[Health Preservation] Cultivate Qi and Blood, Develop the Brain

Wu Chao Hui (JEFFI CHAO HUI WU)

Article Date: July 18, 2025, Friday, 9:13 AM

Many people, upon hearing "developing the brain," immediately think of speed reading, memory techniques, logical training, and math competitions. But the path I have taken is completely different. Instead of stimulating the brain, it starts from cultivating the vital energy and blood. Once the "land" of the body comes to life, the "main city" of the brain will naturally become enlightened.

I have always been clear-headed, but the clarity after practicing is purer; it is a kind of transparency, a state with fewer distractions, a sense of clarity like sunlight filtering through a mountain stream. It is not the excitement of a heated mind, nor is it the forced energy built up by coffee, but rather a smooth flow of energy throughout the body, allowing the brain to start functioning on its own, with thoughts flowing freely and structures in order.

How much does practicing Qi and blood help in developing the brain? I use the simplest analogy: the brain is like a piece of land rich in potential, while Qi and blood are the rivers, lakes, and the rain and dew. If you ask a farmer how to revive the land, he won't tell you to memorize formulas or do exercises; instead, he will tell you to first channel water, irrigate, and cultivate. The same goes for the brain. Medical research has long pointed out that about 96% of the human brain is in a state of "under-activation." This is not due to a lack of intelligence, but rather insufficient nourishment—without Qi and blood, nerve cells do not receive energy, pathways are blocked, and networks are inactive, just like a city with clogged circuits; no matter how advanced the server, it cannot operate.

The most direct manifestation of blocked qi and blood is dullness. Many people are not actually slow-witted; rather, their minds are sluggish, thoughts fail to surface, logic cannot connect, speech is fragmented, and actions are delayed—not because they cannot, but because "qi and blood have not reached their destination." Once qi and blood are unblocked, even without deliberate brain training, many areas that were previously dormant will gradually awaken, and inspiration, self-awareness, focus, and a sense of structure will quietly increase.

I am the most direct example. For six consecutive years, I have been getting up at 4:45 AM every day to practice by the seaside, rain or shine. The sea breeze in the coldest winter is only about 6 to 9 degrees Celsius, yet I practice in summer clothes until my back is soaked with sweat; when the temperature is high, I am completely drenched in sweat throughout the session. Every day, I practice Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, horse stance, and the golden rooster stands on one leg, sometimes adding a complete set of Yi Jin Jing to conclude. I practice for 1.5 hours every day, maintaining this routine for many years.

The most obvious change is not that my "body is stronger," but that my "mind is quicker." After practicing in the morning, I can go home and start writing without even washing my hands; I can begin to write and the paragraphs form naturally, with a coherent structure. I can write a thousand-word article in one go and produce several coherent pieces in succession without any interruptions. Many friends think I have a way with words, but that's not the case; it's because the "water supply system" in my body is functioning well, and the "crop area" in my brain is naturally thriving, requiring no artificial fertilization and yielding abundant results.

Many people enjoy engaging in brain development courses, right-brain image training, speed reading training, and so on, but I believe these are still on the periphery. What is truly fundamental is to ensure that the body's energy and blood flow smoothly, especially along the main channels of the spine, the back of the brain, and the thoracic vertebrae. The practice of Tai Chi sword particularly connects these lines, from the sinking of the hips at the soles of the feet, to the stretching of the waist and spine, to the fingers extending through the arms, and finally rising at the Baihui point. This "structural upward" tension naturally promotes blood supply to the brain, and over time, memory improves, judgment becomes clearer, and decision-making becomes more stable and accurate, without any forceful effort; it simply exists there.

I am not practicing mythical exercises, nor am I promoting metaphysics. My practice never relies on intention, does not focus on the dantian, and does not involve fantasizing about energy circulating within the body. What I practice is structure, standing postures, spinal guidance, and the real circulation of qi and blood. Each time I simply stand in posture, I can measure my heart rate reaching around 140, yet my body feels not fatigued, but rather light all over. This is not "fat-burning exercise," but rather an efficient cycle of qi and blood.

If you want your brain to be faster, clearer, and more inspired, I wouldn't suggest that you start by reading books, memorizing words, or doing logic puzzles. I recommend that you first practice your body, improve your circulation, especially through standing meditation, stabilizing your lower body, aligning your structure, and lengthening your breath. Even if it's just standing for ten minutes a day, after a period of time, you will find that your thinking becomes clearer, your speech flows better, your memory retains more, and even some things that you "couldn't express" suddenly become clear.

Smart people are not born with talent; they are nurtured through hard work. Intelligence is not developed through mere practice; it is cultivated through nourishment. Those abilities buried deep within you may have never been discovered, simply because—you have never truly allowed your energy and vitality to nurture them.

Practicing to regulate qi and blood is the master key to unlocking the brain.