​Tong Ren Therapy

Cause of Cancer and the Phrenic Nerve 
 
Many theories debate the reason cancer forms. Each healing system has its own explanation why 
humans get cancer. Some believe that diet or chemicals may cause cancer. Some believe that our 
environment contributes to the problem and some believe that emotions are one of the causal factors. 
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the human body’s internal chi becomes out of 
balance, or that "external devil chi" may cause cancer. Some medical doctors believe genetic factors can 
predispose one to cancer, although medical studies to date have failed to conclusively prove this theory. 

Some studies find that CT scans, X-rays, radiation, chemotherapy, and many drugs can cause cancer. In 
theory, when we find the cause of disease, then we can eradicate the disease. So far, the medical and 
scientific communities only know some of the factors that may relate to the cause of cancer. It is 
extremely difficult to follow all the recommendations that may prevent cancer. Though society devotes a 
lot of money, time, and attention to fighting and preventing cancer, the cancer rate still has not been 
lowered. On the contrary, results of current medical studies indicate that the cancer rate continues to rise 
each year. Now, one out of four Americans is diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Logically, we 
are taught to believe, supporting ongoing medical studies will result in a reduction of the cancer rate. 
However, many cancer experts continue to study their concept for cancer prevention and they still find 
the same problem; the rate keeps rising. The prevention and healing of cancer is still a dilemma for the 
worldwide medical community.

 
More information, indeed, causes more confusion. Although modern medicine has many studies 
and medical reports about cancer, they fail to use other knowledge or common sense in approaching the 
problem. In the 1920's, a German doctor, discovered that the primary cause of cancer was the 
replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar. In 1931, Dr. 
Otto H. Warburg was awarded the Nobel Prize for research on the respiration of cells by a group of 
enzymes involved in aerobic (with oxygen) respiration of healthy cells. 
 

Dr. Warburg's research found that "Deprive a cell 35% of its oxygen for 48 hours and it may 
become cancerous." Why does the organ lack oxygen? Each organ in the body is supplied nutrition and 
oxygen from the blood vessels. When the body has a blood circulation problem, it may cause oxygen 
deficiency. Also, when the intake of oxygen is low for any reason, oxygen deficiency may occur as well. 
Many things can cause low oxygen within the body. 
 

Dr. Otto H. Warburg believed that "Cancer, above all other diseases, has countless secondary 
causes. But, even for cancer, there is only one prime cause. Summarized in a few words, the prime cause 
of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of 
sugar." Cancer is not caused by a virus, nor is it a cell problem. It is a condition caused when the oxygen 
in the body drops down by 35% for 48 hours. Many people who have too much sugar in their bodies 
never get cancer because the extra sugar changes to fat, but not to cancer. Many thin people with almost 
no fat have cancer. The lack of oxygen theory, rather than the fermentation of sugar theory, can explain 
why babies, who do not consume large amounts of sugar, can have cancer. 
 

In Dr. Warburg's writing, he also discovered that "All normal cells have an absolute requirement 
for oxygen, but cancer cells can live without oxygen - a rule without exception." Why do the cancer cells 
live without oxygen? This is a good question. In fact, by the law of natural selection we can easily 
understand that any normal cell that loses its supply of oxygen must find another source of energy to 
survive. The cell has two resources to obtain energy: one is from oxygen, and the second is from 
fermentation of sugar. It is similar to the hybrid car, in which the battery supplies the energy, but when 
the battery is low, then gasoloine supplies the energy instead. Dr. Warburg has made it clear that the 
prime cause of cancer is oxygen deficiency. He discovered that cancer cells are anaerobic; they do not 
breathe oxygen and cannot survive in the presence of high levels of oxygen. What causes oxygen 
deficiency? One reason could be the respiratory system; another reason could be the blood circulation, 
as the blood carries the oxygen. The respiratory system is formed by the lung and diaphragm, which are controlled by the medulla oblongata. The medulla contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting, and 
vasomotor centers and regulates autonomic functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. 
The medulla's rhythmicity center controls the diaphragm's function for respiration through the system of 
nerves. Therefore, when we consider an oxygen deficiency, we must consider the function of the 
medulla, which includes the function of the medullary rhythmicity center, the cardiac center, and 
vasomotor center. Also, the lung and diaphragm are factors to consider. 
 

In Dr. Warburg's work, “The Metabolism of Tumours,” he demonstrated that all forms of cancer 
are characterized by two basic conditions: acidosis and anaerobic condition (lack of oxygen). Lack of 
oxygen and acidosis are two sides of the same coin: where you have one, you have the other. 
 

