Recently discovered an incredible story about Dr. John Painter from Texas, who managed to heal himself without the use of medication or surgery. With his permission, we had a detailed conversation about the circumstances of his injury, his unique healing process, and the methods he employed.
John Painter, the principal of The Gompa, began his training at age 12 under Master Li, Long-dao of Sichuan province, focusing on internal martial arts and healing arts. He studied with Master Li from 1957 to 1969. Additionally, he learned Chinese medicine, massage, and acupressure with various teachers including a brief study with Dr. Pao Sun-Lung of Hong Kong, and Tibetan yoga and meditation with Lama Trangu Rinpoche. He attended Texas Tech University, majoring in psychology and theater arts, and holds a Ph.D. in naturopathic medicine. As a martial arts instructor, Dr. Painter has taught numerous martial art forms and techniques.
In 2001, while teaching students Chinese Shuaijiao, or wrestling, he demonstrated effective maneuvers for taking down an opponent and highlighted common mistakes to avoid. During the demonstration of an incorrect technique, a student reacted unexpectedly, causing Dr. Painter to suffer a torn short head of the biceps muscle. The incident left him with pain and a non-functioning right arm. A physician informed him that surgery could help heal his biceps but that it might not fully restore his previous strength.
As a martial arts instructor without medical insurance—due to prohibitive costs and his generally good health in his adult life—Dr. Painter faced potential out-of-pocket expenses ranging from $7,000 to $20,000, plus thousands of hospital fees, if he pursued surgery. With that, he opted for a different path.
Recalling his training, Dr. Painter turned to the teachings of Master Li, who had a motto: “The Mind Commands, The Body Responds, and The Effects Manifest.” This philosophy suggests that the mind influences the body’s life energy, or Qi, which can aid in nourishing the body and healing injuries or illnesses. This concept is foundational in Qigong practices, which have been part of Chinese tradition for thousands of years. Master Li had taught John techniques to rejuvenate his health during his teenage years. In college, John explored these theories further, conducting experiments to observe the effects of mindful exercise.
Dr. Painter was also aware of a study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic under Dr. Guang Yue’s leadership. In this research, four groups of healthy individuals participated in different activities. The first group mentally exercised their little finger and the second mentally exercised their elbow—neither making any physical movements. The third group physically exercised by curling the little finger, while the fourth group did nothing, serving as a control group. Unsurprisingly, the control group showed no strength gains after 12 weeks, and the third group increased their pinky strength by 53% through physical exercise. Remarkably, the first two groups also demonstrated significant strength gains purely through mental exercise, suggesting that the mind can influence physical strength without actual movement. This research was first published in the Journal of Neurophysiology and is accessible via the National Institutes of Health website link here. Kessler Foundation is a leader in patient treatment, with a vision of creating “a world where people with disabilities can achieve maximum independence, pursue integrated, competitive employment, and live with dignity in our communities.” Dr. Yue, the director of Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research at Kessler, discusses integrating mind-body approaches into rehabilitation in an interview, which you can listen to via a link here.
To heal his torn bicep, Dr. Painter used two primary techniques:
- He created a 45-minute video featuring images of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s muscular arms, combined with subliminal messages to implant ideas into his own subconscious.
- He employed the Li Family’s Daoyin method, a mind-body practice, to direct Qi to his injured bicep while standing or practicing Zhan Zhuang (a standing meditation). Over the course of three months, he progressed from being unable to lift weights to curling 25 pounds, eventually working up to 45 pounds. Within a year, his arm had recovered, to the astonishment of his doctor.
Though standing still and visualizing healing may sound simple, the technique requires specialized training to calm the mind and guide Qi throughout the body effectively. It is essential to master the art of relaxation and communication with the body to achieve results like these.
Related Articles:
Where the mind goes, energy flows. Dr. Painter is a legend and a great example to the qigong community.
David, thanks for your comment. It is great to hear from you. — Violet
Dear Mr. Silver, Thank you for the kind words.
Hi Violet, thanks for this. i am somewhat familiar with Dr Painter. i met him at a Tai Chi Gala, was introduced to me by Sifu Bill Phillips who told me “don’t miss any sessions with Dr. Painter”. i took Sifu’s advice. In one of Dr P’s Gala sessions, I volunteered as a subject and was able with Dr P’s guidance to move my hand solely by my mind! i was amazed!
I would also like to note a story i have told often, about my first Tai Chi student L, almost 20 years ago. i was able to help L move his stroke-damaged arm by teaching him to repeatedly send a mental message to that arm. eventually, the arm responded, amazing both L and me. i learned this approach, sounds similar to what Dr P is describing, from a Tai Chi master Dr Zibin Guo of Applied Tai Chi. Dr Guo, like Dr P, was educated in both America and China.
Zak, thank you so much for your comment and sharing your experience. Mind is mighty powerful and definitely a terrible thing to ignore in the process of healing. — Violet
Dear Zak, Thank you so much for the kind words. I am glad to have been of some help in your journey.