Inner Alchemy (Neidan)
The term Neidan can be divided into two parts Nei meaning inner and Dan referring to alchemy, elixir and cinnabar (mercury). Neidan uses techniques such as: composed meditation techniques, visualization, breathing and bodily posture exercises. Breathing exercises were used to preserve jing or "life essence" and bodily postures were used to improve qi or "energy" flow in the body. Neidan comprises the elixir from the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the cultivation of substances already present in the body, in particular the manipulation of three substances in the body known as the "Three Treasures".
The three treasures are:
- Jing which can be translated as "life essence". A person is born with Jing and it governs the developmental growth processes in the body. Since people are born with a certain amount of Jing, it is taught that a person can increase their Jing through dietary and lifestyle practices.
- Ch'i which can be translated as "energy" or "vital energy". Ch'i energy results from the interaction of yin and yang. A healthy body is constantly circulating Ch'i.
- Shen can be translated as "spirit" or "mind". Shen is the energy used in mental, spiritual and creative functioning (Lu, 30).
The three treasures are also associated with locations in the body where the alchemical firing process can take place, known as the three dantians (Lu, 10):
- Jing or "life essence" is found in the adrenal glands.
- Ch'i or "vital energy: is found in the lower dantian, which is located just below the navel.
- Shen or "spiritual energy" is found in the upper dantian located between the eyebrows, also known as the Third eye (Jefferson (1982)).
Read more about this topic: Chinese Alchemy