Zhuo Zhao
Editor’s note:The term “太素” (“tai su”) refers to the original substance. In the text “乾凿度” (“Qián Záο Dù”), it is mentioned: “In ancient times, the sages, due to yin and yang, established the message, establishing the universe to govern heaven and earth. For the material to be born from the immaterial, how did the universe settle? It is said that there is ‘Tai Yi’ (Extreme Simplicity), there is ‘Tai Chu’ (Extreme Beginning), there is ‘Tai Shi’ (Extreme Initiation), and there is ‘Tai Su’ (Extreme Substance). ‘Tai Yi’ is the stage before its energy is visible; ‘Tai Chu’ is the beginning of the energy; ‘Tai Shi’ is the beginning of form, and ‘Tai Su’ is the beginning of substance.” This passage describes the four stages of the formation of the universe, revealing the process of change from the formless to the formed state of matter, providing a direction for understanding the origin and transformation of matter.
“The holistic existence realm” refers to the universe as a comprehensive existence domain, where all existing entities contain the entirety of information and characteristics within them, and the human body is no exception. “Tai Su therapy” considers the vascular system as an “entity” possessing uniqueness and autonomy.
“Complete living organism” is a further comprehension of the holistic existence realm within the human body, comprising four components: physiological (physical) body, mental body, life source (innate energy), and individual energetic attributes (sex, destiny theory). From the four components of a complete living organism, it can be observed that existence has four facets, of which only one is observable and visible.
Tai Su therapy believes that: blood vessels are the second “heart” in our body, constituting the largest circulatory system aside from the heart. Moreover, blood vessels are not mere blood conduits; they are intelligent integrations capable of continuous contraction and peristalsis.
Arterial vessels pulsate from the inside out, generating rhythmic contractions that produce outward propulsion. Veins, on the other hand, rhythmically contract from the outside in, generating inward recovery force. The left ventricle only pumps blood into the large arterial vessels. It is the force generated by this continuous contraction and peristalsis that can provide a continuous inward driving force, effectively pushing fresh blood towards our organs and limbs, delivering nutrients to our various tissues and cells.Similarly, the continuous inward contraction of venous blood vessels creates the force for venous blood to flow back towards the heart, not solely relying on the negative pressure generated during the relaxation of the right atrium. While this negative pressure plays a role in venous return, it is minimal. The contraction and propulsion from capillaries to small veins and then to large veins have already returned venous blood to the entrance of the right atrium. Opening the atrial valve will naturally allow it to flow back to the right atrium of the heart. The same principle applies to pulmonary circulation.
The passage from “Ling Shu-Jing Mai” has been widely quoted and disseminated: “The meridians are often invisible, their emptiness or fullness discerned through the qi opening; all visible pulses are connected to the vessels.” The statement “The meridians, able to determine life and death, treat various illnesses, balance deficiency and excess, must be unblocked” has become the basis for many people seeking meridians. It is further explained that “all vessels cannot pass through large joints, they must take separate paths to exit; they reunite in the skin, and their connections are visible externally.” The passage “Bones are the beams, vessels are the supply routes, tendons are the ropes, flesh is the wall, the skin is firm, and hair grows long. Grains enter the stomach, and when the vessel pathways are open, blood and qi circulate” implies that vessels are the barracks of blood, and once the vessel pathways are open, blood and qi can circulate. Here, the vessel pathways refer to the blood vessels in our body.
The terms used here include meridians, collateral vessels, and Sun vessels, which correspond to the major blood vessels, intermediate blood vessels, and capillaries in modern medicine.
The total length of blood vessels in the human body is approximately 100,000 kilometers, roughly equivalent to two and a half times the circumference of the Earth. The vascular network is densely woven throughout the body, covering various organs, skin, and tissues. With each heartbeat, blood is pumped out by the heart, passing through large arteries, medium-sized arteries, and small arteries. It then travels through capillaries and intercellular spaces, enters small veins, medium veins, and finally returns to the heart through large veins.
The human body has around over 100 billion blood vessels in total. Therefore, with each heartbeat, blood from the heart travels through the entire network of capillaries, eventually returning to the heart. This process plays a crucial role in the exchange of nutrients and substances.
Imagine if the blood vessels did not have the rhythmic peristaltic force generated by their contractions. How far could blood travel solely relying on the pressure generated by the contraction of the heart? Without the contracting force of veins, how could the relaxation force of the right atrium pump distant venous blood back to the heart? If blood vessels didn’t have the rhythmic peristaltic force, the venous blood above the heart could potentially flow down to the heart naturally due to Earth’s gravity. However, without clear channels, the descent would be very slow. Moreover, the veins below the heart would not be able to rely solely on the relaxation pressure of the right atrium to draw venous blood from the lower limbs back to the heart.
If that were the case, the load on our heart would be immense.
