清代民間秘密宗教相當盛行，普遍流傳於下層社會，其緣由包括各種內外緣因素，根據相關檔案記載，由於許多秘密教派師傅具民俗醫療知識與技能，遂經常為患者治病，並趁勢傳教收徒。這些秘密教派常用的醫療方式頗多，尤以坐功運氣療法最被普遍採行，並將此視為宗教修持儀式與醫療行為，希冀藉由個人長期修練氣功而發揮卻病延年、消災獲福作用。秘密教派氣功的形式係源自道教與佛教氣功的理論與方法，再加以通俗化、儀式化，以提供平民百姓簡單易行的修練方式。由於秘密教派師傅不時宣稱修練氣功可以解除病痛、延年益壽，頗能得到身處醫療條件欠佳的民眾信服，而願意嘗試拜師練功，以期達到有病治病、沒病強身目的。總之，秘密教派師傅透過傳授氣功方式，吸引民眾求醫求教，並藉機宣揚教義，勸誘其入教，俾於教派組織在底層社會更為拓展。

The development of folk secret religious sects flourished in Ch´ing period. There were some internal and external reasons that the sects were widely prevalent among the lower strata society. According to the record of official files, because many masters of the sects had knowledge and skills of folk medicine, they could expand the organization of the sects by curing disease of the patients. There were some medical methods of the sects, and especially the method of deep breathing exercise was used most popularly. The sects regarded deep breathing exercise as religious ritual and medical behavior, and the effects of bringing good health and long life were believed by long-term practicing. The form of deep breathing exercise of the sects that originated from the theory and method of Taoism and Buddhism was cultivated and ritualized, providing simple and easy method to learn for common people. Because the masters of the sects declared continuously the effects of deep breathing exercise that included relieving the suffer of disease and binging long life, common people who situated in ill medical circumstance were believed to practice it. In sum, the masters of the sects attracted and persuaded common people to attend the sects for medical treatment by teaching deep breathing exercise, and it would affect widely the expansion of the sects.