Introduction to the Tong Ren Therapy - Energy Healing Method

The information below pertains to the Tong Ren Therapy system developed by Tom Tam, a prominent Boston area acupuncturist and healer. The system is used within our "Guinea Pig" Healing Classes which are now located in many parts of the world. Tong Ren Therapy has proven helpful in a wide range of cases, including many conditions that are difficult to treat such as Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease.

The Energy Healing aspects of Tong Ren Therapy are part of the larger Tom Tam Healing System which utilizes acupuncture, qi gong and tuina for healing. The system is based on Master Tam's years of clinical practice and research and utilizes both western and eastern medical thought.

The questions and answers below are those commonly asked with regards to the Tong Ren Healing System and the "Guinea Pig" Healing Classes. If you have any questions that are not answered below, feel free to ask in our forums.

View Patient Testimonials and News Stories to get individual viewpoints on this method of healing.

What is Tong Ren Energy Healing?

Tong Ren energy healing was developed by Tom Tam as a therapy for internally healing a patient's energy system by using the collective unconscious, as defined by Dr. Carl Jung, for internally accessing that energy system.

Tom has found that Tong Ren energy healing is an effective method for healing people with cancer and other serious illnesses. In the winter of 2001, Tom successfully healed a client with lung cancer by using energy healing exclusively. After that, Tom set up a healing class for cancer patients and, at the same time, took the opportunity to train his students in this healing technique. By February 2002, the first healing class began. During the next three years, more than 2200 people have attended the Guinea Pig healing classes. As of late, the class has drawn people with diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lyme Disease, RSD, and HIV/AIDS - to name a few. People regularly come from other states and other countries to attend the healing class.

Why do we call it the "Guinea Pig" Healing Class?

Chinese custom believes that when you have found a lucky name you never change it. In the beginning, when practicing Tong Ren healing, new methods were tried for healing the most difficult cases. Patients were told that they would be part of a "Guinea Pig" class. After the patients in the class received the "Chi" energy healing, many success stories began to surface and we saw dramatic results week by week. The name "Guinea Pig" class became a lucky symbol to Tom, his students and the patients. So it remains "Guinea Pig class" to this day!

What are Guinea Pig Healing Classes?

Guinea Pig classes are group-healing sessions using Tong Ren therapy. The classes typically serve sixty or more patients each session and take an average of one minute per patient. The patients are seated facing the group leader and often a group of assistants. The group leader has an interactive dialog with each patient to determine the patient's diagnosis and condition. They then determines the treatment points to be addressed for the patient and they direct their activity to accessing the collective unconscious and applying energy to the treatment points. Patient contact and even close proximity to the patient are not required. During each patient's therapy, we will typically ask the patient for his or her current condition and any sensations he or she may feel. We determine the length of time that treatment is required for each patient and then move on to the next patient.

The Guinea Pig classes utilize Tom Tam's Healing System and associated techniques. The basis of energy healing is that energy removes blockages in the body that cause illness. Removal of these blockages restores the natural flow of 'Chi' energy so that the body naturally corrects itself and therefore functions properly and heals.

In the "Guinea Pig" class, Tong Ren energy healing does not come from the practitioners alone. Master Tam believes that "Chi is energy, which is created in the universe and can be used to create healing." This universal Chi is accessed through the collective unconscious, and our experience shows that the practitioner's belief in the effectiveness of Tong Ren healing is a key element enabling access by the practitioner to the collective unconscious.

Based on the people who have attended class during the last three years, more then 90 percent of these people are alive and remain hopeful. Many of the patients that were considered seriously ill and hopeless have returned to living a normal life, and many patients have been able to resume their employment.

What is Chi?

Chi is a very well understood concept that has been empirically documented in China for approximately 5,000 years. In Western culture, Chi is probably best understood by university researchers working on non-local effects in sub-atomic physics. These studies validate the concept that Chi is the fundamental magneto-electric field in the universe. In our bodies, Chi is equivalent to bioelectricity, which is essential for maintaining healthy nerve impulses that are required for nourishing cells so they can self-repair. In the Guinea Pig class, we focus this energy via the collective unconscious to release blockages that cause illness. Simply said, when Chi flows freely then the body heals.