Some healing methods use the pH and acid theory to attempt to understand the cancer cells’ 
growth. In Dr. Warburg’s research, he discovered that “Cancer cells are dormant in a pH environment 
slightly above 7.4. In a pH 8.5+ environment, cancer cells die while healthy cells thrive.” Some patients 
are advised to eat an alkaline diet and create an alkaline condition in the body. Yet, these types of diet or 
mineral healing fail to correct an oxygen deficiency. They can correct the acid and alkaline, but they do 
not correct the primary cause: the deprivation of oxygen. 
 

Many doctors, when healing cancer, advise their patients to get more fresh air to increase the 
amount of oxygen, or to practice deep breathing because improper breathing causes oxygen deficiency. 
Also, they advise their patients to use aerobic exercise to increase the capacity of the heart to pump 
blood, which increases the capacity of the lungs. Increased oxygen may help the healing of cancer. 
However, it is very confusing because many people live in the mountains or forest and still get cancer. 
Many patients are already too weak to jump or exercise because of their cancer or side effects from the 
chemo, radiation, and surgery. This is why relaxation is more important for them than aerobic or any 
physical exercise. Deep breathing exercises can help heal the cancer. Therefore, Chi Gong, Tai Chi, 
Yoga, or any of the internal exercises can help, but it seems these breathing exercises rarely heal cancer. 
 

Some doctors believe that overeating causes oxygen deficiency. They advise their patients to eat 
smaller nutrient-dense meals and stop the empty-calorie junk food. Many experts advise patients to take 
vitamins or supplements for healing cancer or to prevent cancer. We see very often that the cancer 
patients take dozens of vitamin or mineral supplements. Some believe that vitamin F can increases the 
oxygen carrying capacity of the hemoglobin in red blood cells. Yet how many of these patients heal or 
survive? What is their healing rate? According to medical studies, an overdose of many minerals and 
vitamins can cause side effects. Many patients use the cleansing method for their healing. The cleansing 
method believes that clean arteries will maximize the amount of oxygen-rich blood reaching the tissues. 
The cleansing method uses a lot of herbs or other minerals and supplements. Also, part of the cleansing 
method is to clean out the poison in the organ. Another cleansing method often used when healing 
cancer is cleansing the intestine. The cancer cells are not the virus or poison. It is a condition with 
oxygen deficiency. How can the cleansing of the intestine change the condition of oxygen? 
 

Some experts advise their patients to avoid carbon monoxide, which reduces the oxygen carrying 
capacity of the blood. Fluoride also interferes with oxygen uptake. Alcohol and drugs rob the body of 
oxygen because the body must oxidize these substances during the process of their removal. Indeed, 
external factors can affect the cancer risk but are not the main reason for the cause. 
 

Using supplementary oxygen from other sources such as oxygenated drinking water, fresh foods 
and juices, magnesium peroxide, and magnesium dioxide have been suggested. If we use these types of 
healing methods, we should consider their healing rate. If someone advises something is good for 
healing cancer; the patient may try it without any questioning. Some systems believe that bathing in 
oxygenated water can heal cancer, but what is the healing rate? 
 

Now more scientists are interested in the Warburg effect. In Canada, the University of Alberta is 
testing a drug called dichloroacetate that suppresses the Warburg effect and reactivates the 
mitochondria. The result shows why mitochondrial suppression is so important to tumors: when the 
mitochondria are unsuppressed, the tumor that contains them stops growing. In Harvard Medical School, Dr. Fantin and Dr. Leder are working with RNA interference to modify glycolysis in the tumors of some 
specially bred laboratory mice. RNA interference is the subject of eager investigation among 
pharmaceutical companies, but so far it has yet to yield a drug approved by the regulators. 
 

In June of 1966 Dr. Warburg wrote The Prime Cause and Prevention of Cancer stating “To 
prevent cancer it is therefore proposed first to keep the speed of the blood stream so high that the 
venous blood still contains sufficient oxygen; second, to keep high the concentration of hemoglobin in 
the blood; third, to add always to the food, even of healthy people, the active groups of the respiratory 
enzymes (the 4 nutrients); and to increase the doses of these groups, if a precancerous state has already 
developed. If at the same time exogenous carcinogens are excluded rigorously, then much of the 
endogenous cancer may be prevented today.” The technique and method used to kill the cancer cells are 
simple, but to prevent the new cancer cell growth is difficult or even impossible. Mostly people want to 
kill the cancer cell by any method and philosophy. But if the normal cells have sufficient oxygen, they 
won’t change to cancerous cells. The interference to stop the glycol can kill the cancer cells. However, if 
the physical condition never improves, the new normal cells keep mutating as cancerous. In fact, when 
scientists use the killing theory and method for healing, it may inhibit and worsen the physical 
environmental condition for oxygen intake. 
 

