What is it?
Chi nei tsang means 'working the energy of the internal organs'. It's a specialised massage therapy of the navel and abdominal area, where - according to ancient principles of kung fu and tai chi - stress, tension and negative emotions accumulate. The popular saying about having 'fire in the belly' has some reference to chi nei tsang.
Chi means life force or energy. According to traditional Chinese healing, chi must flow freely through the meridians for the body to be in harmony. Chi nei tsang identifies a strategic area called dan tian in the lower abdomen between the navel and pubic bone. It's the body's centre of gravity, where energy is stored and propelled.
Energy blockages from organ obstructions and congestion in the abdomen can result in knots at the centre of the vital functions, impeding the flow of chi. 'When this area is knotted, the body's energy and circulation is also blocked, causing loss of energy and a strain on internal organs,' says practitioner Buathon Thienarrom (above).
Where did the therapy originate?
The principles of chi nei tsang have been around since ancient times. Qigong master and author Chia Man-tak developed it into an integral part of the healing Tao system and introduced it to the west. Chia, now 60, still practices.
How does it work?