The exact origins of CNT are unknown. What is known, is that Tao sages in ancient China who dedicated their lives to meditating, studying internal alchemy and the relationship between nature and the body, created the foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory and CNT. It is said that the practices date back anywhere from 300 to 3,000 B.C., but could very well be older as most knowledge was passed down by oral tradition before the Yellow Emperors Classic of Medicine and Tao Te Ching were written. 

 

Of the various causes of sickness in TCM, emotional disturbances and pathogenic wind in the body are the two that are specifically addressed in treatment. The emotions: anger, fear, worry, joy, anxiety and grief are normal, but if they are out of proportion they can damage the internal organs. While wind in the body is also considered normal, it too can invade the body wreaking havoc. Each organ has its own internal temperature and level of moisture, and wind can disrupt this important balance causing stress to the organs.

 

In CNT there are techniques to remove wind from the body with and without physical contact. Chi Kung and Tai Chi are important practices which allow practitioners to become more sensitive to these subtle energies. They also ensure practitioners do not fall victim to burnout or the sickness of their clients.