Ancient cultures developed healing arts through the observation of the cycles of nature. As their understanding of the natural world and science grew, people began to discern the various systems of the human body and the natural cycles that regulate health.

Many cultures perceived there is an underlying energy that regulates all cycles of life, including the human body systems. In China, this energy became known as chi; in Japan it is called ki, and in India it is called prana. Similar concepts are rooted throughout other cultures, such as mana in the native Hawaiian tradition.

What is common to these healing arts is they see humans as part of nature rather than separate from it. Ki connects everything, and the foundation of these healing arts is on maintaining the flow of energy in the human body so a person can access their own self-healing abilities.