In America and worldwide, many scientists are beginning to pay more attention to the research to 
understand why the cancer cell ferments sugar. On December 21, 2009, the Boston Globe received a 
news report that “In the 1920s, the German scientist Otto Warburg first observed that cancer cells burn 
sugar differently than normal cells do.” “Finding ways to disrupt metabolism is the idea behind Agios 
Pharmaceuticals, a Cambridge company cofounded by Cantley that last year raised $33 million. And in 
September, the American Association for Cancer Research hosted a four-day meeting focusing on 
cancer and metabolism. Last week, the journal Science named cancer metabolism an area to watch in 
2010.” So much money is being invested in using chemicals in the Warburg effect study. 
Pharmaceutical companies are interested in the drug research but not the oxygen that is free from nature. 
 

A low oxygen condition is the root cause of a cell’s changing DNA. Glycolysis is simply a result 
of natural selection. The research should be focused on the oxygen, not the sugar glycolysis. Also, the 
studies show that the cancer cell’s glycolysis is from the metabolism. Research is focused on the 
immune system as a way to kill the cell, but not the metabolic system, which is how to mutate the cell to 
a normal condition. 
 

Other studies focus on the use of oxygen. These studies use external oxygen to balance the body’s 
internal oxygen. But the problem of low oxygen is from our bodies’ organs, not from external oxygen 
deficiency. If the body’s internal organ dysfunctions while in taking oxygen, it doesn’t matter how much 
oxygen we try to add, within the body, the organ is still having functional problems. Everyone tries to 
use different ways to add oxygen to different parts of the body, but no one is interested in correcting the 
body’s function of oxygen. More products are developed for business rather than healing. Yet, many 
reports from advertising describe how effective the healing result is, and, of course, many people believe 
and use it. 
 

In China, oxygen-increasing exercise comes from the breathing practice involved in Chi Gong and 
Tai Chi. The Indian system called Yoga shares similarities with the practice of Chi Gong in this way. 
These types of practices are called internal exercises. In the case of internal exercise, there is no need to 
doubt that it can help the healing of cancer, but the healing rate percentage is low. Does the internal 
exercise increase the intake of oxygen or just correct the organ's function and ability to process the 
oxygen? There is a need for scientific study to prove or answer these questions. Currently, we just know 
the result of these practices. Each style of practice has its own theory and method. 
 

Tong Ren healing has its own way for healing cancer. One of the techniques is to open the 
blockage on the phrenic nerve to balance the oxygen problem. One thing we have found in common in 
Tong Ren practice is that almost all of the cancer patients have a blockage on the LI 17 area. For most of them, the blockage is on the left hand side but rarely on the right side. In the Tom Tam Healing System, 
LI 17 is the location on the phrenic nerve, which controls the function movement of the diaphragm. 
 

The point at LI 17 is called Tian Ding, which means “Sky Supporter” or “Sky Cup.” In Chinese it 
is also called “Top of Sky.” In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, the head is the sky, the neck 
is the supporter of the sky. LI 17 is located in the neck area, 1 cun (inch) directly inferior to LI 18, at the 
posterior border of the SCM (sternocleidomastoid muscle). Around LI 17 is the superficial cervical 
artery, external jugular vein, the phrenic nerve, transverse cutaneous nerve of the neck, supraclavicular 
nerve, and also deep inside is the brachial plexus. 
 

According to TCM theory, this point is for healing sore throat, goiter, or tuberculous cervical 
lymphadenitis. Also, its function is for clearing the pharynx and regulating the Chi. In the TCM practice, 
this point is rarely used for healing. In my practice, this point is often used. In the Tom Tam Healing 
System it is a major point for the metabolism. Also, it can affect the bronchial nerve, which is formed by 
the radial nerve, median nerve, and ulna nerve. So when treating the shoulder, elbow, and wrist problem, 
check LI 17 first. In addition, ST 11 affects the phrenic nerve and bronchial nerve as well. ST 12 is 
where the subclavian arteries pass way. When we treat the arm, shoulder, or wrist problem, pay attention 
to ST 11 and ST 12, which may cause the blockage that affects the circulation to the shoulder and hand. 
 

The phrenic nerve controls the movement of the diaphragm, yet it connects the vagus nerve by the 
accessory phrenic nerve. The vagus nerve belongs to the cranial nerve, which also is the 
parasympathetic nerve, and it passes through under LI 18. LI 18 is located near the common carotid 
artery also. When we use acupuncture or Tui Na to stimulate LI 18, pay attention to avoid the common 
carotid artery. 
 

