the blood sugar and cause hypoglycemia, or low blood 
sugar. A person will then crave food and sweets, which get into the 
bloodstream, stimulate the pancreas, and cause a further drop in the 
blood sugar level. After this first stage, diabetes (or hyperglycemia) 
may follow. Then the pancreas slowly deteriorate s. Diabetes causes a 
person to be dependent on insulin injections, which, while neutraliz­
ing the sugar in the blood, do nothing to activate the digestive system. Also, hyperglycemia causes the blood to become thick and heavy, 
which in tum causes the circulation to become very poo r. Then the 
heart must work harder (people with diabetes usually also have heart 
problems). Additionally, because all seven glands are inter­
connected , an improperly functioning pancreas causes the adrenal 
glands to go out of balance . This imbalance in tum affects the sex 
glands and kidneys. 4. The thymus gland governs the heart and circulatory system. Its 
condition can be ascertai ned by pressing a point midway between the 
two nipples. If the point is tender, the thymus is not functioning 
normally and circulation will be abnormal . This gland is also called 
the House of Heart. 5. The thyroid gland, which maintains the metabolism of the cells in 
the body, governs growth. It is also associated with the respiratory 
system. The gland is called the House of Growth. 6. The pituitary gland, or House of Intelligence, governs memory , 
wisdom, intelligence, and thought . It is located at the base of the 
skull, in the center of what appears to be a small hole or indentation. 1. The pineal gland, or the House of Spirit, directly affects the other 
40 l The Seven Glands Theory 
glands through its secret ions. Located at the level of the third eye , in 
the center of the head , it is the psychic and spiritual center of our 
body . Only hum an bein gs have th is glan d; only human beings 
worship God and hav e the desire and need to do so . Intuition and 
con scienc e are assoc iated with this gland . I 1 
l 
A l Pineal Gla nd 
Pitu itary Gla nd 
• 
0 • 
••• Thymus Gla nd 
Pancrea s Gla nd 
Adrenal Gla nd 
' I 
V Sex ual Gla nds 
I , I , I , I , I , 
J I I 
8 c D E F G 
Figures 2a and 2b. The Seven Glands System. 41 1 
J The Seven Glands Theory 
These seven glands may be visualized as vessels that are attached to one 
another by a series of arteries or tubes. Each vessel (gland) is dependent 
upon all the others for its supply of liquid (energy). If vessel A (the sexual 
glands) is supplied with liquid, this fluid will slowly disperse through the 
arteries to the remaining six vessels. Similarly, if vessel C (the pancreas) 
were to be drained excessively of its fluid (through a leak of some sort), 
each of the other vessels would give up a portion of their supply to 
reestablish an equilibrium within the system. This is similar to how energy 
flows within our bodies. (The modem anatomical term for the seven glands is endocrin es. Endo­
crinology is a relatively new branch in medical science, and much remains 
to be discovered by modem scientists . Yet, the ancients have already 
furnished us-with a great deal of information about the structure, nature, 
and purpose of the endocrine system and the immune system.) A state of weakness or susceptibility to disease arises when one system, 
or in this case a gland, is for some reason deprived of energy. Our task 
becomes then one of not only reestablishing the balanced flow of energy to 
overcome this weakness, but of also stimulating the flow of energy, so that 
we raise the level of energy within our bodies to its maximum. Balancing and raising the energy to its proper level through the Seven 
Glands System with the Internal Exercises is the Taoist way of strengthen­
ing the immune system. Through this method , we can then reverse our 
existing weakness and heal ourselves, as well as utilize the higher order of 
energy to open up our spiritual centers. And it is said that if one has strong 
sexual glands, one may never grow old . Dr. Alexis Carrel, a Nobel prize winner, stated that the glands system 
was a "wheel of life". If the wheel of life turned smoothly, problems 
would not arise or interfere with the cellular processes, which were perpet­
ual. Dr. Carrel, from his extensive experimentation s, concluded that every 
cell was originally immortal. It was immortal if it were not poisoned by 
polluted air, lack of oxygen, polluted food, and too much acid in the body. (As acid can destroy even stainless steel, it is not hard to imagine its effects 
on our bodies. Acids accumulate in our bodies when we eat sweets, as they 
tum into acids in our bodies. Also. a great deal of acid-enough to last 
through five hours of active digestive activity-must be produced to digest 
red meat-esp ecially barbecued meat.) Human beings die because of 
improper care and poisonings. Therefore, detoxification is the key to longevity, and Internal Exercises 
are the keys to strong glandular systems that support detoxification . 42 The Seven Glands Theory 
The sexual glands form the base of the glandular complex, and they 
support each other in an ascending order. If the first six glands are not filled 
to their capacity, then the seventh or spiritual house will not be filled either. We may quickly realize that if one were to surgically remove one of the 
glandular systems, there would be a permanent depletion or disequilibrium 
within the body . This is why, within the Taoist system of disease preven­
tion, all available routes are explored before surgery is performed , espe­
cially if it involves the sexual glands (hysterectomy or prostatectom y), as 
these compri se the basic foundation that supports all the rest. (In Western 
medicine, the seven glands are viewed as individual and independent, and 
are therefore separable. In Taoism, cutting out a gland is viewed as a crime, 
since doing so would throw the entire body out of balance and open a 
Pandora 's box of health problems. Furthermore , cutting out a part of the 
body when it is inflamed is like removing a fire detector because one does 
not like to hear it ring every time there is a fire. The tonsils, the front line of 
defense for our bodies, are just such a warning system. Because they are 
attacked by genns first and become inflamed, they are surgically removed , 
perman ently terminating their services as warning systems.) In such a case 
as the remova l of a gland, however , the Internal Exercises would still be 
important in providing a continued supply of energy and hormones to the 
body, to prevent the body from weakening further. The specific Internal Exercises for these purposes would be the Deer 
Exercise, Dragon Exercise , and one of the Twelve Zodiac Exercises. The 
Deer Exercise serves to build up the sexual energy (''fire'') which then 
supplies the rest of the glands and body with energy (heat). The Dragon 
Exercise serves to alleviate imbalanced functioning of these glands. The 
Zodiac Exercise serves to recharge these glands with the electtica l energy 
of the universe, or electromagnetism. - --- -- --- -- --
43 The Seven Glands Theory 
Illustration I. The Deer. 44 5 
The Nerve Theory 
The brain, spinal cord, and nerves are all important parts of the nervous 
system.
Stephen_T._Chang,_The_Complete_System_of_Self-Healing__Internal_Exercises.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        THE 
OF 
INTERNAL 
EXERCISES 
By Dr. Stephen T. Chang 
Tao Publishing Acknowledgements 
The author gratef ully ackn owledges the support and help of: 
Vera Brown 
Helene Chang 
Shirley Dahn 
Mako Hayamizu 
Sam Matthew 
Ed McLean 
Rick Miller 
Bjorn Overbye, M. D. Grace Roessler, Ph.
Dr. Stephen T. Chang
Who is the author of the book "The Complete System of Self-Healing"?
To promote longevity and self-healing
What is the main purpose of the Tao of Revitalization?
Energy (Chi)
What is the primary source of energy for the human body?
The Tao of Revitalization is focused on internal exercises and does not deplete the body's energy, unlike other forms of exercise
What is the main difference between the Tao of Revitalization and other forms of exercise?
To direct the flow of energy to the internal organs to heal and energize them
What is the primary goal of the Internal Exercises?