Tai Chi regimen is an important manifestation of Tai Chi culture. Throughout the Chinese civilization in the past thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine and the Tai Chi theory have been interconnected, both stressing yin-yang balance, coincidence with nature, and health preservation as per time and place.

Health preservation in the way of Tai Chi has so far had a history of thousands of years. Early in the pre-Qin era, there were people practicing the Tai Chi regimen, which later developed into Taoist arts; in the meanwhile, it gradually fused with traditional Chinese medicine theory, thus influencing Chinese health preservation view all the time.

The supreme domain of ancient Chinese philosophy is Qi. The concept of Qi is quite abstract; it is the chaos creating all things in the universe, the most fundamental element forming the material world, and the source and driving force of human life. There is Qi of Yin and Yang; Yin and Yang gave rise to Wuxing, and Wuxing to all things.

In Tai Chi regimen, preserving Qi is the foundation, which concerns all other aspects of the human body. Colorless, formless, invisible and untouchable, Qi flows inside and outside the human body.

Specifically, Qi has the function of stimulating and promoting body development, blood circulation and the operation of meridians, and is capable of defending diseases. Once the movement of Qi is out of gear, the human body will suffer from various symptoms such as the vacuity, depression or counter-flow of Qi.

The abnormal movement of Qi can be further differentiated into Qixu (vacuity of Qi), Qixian (sinking of Qi), Qituo (collapse of Qi), Qiyu (depression of Qi), Qizhi (stagnation of Qi), and Qini (counter-flow of Qi). Qixu refers to deficiency of Qi, clinically featured by cold hands and feet, dizziness, tiredness and lack of strength, pale complexion, anorexia, and weak pulse. Qixian means further development of Qixu, clinically featured by eating little food, abdominal distension, anus falling, and diarrhea. Qituo means that Qi is so deficient that it is nearly absent, clinically featured by shallow breath, vertigo, paleness, cold limbs, weak pulse, and hyperhidrosis. Qiyu means anxiety, anger and unhappiness, clinically featured by impatience, bitter taste and throat dryness, red eyes and tinnitus, and constipation. Qizhi means obstructed movement of Qi, clinically featured by swelling pain of obstructed meridians, muscles and joints. Qini means disordered rise and fall of Qi, clinically featured by cough, asthma, nausea, vomit, regurgitation, and even dizziness and faint.

To preserve health, therefore, one must first preserve Qi. This is the foundation for physical and mental health and the radical guarantee for the normal functioning of other organs and tissues inside the body.