Many cultures have their own energy healing methods and theories. In China, the most popular energy healing method is called Chi Gong healing. The Chi Gong master uses his Chi to heal others. To become a Chi Gong healing master usually requires many years of study and practice.

How does Tong Ren Healing use Chi?

As mentioned, universal Chi is accessed through the collective unconscious. In the Guinea Pig class, the energy used is not from Chi Gong practice. It is based on belief being a power unto itself. As a collective belief it creates the collective unconsciousness that is the source of healing energy.

It is believed that as our awareness of and research on the positive results of Chi energy healing grows, not only from the healing class but also through the results seen in participants from previous classes, Chi energy will build and become more powerful and effective. Based on his clinical experience and practice over the past twenty years, Tom believes that the increasing number of people healed using Chi energy methods, will further ingrain Chi healing in our collective unconscious and thereby further improve treatment results. Thus, confidence grows-through observing the positive results seen in hundreds of people as they heal from serious illnesses by practicing the Tom Tam Healing System.

Tom is studying how the growth of the collective unconscious impacts the confidence of the healing practice and how the results intensify the power (the bioelectricity) of the Chi to release blockages more effectively.

Can the Guinea Pig Class really cure my problem?

Results of any healing modality are never guaranteed. However, we often see symptomatic improvement with patients during the healing class. They report feeling better and being less symptomatic. They feel a "release" and say they feel that they are "getting better."

Over time, the vast majority of patients have reported significant improvements.

There are patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, yet they do not feel any discomfort and generally enjoy their life. Many people report that after they attend the Guinea Pig class the cancer is gone according to medical tests. However, the doctor will often want the patient to continue chemotherapy or radiation.

How can I know that the Class is healing my illness?

A patient's medical tests determine the standard for diagnosis and for healing. Most of the people who join the class have a serious medical problem. They have seen several doctors or healers, yet their problems are still the same or worse. During the class, many people can feel their pain or symptoms abate, but this does not mean their problem has healed.

Over time, patients often report that their improvements have been proven by medical tests. Some results have been so dramatic that patients report that their doctors credit it to a miracle or blame faulty medical tests and even misdiagnosis.

Should I tell my doctor that I joined the Guinea Pig Class?

Nothing about how a patient is healing should be hidden from a doctor or any healer. It is important that the doctor knows what a patient has been doing to heal. Most of the patients share their experience in the healing class with their doctor. It doesn't matter if the doctor believes or not; the doctor should know the truth.

With cancer, it is very important to tell the doctor that energy healing was used to heal. Some doctors believe in energy healing for cancer, but most do not. However, as more and more physicians see the results of the energy healing, their opinions will change and more patients will be helped.

Should I keep taking my medication after I join the Class?

It is the responsibility of the patient and his/her physician to determine the necessity for medication and whether or not to continue taking medication. The physician is the expert and, along with input from the patient, this decision should be made between doctor and patient - this is not for anyone else to decide. In some cases, attention must be paid to the type of medicine a patient is taking. For instance, after a healing class a diabetic patient's blood sugar may drop significantly, even to normal levels. Therefore, the patient must check the levels before using insulin, and diabetic patients are always advised to do so in Tong Ren therapy.

This is also the case for patients with emphysema. It is advised that they check their oxygen levels because Tong Ren therapy can cause an observable change in oxygen levels. The patient is encouraged to continue to carry an oxygen tank in case of an emergency. They should also advise their own doctor of the changes. This also applies to the asthma patient. Even though their breathing improves or goes back to normal, they should carry their inhaler unless advised differently by their doctor.

What will I do in the Class?

Patients are only asked to do nothing in the class - just sit, relax and quietly receive the healing energy. There is no special diet, exercise or religious beliefs required to practice Tong Ren.

