What is Chi Nei Tsang?

Chi Nei Tsang is a form of somatic therapy that is based on the ancient Taoist healing tradition. During a session, the practitioner focuses on the abdominal area, massaging and manipulating the organs and tissues to release physical and emotional blockages. This technique is believed to improve digestion, boost the immune system, and promote overall well-being.

It is a powerful holistic treatment that helps release trauma from the mind, body, and spirit.

Chi Nei Tsang is a private session practiced on a massage table

Chi Nei Tsang translates to “working with the energy of the internal organs” or “internal organs’ energy transformation.” Developed by Taoist monks in ancient China, CNT is a somatic healing modality that focuses on the abdominal area, using gentle and powerful massage techniques on major organs. This technique releases physical tension and emotional traumas stored in our bodies and integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our well-being. It effectively addresses a long list of chronic conditions, such as digestive problems, headaches, chronic fatigue, menstrual cramps, sciatica, uterine fibroids, infertility, insomnia, depression, and more.  

What Is the Connection Between Organs and Emotions:

Within the womb, we are connected to our mother through the umbilical cord / navel. Our entire body grows outward from this direct link. Taoists realized the abdomen also holds our core emotions and physical patterning. When vital energies are distorted, these patterns can cause physical pain in our body, emotional disturbances, and spiritual misalignment. 

 

In recent years, Western researchers have also realized the importance of gut health, calling our abdominal area “the second brain.” This is often referred to in pop culture as “gut instinct.” Technically known as the enteric nervous system, the second brain consists of sheaths of neurons embedded in the walls of the long tube of our gut – from our mouth to the colon and out. This second brain, an average of 18 feet, contains about 100 million neurons, more than in either the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system. 

 

“The system is way too complicated to have evolved only to make sure things move out of your colon,” says Emeran Mayer, professor of physiology, psychiatry, and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA. For example, scientists have learned that about 90 percent of the fibers in the primary visceral nerve, the vagus, carry information from the gut to the brain and not the other way around. Some recent research has even found a connection between Alzheimer’s disease and certain bacterias in the gut. 

 

Taoists have known this for thousands of years, and they explain this body-mind system as below:

Heart/ Small Intestine 

These are the fire element in the Chinese medicine system. The heart, known as the “Emperor of the Five Vital Organs,” is the ruler of the body, mind, and spirit. This energy also powers the will and feeds hormones and the endocrine system. The heart works with the small intestine to store emotions, such as joy, love, and compassion. When unbalanced, we experience cruelty, judgment, and hatred instead. 

Spleen/Pancreas/Stomach

These major organs are the earth phase of our body’s energy. They act as a mediating factor within our system to help balance and blend the other energies. These organs absorb, form, and transport the energy and chi from food. The positive qualities of this energy produce feelings of spontaneity, fairness, open-mindedness, and harmony. The negative qualities cause anxiety, worry, and bad timing. 

Metal is the energy of the lungs and large intestine. The Chinese character for metal translates directly as “gold,” which implies the highest and the most evolved quality of metal. 

 

Lungs are the body’s energy forge. In the lungs, Chi from the air mixes with Chi from food and the Prenatal Chi to produce blood and two refined Chis: nutritious and defensive, all fundamental to our well-being.  

The large intestine’s function is to “let go” of toxins and waste. The ancient Taoists knew the importance of a healthy large intestine, and CNT offers the best techniques available for irrigating and clearing this organ.

Lungs /

Large Intestine

“To no other single cause is it possible to attribute one-tenth as many various and widely diverse disorders. It may be said that almost every chronic disease known is directly or indirectly due to the influence of bacterial poisons absorbed from the large intestine,” said V.E Irons, a man who spent his life trying to educate the public about the importance of the large intestine.

 

Together, the metal energy of the lungs and large intestine fills us with courage, purity, generosity, and forgiveness. When this energy is unbalanced, we feel grief and sorrow.

Kidneys / Bladder

Water, associated with the kidneys and bladder, is the body’s foundation energy, feeding energy to all the organs. It is crucial to keep the kidneys and bladder healthy so they continue to produce vital energy.

The positive emotions of the water phase of Chi are connected with alertness, gentleness, and sensuousness. When it is abundant, the body is balanced, beautiful, and powerful. When the water energy is unbalanced, we are prone to fear. 

Liver / Gallbladder

The liver is the General in charge of defending the body. This organ stores and filters the blood, regulates the blood supply, and produces proteins. It also stores toxins until it has the time to transform them into healing energy. 

 

Working together with the gallbladder, the liver stores the wood phase of the energy. When balanced, the liver and gallbladder favor generosity, justice, and creativity. When unbalanced, they make us prone to anger, rage, and resentment. 

 

As a globally certified Chi Nei Tsang practitioner, Xu has been trained to attune to the subtleties of a body’s physical nuances, energetic channels, and emotional landscapes, as well as the spiritual aspect of healing. Xu has been practicing Chi Gong, Tai Chi, and meditation for many years, training that enables her to apply refined energy to meet her clients’ individual needs and achieve their physical well-being and emotional alignment. 

