Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Chi Nei Tsang
What does Chi Nei Tsang mean?
“Chi” means life energy and information, and “nei tsang” means viscera or internal organs. Therefore, "Chi Nei Tsang" means "working the energy of the internal organs," and is a form of applied Chi Kung. What is Chi Nei Tsang? Chi Nei Tsang (pronounced Chee Nay Tsang) was developed in ancient times by Chinese Taoist monks in order to detoxify, strengthen and refine their bodies for the highest level of spiritual awareness. It has been adopted for modern use and is now used by spiritual seekers as well as people from all walks of life who are looking for greater health and well-being. CNT uses a combination of gentle, sensitive healing touch, breathwork, and energy work to help the body to clear out stored emotional energy and physical toxins. At the same time Chi Nei Tsang trains our internal organs to work more efficiently. Chi Nei Tsang is complementary to other healing modalities, such as acupuncture and psychotherapy. Why is Chi Nei Tsang important? Today the abdominal area of the body is often neglected in the healing process. In most healing arts the work is from the periphery of the body towards the center. Yet the lower abdomen is the energetic center of the body and the place where emotions are held and where breath and movement begin. What is so different about CNT is that it goes to the very roots of physical and emotional problems and improves the health of our vital organs. See my article: “The Second Brain: How your Belly has a Mind of Its Own.” Although some people have a feeling of discomfort at the thought of their abdomen being touched, when people experience CNT they find it nurturing and calming. The most common reasons for people seeking CNT treatments is because they are experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, grief, digestive problems, menstrual and related problems. Sometimes people are in therapy and seeking CNT to go to a deeper level in their healing. Is Chi Nei Tsang Holistic? CNT practitioners are trained in a holistic approach in which all aspects of your emotional and physical well-being are addressed. Whatever the symptoms, the CNT practitioner works with the whole person. All areas of our bodies are in deep communication with one another. Who can Benefit from Chi Nei Tsang? Almost anyone can benefit from the relaxing and stress relieving qualities of Chi Nei Tsang. People needing support for their digestive, respiratory, cardio-vascular, lymphatic, nervous, endocrine, urinary, reproductive systems may find Chi Nei Tsang to be a gentle, life enhancing solution. Chi Nei Tsang is also helpful when difficult emotions are involved with chronic illness, as Chi Nei Tsang brings awareness and support to the process of digesting repressed emotions. CNT is especially helpful for women’s issues such as infertility and menstrual issues. Chi Nei Tsang is also useful in helping abdominal pain (some people refer to this as a “stomach problem”), constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, as well as helping people with chronic back problems associated with visceral imbalance. CNT helps low self-esteem, low energy, depression, chronic fatigue, relationship problems and healing from trauma. Whatever the symptoms, the CNT practitioner works with the whole person. Many people come for CNT treatments because they are ill, in pain or experiencing symptoms of discomfort. Others are feeling stuck, going through deep change or needing to heal from stress and trauma. While they may know the story of what happened to them, they are still being affected by past events. For Prevention: CNT can help you to maintain your health by encouraging your organs to work better. In this way it’s an important way to take care of yourself and to prevent illness from developing. What does Chi Nei Tsang Do? CNT helps you to connect more deeply with yourself. A treatment detoxifies, restructures and strengthens the body. While focusing mainly on the abdomen, the entire body and existence of the person are affected. All systems of the body are addressed, including digestion, respiration, nervous and reproductive systems, as well as the immune system. CNT stimulates the internal organs to work more efficiently and helps correct postural problems resulting from imbalance in the abdominal area. Deep-seated tensions are released and vitality restored. The body resumes more optimal functioning. Most importantly, CNT helps people to grow and change by listening to their bodies. Often people experience CNT to further develop their insight and well-being. They may have experienced other healing modalities but are looking for a deeper, more effective approach. CNT goes to the deepest roots of your physical and emotional problems, improving the health and well-being of the whole person. Healing is on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level, leading to greater clarity and insight into one’s life purpose. 
I’m stressed out, can CNT help me?