During the class, participants are completely free to do what they want as long as they are not interfering with others. This is not a support group, however many people like to share their stories. Many people arrive early to class and talk to others or stay longer to share their experiences.

Some people attend the class to support a friend or family member. They sit in the room, watch and listen. During the class, everyone has the right to receive or refuse the energy treatment. Several family members have taken Tong Ren training so they can continue treatment of their loved ones at home.

What should I feel during the healing section of the Class?

Most of the patients report that they feel warmth or heat, first in their face. This warmth or heat is, according to Chinese belief, the Chi moving through the body. The Chi typically moves down from the head to the arm to the palm of the hand. Some may feel tingling in the hands or in their feet. Some people report feeling their body becoming lighter and some may feel their body becoming heavy and cannot move. All of these feelings are the Chi movement. Some times people cry in an emotional release. After they cry, most of these people can feel how much has been released.

In the class, some of the breast cancer patients have felt their tumor shrink, soften or disappear.

Is Tong Ren Healing safe?

When practicing Tong Ren, there is no physical contact between the healer and the patient. It is not transformed into any form of chemical, so it won't cause any chemical side effects or chemically interfere with the medicine patients are taking. Tong Ren is a form of energy healing. Patients may say that they feel tired. In fact, this fatigue is result of relaxation. When the body is in the healing state, brain waves may slow down to let the body focus on energy to heal the disease.

In China, Chi Gong healing is only dangerous to the healer not the patients. When the Chi Gong healer or Master overuses his Chi, it may cause a side effect called "running fire." To avoid running fire, the Chi Gong practitioner must be well trained. With Tong Ren healing, it is believed that the energy or Chi comes from the collective unconscious. As more people practice Tong Ren healing, the stronger the healing force becomes, so that practitioners will not get running fire. Many students feel that the more they practice Tong Ren, the stronger they feel. During the practice, all the people in the class will become part of the collective unconscious state and therefore benefit from the healing energy.

If I don't have a serious problem, may I still join the Class?

Anyone can participate in the class. Chinese healing theory believes that the best healer heals the disease before it presents itself. In the Guinea Pig class, the basic theory is to create the healing power from the collective unconscious. When people sit in the class, they are already part of the collective consciousness and the energy field of the collective unconsciousness. During the class everyone benefits from the energy.

When the patient is healed, should they still come to the Class?

In some cases, when symptoms are gone, the illness may be gone. In other cases when tests results are normal, it doesn't mean the disease is gone. For instance with cancer, when the MRI shows nothing, it doesn't mean the patient is completely cancer-free. Even if the test "looks" normal, it still takes a few more years to know for sure. To prevent cancer from returning, it is advisable to continue with the class, even if the patient comes only once in a while.

Very often it happens in the healing class that a cancer patient is healed according to doctor's report and the patient never comes back to class until there is a reoccurrence. Patients have also come back to learn Tong Ren and to participate in the healing class as a practitioner.

Do I have to believe in "Chi" or its power to heal?

No. Just being open to the experience is enough. The results are proof. Infants and pets have been treated with excellent results. Patients do not have to believe in the practice. However, when the patient doesn't believe in energy healing and rejects Tong Ren, it is not beneficial because rejection is also energy.

In the Guinea Pig class, patients and Tong Ren practitioners are not required to practice Chi Gong or Tai Chi. However if any one chooses to, there is no doubt that they will benefit.

How may Tong Ren benefit the late stage cancer patient?

In healing, we never give up on any illness. We treat all sickness, no matter what stage or condition. Where there is life, there is hope. In fact in our Guinea Pig class, most cancer patients are at stage 3 or 4. When cancer patients are in the early stages, it is difficult for them to believe in our methods. Most early stage cancer patients pay full attention to traditional Western healing. When medical doctors give up and tell their patient their case is hopeless, a patient is more likely to seek another method of healing.