 

In addition to Taoist teaching, Xu has also studied many other spiritual traditions and worked with various healing modalities, including Universal Kabbalah, IST regression, Gene Keys, and myofascial release, to name a few. Xu brings her knowledge, intuition, and compassion to her sessions to provide gentle yet powerful aids and holds a loving space for her client’s healing journeys.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • What’s the difference between CNT and reiki or any regular massage? 

    CNT utilizes much more hands-on work compared to Reiki and is much more energetically attuned than a regular massage. The CNT practice is a rich field of study that covers anatomy, medicine, and energetic understanding of the body, mind, and spirit, as well as its spiritual implication in the Taoist tradition. 

  • How to prepare for a CNT session?

    BEFORE A SESSION, it is recommended that clients:

    Do not consume any alcohol or recreational drugs for at least 24 hours prior. 

    Have a good night's sleep.

    Eat a light meal; some clients skip a meal if their body is ok with it. 

    Do not drink coffee or caffeinated tea 4 to 5 hours prior.

    Avoid drinking too much water immediately before a session.

    Wear loose and comfortable clothes so it’s easier to change once you have arrived. 

  • How to self care after a CNT session? 

    AFTER A SESSION, eat light and drink plenty of hot or room temperature water or herbal tea. We recommend stew or soup. Take a hot bath, if you can. Don’t do anything too drastic; take it easy for at least a day and give your body a chance to relax and keep releasing. Go to bed early and get plenty of sleep.

  • How long is each season and how much does it cost?

    Each session lasts for approximately two hours and costs $350.

  • How many sessions does one need and how frequently?

    This depends on many different factors; 

    If you have some health goals you are currently working on, once a week is a good start. 

    Xu also has clients who have sessions once every 2-4 weeks for wellness maintenance. 

    Out-of-town clients may do a CNT focus week which means 3 to 4 sessions within a few days. 

    Please feel free to email us for a free consultation. 

  • Where are you located? 

    Xu is based in West Los Angeles, California.

Last Note

 Please take note that the primary purpose of CNT is to reverse the degeneration of organs and tissues, and improve their function. It does not directly treat diseases or chronic problems. By focusing on organ repair and energy balance, and making necessary lifestyle modifications, CNT can guide clients towards improved health and overall wellness.

Testimonials

  • After working with Xu for several sessions, I have discovered a whole new level of openness with my physical body. At the same time there has also been an energetic shift that is quite profound. She’s a gifted healer and her calming presence has allowed me to go deeper than ever before. This has all come at a perfect time when I really need the support and I look forward to exploring these techniques further.

    Bryan B.

  • Xu is a healer. It's like she is a beam of light sent directly from the cosmos. The first time I saw her it took me a while to get comfortable. I wasn't accustomed to doing body work, but after the second and the third time I could tell that my body was learning to trust her work and I could definitely feel a difference in the quality and the depth of the healing in which we were able to go. The more sessions I have with her the more in tune I feel like I'm becoming with my own body. It's amazing that I've lived in my body for so long but I haven't been able to work out these blockages or even find the source of them. Xu helps guide my body to the places it needs to go in order to let the healing begin.

    Cindi K

  • Everyone wants to look and feel better. Xu lovingly offers a clear and empowering pathway towards radiant health and vibrant well-being. Her energy is amazing as she joyfully shares her extensive knowledge of ancient healing techniques and tools. I am eternally grateful for such a compassionate, effective and gifted healer to inspire and nurture my personal journey of transformation and growth.

    Marsha H.

  • Working with Xu has been an absolutely transformative experience. A year ago, I could not have imagined how I would be showing up at this present moment in my journey. From every speck of dust that has been kicked up to each moment of vivid clarity, there has been a progressively deeper self-understanding. Xu’s dedication and guidance has unlocked multitudes of unrealized potential, fostering a consistent growth of independence and self-reliance. I now feel more equipped with the tools and knowledge that enable me to adapt to any life challenges that may arise. For Xu, I give my utmost gratitude and appreciation for how far I have come and how far I will go.

    Billy T

  • I’m so glad I met Xu and started treatments with her! In her practice she embodies skill, intuition and integrity, and in her presence she is direct and compassionate, swimming with ease through the spectrum of emotions that come up during the session. Some words that describe Xu: sensitive, powerful, respectful, irreverent, creative, intelligent, radiant. Chingona! Treatments with Xu go way beyond the appointment hours. The healing that happens on her table comes home and becomes part of me, I’m responsible for this part, and I feel supported by Xu’s enthusiasm for my own healing as well as her instruction on techniques & practices I can do on my own. She has deep professional integrity, and truly wants her clients to shine like the sun. Thank you Xu!!

    Ako C

  • I’ve worked with Xu for nearly a year and it has been nothing short of wonderful. My work with her has allowed me a deeper connection with my body which has reverberated through all areas of my life. I show up more fully, feel more anchored in the present, and I’ve been able to heal old patterns. Xu is generous with her wisdom and allows your body to lead the session. Give yourself the gift of working with Xu and see your connection to your body and life transform.

    Brittany A