Similarly, arterial blood could flow down naturally below the heart due to Earth’s gravity. Still, it would be impossible for blood to reach various tissues and cells at the top, especially above the heart, relying solely on the contraction force of the left ventricle. Furthermore, with a heart pressure of only 70-95 mmHg and a brain pressure ranging from 110-160 mmHg, it is absolutely impossible for the heart pressure of 70 or 95 to push against the significantly higher brain pressure of 110-160 mmHg. The direction of fluid flow is determined by pressure or potential energy, and the high-speed flow of fluid in a pipeline is determined by the absolute high pressure. So the question arises: how can the heart pressure of 70-95 mmHg overcome the significantly higher brain pressure of 110-160 mmHg? Where does the additional pressure come from? Unless there is a relay pump for additional pressure, no such physiological structure has been found in human anatomy.
In this case, there is only one explanation: our blood vessels are capable of self-pressurization. We know that when a snake swallows food, it doesn’t inhale it by opening its mouth, nor does it rely on the segmented pushing of its teeth into its stomach, especially since the snake’s teeth do not have a segmented function (snake teeth serve to inject venom and lock onto prey during feeding). Instead, it relies on the peristaltic contractions of the esophagus to generate squeezing pressure, pushing the prey evenly into its stomach. Our esophagus, duodenum, small intestine, and rectum all function in a similar manner. Under the force of peristaltic contractions, both solid and liquid foods move in this way, and the flow of blood should also follow suit.
Therefore, the construction of the human body requires the arteries of the neck, vertebral arteries, and all arteries within the skull to have greater elasticity and pressure-bearing capacity compared to blood vessels in other parts of the body. They need to be of higher quality, more elastic, tougher, and thicker. This is because these vessels generate and withstand significant pressure. If the major arteries in our neck and limbs were subjected to the same level of trauma, the chances of survival would be extremely slim for the neck arteries due to the tremendous pressure and the very large volume of blood spurting out per unit of time.
The blood vessels in our body, except for capillaries, which are composed of a single layer of cells, are structured into three layers: the outer layer, middle layer, and inner layer.
Outer Layer (Adventitia): Composed of loose connective tissue, elastic fibers, and collagen fibers. Middle Layer (Media): Located between the inner and outer layers, it is mainly composed of connective tissue and smooth muscle. The middle layer is crucial for maintaining the vessel’s contraction and relaxation, as well as elasticity. Inner Layer (Intima): The innermost layer of the blood vessel, it is the thinnest of the three layers. It plays a significant role in maintaining the integrity of the vessel and preventing the formation of blood clots. This layered structure is a unique feature of blood vessels.
This characteristic of interspersed smooth muscle is not merely for maintaining the elasticity and contraction of blood vessels; it creates a magical effect of peristaltic contraction under the control of accompanying nerves. It is this effect that generates the continuous forward propulsion of blood, giving rise to the phenomenon of blood circulation.
The human heart, resembling a peach, is located above the diaphragm, slightly to the left between the two lungs. It is primarily composed of cardiac muscle and has four chambers: the left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium, and right ventricle. The function of the heart is to initiate the flow of blood, providing organs and tissues with an adequate blood supply for oxygen and various nutrients. Simultaneously, it removes metabolic end products (such as carbon dioxide, urea, and uric acid), maintaining normal cellular metabolism and function.
However, are blood vessels autonomously contracting without external influences? Certainly not.
We know that the system most similar in distribution to blood vessels is our nervous system, which consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes cranial nerves (12 pairs), spinal nerves (31 pairs), and the autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system further divides into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
(1)Sympathetic Nervous System: It controls the smooth muscles of the visceral organs, glands, and blood vessels, regulating the functions and activities of these tissues and organs. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system leads to accelerated heartbeat, increased myocardial contraction force, heightened metabolism, pupil dilation, and constriction of blood vessels in the abdominal viscera and peripheral skin.
(2)Parasympathetic Nervous System: Stimulation of this system enhances gastrointestinal peristalsis, slows down the heartbeat, causes pupil constriction, increases glandular secretion, and relaxes sphincter muscles. Most organs and tissues in the human body are under the dual control of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, ensuring mutual coordination and promotion of visceral activities in the cerebral cortex.
Therefore, the contraction of blood vessels is not independent of neural control. Blood vessels are accompanied by specific nerves, and these nerves control the blood vessels. Simultaneously, blood vessels nourish the accompanying nerves. However, it’s not a one-to-one relationship, where one nerve consistently accompanies one blood vessel. Instead, major nerves control large blood vessels, intermediate nerves control medium-sized blood vessels, and smaller nerves control capillaries. This segmentation ensures that if there is an abnormality in the accompanying intermediate nerve, the blood vessels it controls may not contract or only partially contract. However, the normal large nerve upstream, controlling large arteries, will still push blood towards the affected medium-sized vessels. Similarly, if there is an abnormality in the intermediate nerve, and the medium-sized vessels do not contract or only partially contract, the downstream accompanying small nerve, controlling capillaries, will still function normally. This allows the normally contracting small vessels to have a sucking effect on the blood in the affected medium-sized vessels, facilitating blood flow.