Of course, any illness discovered early is easier to heal. But no matter what the stage, a patient after a Guinea Pig class will feel more relaxed and energetic. It means the life quality has changed for the better. Even in the late stages of cancer, many people in our class feel that pain eases or the body functions improve. During some of our classes, some patients become symptom - free. If the patient is symptom-free, then the tumor is under control, according to medical science and its healing standards. We have seen many difficult cases in our Guinea Pig classes where the patients become symptom-free or tumor-free. It is a true miracle in this modern time.

When some patients become symptom free and the tumor is under control or gone, they continue to enjoy the class for a longer time of healing. Some return to their doctor for a new chemo clinical trial and suffer the effects of chemo again. During our class, we never advise or counsel people as to what they should choose for treatment, because it is a personal question that an individual must answer. Each patient in our class has free will. We do not want anyone to have the "white lab coat syndrome" in the Guinea Pig class.

What is the difference between Tong Ren and other forms of energy healing?

Every style and method of energy healing has its own theory to support its practice. Of course, Tong Ren also has its own premise for understanding energy. The big difference between Tong Ren healing and other modes of energy healing is the theory of the blockage. According to Tong Ren philosophy, it is the blockage of energy that causes the problem. Each physical or psychological problem is related to a blockage. There is no mystery and no religion associated with Tong Ren, since more often than not, as a physical blockage builds it can be detected and felt physically. Different physical and psychological illnesses have different blockages. When we can find the blockage, the healing rate increases drastically, and the healing range becomes much wider. Finding the blockage differs from other energy healing, in both Western and Eastern systems. Tong Ren finds neurological, vascular, hormonal, chemical and electrical roots to various problems instead of just treating the problem where it occurs. Practitioners and patients alike learn these crucial details and they are stored in the collective unconsciousness, creating an intricate and powerful way of healing.

Is Tong Ren Therapy the same as Chi Gong healing?

Tong Ren Therapy is not the same as Chi Gong helaing. The basis for the theory of medical Chi Gong practice is Traditional Chinese Medicine, including yin and yang theory, five elements, meridians, acupuncture points, etc. The basis for Tong Ren healing theory is modern anatomy, physiology, psychology and science. In China, there are so many different styles of Chi Gong practice. Chi Gong healing has a very wide and unclear meaning. Also, any healing using Chi is called Chi Gong healing in China. However, there are more than a thousand different styles of Chi Gong forms in China. Chi Gong healers or Chi Gong masters are required to practice their own Chi Gong form to build up the Chi before the healing. According to Chi Gong theory, a Chi Gong healer's Chi is stored in the Dan Tien, which is located in the abdomen. Chi Gong healers need to build up their Chi to fill up their Dan Tien before the healing. If the healer's Dan Tien is not filled up, it may cause a dangerous side effect to the practitioner, which in China is called "Running Fire." In Chi Gong healing, the Chi stored in the Dan Tien is restricted, limiting the extent and duration of the healing and the number of patients that can be treated. No matter how powerful the Chi Gong masters are, the Chi is still from their own Dan Tien only. In Tong Ren healing, it does not matter how weak or strong the practitioners are, because the energy is connected to the collective unconscious, which is unlimited.

Tong Ren healers or therapists are never required to practice any form of Chi Gong or internal exercise. Tong Ren healing believes that the source of Chi is not from the Dan Tien, but rather from the strong power of belief that has been stored in the unconsciousness. The strong power of belief is established from thousands of cases of amazing healings, not merely brainwashing or blind following.

During the Chi Gong healing or Chi Gong practice, the Chi Gong healer's mind needs intense focusing, which is from their consciousness. A Tong Ren therapist's mind is from the power of belief, which is from the established collective unconsciousness; it never needs focusing from the consciousness. The collective unconscious is the merger of many individual's unconscious. The Chi of Tong Ren is from the collective unconsciousness, which is multi-dimensional. As more people believe, it will build more powerful healing Chi. Tong Ren's healing Chi is unlimited because the collective unconscious of Tong Ren is connected to the super consciousness.

Does Tong Ren interfere with chemotherapy or radiation?