With the experience of using LI 17, I found out most of the cancer patients or overweight 
conditions have a blockage in this area. Both cancer and obesity are considered metabolism system 
imbalances in the Tom Tam Healing System. So, LI 17 is a major point for balance and adjusting the 
metabolic system. When we open the blockage in the phrenic nerve, then the diaphragm can function 
normally. Always, when we open the blockage with LI 17, we check GB 12 as well. GB 12 is on the top 
of SCM. When the SCM gets tight, it may cause LI 17 to be blocked. 
 

Have you ever heard of any patient with diaphragm cancer? It is a very interesting medical 
phenomenon. I doubt if any person would ask this question of anyone. Why do humans never have 
diaphragm cancer? When we search the Internet, we find out that no one can provide an answer. Also, 
there is no interesting research about diaphragm cancer. In my understanding, cancer is caused from the 
blockage in the spinal column where the sympathetic nerve is located. The diaphragm doesn’t have an 
autonomic nerve; it has its own independent nerve system – phrenic nerve and accessory phrenic nerve. 
The phrenic nerve is made up mostly of motor nerve fibers for producing contractions of the diaphragm. 
In addition, it provides sensory innervations for many components of the mediastinum and pleura. There 
is minor involvement in the upper abdomen with branches to the celiac plexus. The motor nerve fibers 
can be controlled by the conscious mind. The diaphragm cannot get primary cancer, yet it can get 
secondary cancer from other organs. However, the secondary cancer cannot be called diaphragm cancer 
- don’t be confused. 
 

Another interesting phenomenon: only humans and mammals have diaphragms. Also, only humans 
and mammals can have cancer. Other non-mammal beings, such as fish, birds and insects, never have 
cancer. This however, is an ongoing argument; whether or not the the non-mammal has cancer. It may 
be a rarity. There is still no final answer. They differ only in that they do not drink milk and do not have 
a diaphragm. Can milk cause cancer? In a natural way, an infant depends on milk for nutrition. We 
cannot say milk can cause cancer in this natural way. Yet, problems with breathing oxygen have already 
been proved to cause cancer. In other words, not all animals and live beings can have cancer. Only the 
mammal, who has the phrenic nerve to control the diaphragm’s movement, can have cancer. Many 
experts put all their attention on diet to prevent or heal cancer. They watch the acid and alkaline, pH and 
enzymes, vitamins and minerals. We know when the oxygen level changes, of course, all biochemistries are going to be changed, even the metal, as it can be oxidized also. We pay too much attention to diet 
and chemical balance. Now is the time to change and pay more attention to the diaphragm to prevent 
and heal cancer. 
 

Opening the blockage for the phrenic nerve is an important part in healing cancer. The phrenic 
nerve is long - from C3, C4, and C5 to the diaphragm in the abdomen. When we stimulate the phrenic 
nerve, it doesn’t mean it can heal cancer. We must identify the blockage that is causing the phrenic 
nerve’s function problem. The phrenic nerve's blockage mostly is on the LI 17 area and then ST 11 
where it is located under LI 17; we can find the blockage as well. 
 

When we treat cancer, do not consider only the oxygen and phrenic nerve. We consider the 
bioelectricity and biochemistries as well. The lack of oxygen formed the primary cancer. The 
bioelectricity imbalance can also cause organ cancers, because the impulse from the brain needs to pass 
down to the medulla and then pass to the organ by the nerve function. Summarized, to heal or to prevent 
cancer, we need to pay attention to the phrenic nerve and spinal cord. In addition, we can focus on the 
growth hormone and the cancerous organ as ouch points. 
 

Exogenous carcinogens may cause cancer, but only to humans and mammals; non-mammals 
cannot develop cancerous growths. If we feed junk food or carcinogens, or expose second-hand smoke 
and radiation to the non-mammals, the result is they do not get cancer. However, to the human or 
mammal, some may get cancer, yet some still don’t get it. Why would only mammals develop cancer? 
A mammal is part of evolution. Does evolution cause cancer? Only mammals have diaphragms. Does 
the diaphragm cause cancer? 
 

Every human being has a phrenic nerve but not the accessory phrenic nerve. Statistics show that 48 
percent of Chinese have the accessory phrenic nerve; and 52 percent of Americans have this nerve. Why 
don’t some people have this nerve? We can consider what percentage of cancer patients have the 
accessory phrenic nerve, and if this statistic relates to cancer incidence. 
 

There are many questions about the causes of cancer. I cannot give anyone any answer. We need 
the scientists to study and find the answer. So far, all of the studies focus on chemicals for commercial 
purpose or scientific research, but no one is interested in the bioelectricity effect. Also, no one studies 
about the diaphragm and nerve system related to the cancer. I just hope that some day someone will 
bravely change this and study the diaphragm and phrenic nerve. However, I believe that cancer is caused from the phrenic nerve and autonomic nerves.  Some day, we are going to prove it.
from the phrenic nerve and autonomic nerves. Some day, we are going to prove it.