Yes, CNT is very helpful for stress. When we are under stress our bodies respond as if we are in a continual emergency. In "fight or flight mode," our breathing and heart rate accelerate and our digestive functions slow down. The normal, regular maintenance and repair of the body is disrupted. We may feel tired and sluggish or agitated. Or we may not be aware of stress until some part of our body begins to break down and we have a symptom, i.e., a digestive disorder, depression, headache or sleep disturbance. Symptoms are signals the body uses to tell us to pay attention and to seek healing. Does Chi Nei Tsang diagnose diseases? No. It is important that your disease be diagnosed by a medical practitioner. A yearly medical checkup is recommended. |
What is a CNT treatment like? Your Chi Nei Tsang treatment will take place in a warm, comfortable, and quiet room. The first Chi Nei Tsang session is one and a half hours. Thereafter, the sessions are one hour. A treatment begins with a dialogue between you and your CNT practitioner. You have the opportunity to discuss your health history and any current issue(s) you wish to address with the treatment. You will lie on your back on a table especially designed for your comfort and a pillow under your knees. You will be fully clothed. I help you to relax and breathe deeply. Then I work on your abdomen with a deep, soft and gentle touch. (CNT often promotes a deep state of relaxation so that healing can occur.) You may even fall asleep, which is fine, as it’s part of the healing process. I may also teach you self-help techniques such as abdominal self-massage, and/or give guidance about diet, breathing, cleansing and other health-related and lifestyle matters. What will I experience after the treatment? After a Chi Nei Tsang treatment people often feel more “in their bodies” and much more relaxed and connected with themselves on a physical and emotional level during, and sometimes for days after a session. There can be a broad range of individual results from session to session as well as person to person. Sometimes people feel more present, things seem clearer, more vivid. Some people get tired and need to sleep for hours after a session. Others get an energy boost, and feel great for the rest of the day. You can experience different emotions or vivid dreams after the session. Some people do not feel much at all. You may experience change during the treatment, and/or during the days or weeks after the treatment. What conditions does CNT address? CNT addresses the whole person, regarding physical, mental and emotional aspects of healing as interconnected . CNT helps people to grow and change by listening to their bodies. Pain and other symptoms are understood not as problems to be fixed but as messages to pay attention to. Such an approach brings about true healing rather than simply curing the symptoms. Anyone can benefit from Chi Nei Tsang. I have worked with people who have manifested symptoms such as: menstrual disorders, infertility, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, emotional/physical trauma, depression, anxiety, constipation/diarrhea, cancers, and anorexia/bulemia, chronic pain, and other effects of stress and trauma, chronic fatigue, obesity, chronic pain, insomnia and addiction. Clients often experience such benefits as: greater energy, emotional resilience, enhanced self-esteem, deepened spirituality, expanded creativity and comfort in intimacy. How often will I need sessions? The number and frequency of treatments varies according to each person’s needs. Some people come weekly, some every other week, once a month, or when they need to. Similar to acupuncture and other healing modalities, ongoing sessions can be beneficial. At the same time that CNT is a treatment, it is also a learning process, so you can always benefit from the work. The number and frequency of sessions depends upon the individual. Between sessions I sometimes give homework relating to diet, self-help manipulations, and other helpful suggestions. What are the emotional / mental benefits of working on the abdomen? We tend to build up stress , tension and emotions in the abdomen. CNT helps us to release these old emotions so our emotional and mental life can be cleared. Then we can evolve and mature emotionally. Why is the navel important? In utero( in the womb), a fetus receives nutrients from its mother through the umbilical cord that is connected to the unborn child's navel. Surrounding the navel are layers of smooth connective tissue called "fascia" that wrap around our abdominal organs and muscles, holding everything in place. Working around the navel can improve the client's energy flow. Can Chi Nei Tsang be combined with western medicine or any other modality? CNT is an excellent complement to all modalities. If you are currently undergoing treatment by a healthcare professional, you can let your practitioner know that you are receiving CNT sessions. If you are currently taking medication, be sure to check in with your doctor regularly to monitor the appropriate dosages. It is possible that once you begin to heal you may need to adjust your medication or change prescriptions. Can CNT help me heal from trauma? I have specialized in helping people to heal from stress and trauma for 20 years, while providing the safety and support to work on very subtle and deep levels. We may know the story of what happened to us, or we may have forgotten. With Ch Nei Tsang we can gently release the grip of these tensions so we are no longer being affected by what happened. Then better functioning is restored to all the organs of the body, and, since every organ, every cell is connected, our total functioning improves. If I am about to have surgery, should I have CNT sessions? Many of my clients use CNT before surgery to prepare body and mind. CNT can help the body heal faster by bringing energy flow to the abdomen BEFORE and AFTER surgery. Can CNT help me to connect more with my creativity? Please refer to my article, “The Healing Power of Art” Please call or text me at (510) 601-5565 with any questions and/or to schedule a session. A free telephone consultation is available. You can also go to the Contact page and fill out the form and I will get back to you. Housecalls can be arranged. Find me on Google+ +Profile +Business Page 
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