There is no need to be afraid that Tong Ren healing interferes with other therapies. In fact, there is a report from Harvard Medical School that acupuncture lessens the negative side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Cancer Hospital, at Fudan University in Shanghai, China have received a $263,000 grant from the National Cancer Institute to establish an international center investigating the benefits of some Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments for cancer patients. (News letter from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center 03/08/04).

In China, the most popular way to treat cancer is Chinese herbs and Chi Gong, but not chemo and radiation. Many Chinese in America heal their cancer by using a combination of Chinese and Western method. In America, some hospitals have begun Chi Gong classes for cancer patients. Many cancer patients use different herbs, mineral diets, prayer or energy healing for healing cancer. No one is afraid of the interference with these other methods.

It is confusing to consider the interference of chemo and radiation. Taking chemo or radiation has a high risk in healing because this healing treatment kills both good and bad cells. We never hear that energy healing kills good cells. In fact, we should be considering or asking whether chemotherapy or radiation interferes with Tong Ren.

How often can I use the Tong Ren for healing?

Our Guinea Pig classes are in various locations. Each location has one or two classes per week. For some patients, once a week is not enough to treat their serious problem. They may need more. In our class, if you want more treatments with Tong Ren healing, you can talk to the students or instructor in the class; we are willing to help all people who need our help.

Some cancers require more frequent treatments. Additional sessions can be arranged to stop cancer cells from spreading. Tong Ren theory believes that cancer cells are formed from blockages that cause a low voltage of bioelectricity. When the bioelectricity is corrected back to normal, the cancer cell can be reversed into a normal cell. To heal cancer cells, a correction in bioelectricity or energy must be made to make it faster than the spreading cancer cells. If the intervals between treatments are too long, the cancer cells may spread faster than the correction.

Tong Ren healing is a form of energy healing. The more you do, the greater the benefit. It is similar to a battery that needs time to finish charging. In China when a patient uses Chi Gong healing for treating a serious problem, they must practice Chi Gong every day. Tong Ren healing is like Chi Gong practice. You can never do too much, only not enough. If you like to use Tong Ren therapy, you can do it as frequently as two to three times a week, or even daily.

Besides cancer, what other diseases can Tong Ren help with?

The original idea for our Guinea Pig class is to heal cancer and help people who suffer from chemotherapy and radiation. Yet, lately many people are considering our class as a hope for healing any type of difficult disease. Of course, we cannot refuse any patient suffering from an illness who wants to join our healing class. So far, the majority of patients who come to our class have challenging health problems, such as Parkinson's disease, Lyme disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Pigmentosa, Emphysema, Diabetes, IBM, heart palpitations, as well as many different types of cancer. These patients have tried many ways of healing without success before they attend our healing class. It is very rare that people try our healing class before they try other ways to cure themselves. The healing range of Tong Ren therapy is very wide. Tom Tam's book, A Lazy Bum's Healing references Tong Ren therapy for 260 difficult conditions. Of course in practice, the healing range if much wider and not limited to these conditions. According to Tom Tam's Healing System, understanding the root cause of the disease is the key to healing, and the biggest difference between other healing systems. When we find the root of the problem, then we can treat the condition easily; if not, it becomes known as the so-called difficult disease or an untreatable illness.

Is Tong Ren healing medical science?

Science needs to be proven. Our healing theory is based on medical, scientific information, yet so far no scientists or scientific institutions want to prove it, or even want to hear about it. The study of science needs interesting subject matter along with hefty financial support. This is not in our practitioner's area of practice. Tong Ren healing needs to be proven by scientists and is still yet to be done.

According to modern medical studying, each organ has three functions: the mechanical function, chemical function and electrical function. In terms of healing, people mostly pay close attention to the mechanical and chemical functions in the body. They often do not pay attention to the electrical functions in the body. Also, there are three ways for the bio electrical signal to pass: the electric synapse, chemical synapse, and a mixed synapse; which is the electrical and chemical synapse combination. To keep the organ functioning normally, we shouldn't only pay attention to the chemical synapse, we must also pay attention to the function of the electrical synapse.

