  The idea of the functional renormalization group and one-loop improved
renormalization group flows are reviewed. The associated flow equations and
nonperturbative approximations schemes for its solutions are discussed. These
techniques are then applied to the strong interaction in the framework of an
effective quark meson model which is introduced in great detail. The
renormalization group analysis of the two flavor quark meson model is extended
to finite temperature and quark chemical potential which allows for an analysis
of the chiral phase diagram beyond the mean field approximation.