Here, the most feared occurrence of circulatory disorders is the compression of accompanying major nerves, often manifested at the vertebral foramen of the spine. If the twisting, tilting, or displacement of the vertebrae presses on a sequentially innervated nerve, the main blood vessel it controls may cease or reduce peristalsis due to a lack of electrical signals. When the heart pumps blood into the major blood vessels, they cannot effectively coordinate increased pressure and rapidly propel blood into the branching vessels of the next level. Even if peristalsis is normal in downstream medium and small vessels, relying solely on this suction force is far from sufficient. This results in insufficient downstream blood supply, leading to a deficiency in the supply of oxygen and nutrients. Consequently, the muscles under the nerve’s control become weakened, exhibiting abnormal muscle function, eventually leading to muscle atrophy. The affected organs, due to the lack of oxygen and nutrient supply, also show abnormal function, resulting in a decrease in efficiency over time.
If the compression affects the nerves controlling the heart, insufficient circulation in the heart itself may occur, leading to a decline in cardiac function. Prolonged compression may result in conditions such as heart failure and coronary heart disease.
Similarly, if the nerves controlling the lungs are compressed, there may be impaired blood supply to the lungs. This can lead to some lung alveoli being unable to open autonomously, failing to function normally, and causing a decrease in lung capacity. Over time, this can lead to the formation of lung nodules, bullae, and pulmonary fibrosis. Symptoms may include chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
The compression of nerves affecting all organs results in a similar outcome: a decline in the function of the organs, leading to organic lesions over time.
In the classic Chinese medical text “Ling Shu – Jing Mai,” it is stated: “The meridians have the function of determining life and death, managing various diseases, adjusting deficiencies and excesses, and must not be blocked.” This serves as the basis for Tai Su therapy, which seeks the root cause of illness, investigates symptoms, and treats both the root and the manifestation.
Traditional Chinese medicine’s pulse diagnosis, which involves feeling the pulse at the wrists, neck, ankles, and groin, explores the presence of meridians. The Three Parts Nine Positions diagnostic method primarily focuses on the pulse at the wrists, investigating the condition of the meridians. When pathogenic factors invade, abnormal pulsations can be observed at the wrist pulse, allowing for the diagnosis of diseases based on the pulse’s fluctuations.
In the classification of pulse types, the slippery pulse is categorized as the sixth type – the solid pulse category. Characteristics of the slippery pulse include a pulse shape that is smooth and round, with extremely fluid pulsations. There is a sensation of rotation and rolling from the radial artery to the carotid artery, which can be understood as a smooth and flowing pulse, summarized as being smooth, round, and resembling pearls moving on a plate.
Why does there exist a sensation of rotation and rolling from the radial artery to the carotid artery, resembling pearls moving on a plate? Isn’t this the feeling of peristaltic movement? When a large snake devours another of its kind, this peristaltic movement, characterized by rotation and rolling from head to tail, resembling pearls moving on a plate, is clearly visible!
Additionally, in a state of overall health, a smooth, rapid, and gentle pulse indicates a sign of abundant nourishment of the protective and nutritive qi. This falls under the category of a normal pulse and is commonly observed in young and middle-aged individuals. For women of childbearing age, if a smooth pulse is observed during the cessation of menstruation, it may be considered whether pregnancy is a possibility.
Isn’t this because the blood and qi are robust, ready for pregnancy, unstoppable, and the manifestation of assertive peristaltic movements generating propulsive force in blood vessels? It has always been there; it’s just not always evident.
Therefore, the primary factor in maintaining human health is the smooth functioning of the nervous system. Only with smooth nerves can there be normal peristaltic movement of blood vessels, leading to the nourishment of the body with a river-like flow of blood, resulting in normal physiological indicators in various aspects of our body.
Tai Su therapy begins with the dispersal points of the central nervous system, establishing a system of dialectical treatment for diseases. It emphasizes the health of the spine, considering everything from the perspective of the spine. Only when the spine is healthy can the myriad meridians be unobstructed, leading to the health of organs and the flexibility of tendons and bones. Except for normal aging and accidental injuries or infectious causes, all other factors should “fulfill their natural lifespan and live to be a hundred years before departing.”
About the Author:
Zhao Zhuo is a chiropractic expert, founder of Taisu Muscle and Bone Therapy, founder of Sichuan Youbi Medical Research Institute, and president of Shan Xi Louguantai Taoist Medical Culture Research Institute.