It is easy to understand the mechanical function of an organ. There are many ways to correct problems of a mechanical nature. Surgery, massage, and physical therapy are common. These modalities are almost always second to the attention paid to the chemical function, which reaps huge profits for many businesses and manufacturers. The chemical function balance includes herbs, diet, chemical pill or liquid. In fact, the whole history in the west or east, people put more attention on the chemical healing function. No attention is given to the electrical function balance. The imbalance of bioelectricity is one of the major reasons or cause of sickness. To heal the sickness, we should open the blockage which caused the impulse or bioelectricity to be out of balance. So far, the most popular method for regulating electrical function in the body for western medicine is through usage of the pacemaker.

The environment (temperature, gravity, air pressure, weather) can affect the brain's impulse. According to Chinese healing theory, this aspect of health is regarded as the human's harmony with nature. In the Tong Ren healing, we believe that Tong Ren therapy can create the energy which can affect the brain impulse. Also, the energy may open the blockage which caused the imbalance. When we balance the impulse from the brain or the bioelectricity in the body, then the sickness can be healed.

Is Tong Ren healing a form of suggestion?

Tong Ren healing is absolutely not based on suggestion power for the patient, because we have healed babies, autistic children and patients who are in unconscious conditions. Also we hav etreated animals with very successful results. It is easy to call some healing as suggestion power when people cannot explain the healing method. Suggestion power is needed only as language is needed to connect with the patient. This language includes talking, light, movement, smell, touch, temperature, or any technique of stimulation to the patient's sensory organ. Also, suggestion power doesn't work for everyone, but Tong Ren healing works for almost anyone who is willing to try it.

Tong Ren healing may be a suggestion power for the healer, but not the patient. When the Tong Ren therapist works with the doll, it is a means for allowing a connection to take place with their collective unconscious. As in Pavlov's condition, when the signal appears in the memory, then the unconscious part of the brain is functioning. Hitting the doll with the hammer, and putting the laser beam on the meridian point or putting the Chi on the doll, are the ways for the Tong Ren therapists to connect with the healing collective unconscious.

Some patients don't want to try the Tong Ren healing because they believe it is a stupid means of suggestion power. But many of them want to try the healing when they have lost their hope in other healing techniques. If the treatment has a chance to heal the problem, will you be willing to try it? Or will you laugh and refuse it? In fact, the hypnotist and psychologist always use the suggestion power for their healing, but patients never care if that is their technique, because, in fact they are only looking for a positive result.

Should one who doesn't believe come to your class?

We are not involved in brainwashing. The mind is free, and belief is an individual choice. We respect each one's belief. The door of our class is open; we welcome anyone who is interested in what we are doing, to come and share our knowledge. First time in our class, most of the people don't believe it because they do not have any information about it. But after the first class, most of the new people begin asking questions. In order to know about the healing method and results, the best way is to interview the patients in the class, but not the students or therapists. To gain some knowledge, it is nice and easy to come for observation or healing.

How can I get the most out of the Guinea Pig Class?

It is advised that patients attend class weekly or, and if that is not possible, at least once a month even, if their disease has gone into remission or disappeared. Getting "recharged" with Chi regularly keeps the "engine" of your body tuned-up. Other ways to keep up with the Tong Ren healing are:

How can I learn your healing system?

Anyone can learn Tong Ren healing with or without any prior knowledge. Most students learned Tong Ren healing from being patients. If you are interested in learning Tong Ren healing, any student or practitioner will be willing to share his or her knowledge of Tong Ren healing with you. Sharing the knowledge is important for building the collective unconscious.

A good starting point outside of simply attending a class is to read my article "How To Learn Tong Ren Therapy". You can find books and other Tong Ren related information and supplies available for purchase from our Tong Ren Book Store.

Where can I find a guinea pig class?

Our live video class is aired most weeks - others are available via tongrenstation.com. To see if there are physical Tong Ren Therapy classes in your area, see Tom's class locations list.

Have any further questions?

Ask Questions and Discuss Tong Ren Therapy in our forums.