The 5 Facilitators of Healing: Part 1

How to Grow Your State of Health and Well-being

By Paul Cavel

Internal arts are practised the world over because, above all else, they have a proven track record of health and healing results. If you ask the average practitioner about the mechanisms that drive these beneficial outcomes, anecdotes are usually offered that lie more in the realm of artistic than scientific.

References to formwork that produces energy, and thereby magically heals and strengthens the body, is a common retort. Volumes of books and numerous images that range from the provocative to the wacky are even available to make the case.

The Power Is in Neigong

Upon deeper reflection, many sources beg for further investigation and certainly do not have any verifiable link to a genuine or integrated system. In fact, many internal arts schools in the West have no discernible neigong technology present at all -- that which is responsible for the health and healing benefits of qigong, tai chi and bagua. Simply put, it is the specific weaves of neigong that allow a practitioner to attain any desired, if not pragmatic, result from their training.

In this three-part article, we’ll look at how neigong can be applied to healing by reviewing three case studies. These examples are just that and illuminate only a small cavern in a sea of potential that has been harnessed for millennia to elicit profound changes in body, mind and qi. Even still, these examples outline protocols that any dedicated practitioner can apply to transform their state of health through the Five Facilitators for Healing.

The Kwa Is the Engine

The kwa is arguably the most central and important component of the internal arts training, especially in the first decade of practice. It is the key that links and connects the legs to the pelvis and spine, and initiates movement of any kind.

More specifically, the kwa creates the first stage of whole-body motion by driving and coordinating the internal content present in any form. Without the kwa engaged and active, you do not have much chance of achieving true internal exercise, or gaining the majority of the health and healing benefits available to you. Basic kwa exercises alone have tremendous healing potential, even without the necessity of extravagant formwork or techniques. (I teach the three levels of the kwa squat in my Taoist Neigong online course.)

The Kwa’s Healing Potential

Many years ago, I was presented with what was explained as a serious health issue by a family friend. A woman I had known for years reported back pain that persisted in spite of regular consumption of prescription painkillers that eventually led her doctor to prescribe a cocktail of opiates in an effort to ease her suffering. Even this heavy cocktail did not always stop the pain and, other times, it only worked to limited effect. She was beside herself from the enduring daily struggle and asked me if there was anything I could do to help.

After taking an inventory of and carefully listening to her symptoms,(1) I determined there was a high probability that she suffered from chronic sciatica. With little time on our hands, I surmised that teaching a simple kwa squat would be the best use of our time. I spent about 20 minutes with her and recommended 10-20 squats a session, two to four times each day, depending on the specific conditions of the day and her growing stamina over some weeks and months.

(1) You should always consult with your healthcare professional before taking medical advice from anyone. Also, you should never administer advice unless you are fully qualified to do so. Oliver Wendell Holmes exclaimed, “The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions”! Until you know all the safety caveats (and I do mean ALL), you should not embark on any treatment strategy, so please do not use the information contained within this article to treat anyone.

She practised what she learned diligently for a few weeks at which point I received an astounding phone call. She reported that she was off the drugs and pain free, which she has managed to maintain to the present day! I was surprised by the result, especially her speed of recovery, as she had never practised any health or healing art in her life. She was a complete beginner albeit with a lot of motivation. The tissues binding or compressing her sciatic nerve were stretched open through a regular routine of kwa squats. As the resulting pressure was released, the associated pain dissipated.

This kind of immediate relief may not be applicable to all cases of sciatica or the recovery timeline for other injuries/illnesses/conditions. I've highlighted it because the only way you will know is if you put in a little, sustained effort. And many students report what seem to be miraculous results without being particularly internal in their forms. My teacher Bruce puts this down to the fact that the movements of qigong, tai chi and bagua are so well designed that, even when done poorly, they can have incredible effects. But you've got to put in some consistent effort to know what it will take for you personally to make positive changes. Don't underestimate how much power you have with the right mindset and strategy!

Up Next!

In the next two parts, we’ll look at how the healing process shifts for dealing with high-speed, blunt-force trauma. In Part 2, I'll share my own healing journey after a motorcycle accident as well as the Five Facilitators for Healing.