{"id":8664,"date":"2012-12-05T18:23:12","date_gmt":"2012-12-05T23:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=8664"},"modified":"2012-12-05T18:23:13","modified_gmt":"2012-12-05T23:23:13","slug":"the-science-of-qi-healing-a-survey-of-the-research-and-benefits-of-tai-chi-and-qigong-practices-part-1-of-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=8664","title":{"rendered":"The Science of Qi Healing A Survey of the Research and Benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong Practices – (Part 1 of 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Scientific Qi Exploration<\/a>]<\/p>\n

The Science of Qi Healing<\/span><\/h1>\n

A Survey of the Research and Benefits of<\/span><\/h1>\n

Tai Chi and Qigong Practices<\/span><\/h1>\n

(Part 1 of 2)<\/span><\/h1>\n

Ted Nawalknski, Sc. D.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Edited By Sean Cartwright)<\/span><\/p>\n


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<\/a>The Science of Qi Healing<\/em>, is a\u00a0survey of more than 240 research papers on the science of Qigong, Taijiquan and Qi healing, recently published by Traditional Chinese Culture Institute International, (http:\/\/www.tccii.com<\/a>). \u00a0In this paper Dr. Nawalinski summarizes the most relevant Chinese and English literature for readers. \u00a0It is available as a free PDF download<\/a> with reference citations.\u00a0Here are a few excerpts and summary of this interesting research paper.<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Qi healing arts originate in the Daoist cultivation and medical practices of ancient China. These arts are based, in part, on the use of Qi (vital energy), Yi (intention), and Shen (spirit). They include the arts of Qigong, Nei Gong, Tai Chi, Nei Dan, and External Qi Healing.<\/p>\n

Many students of Qigong and Tai Chi begin studying these arts because they have a number of medical problems they hope to heal with them. In China, the healing aspects of these systems have been accepted since antiquity. Western students lack this cultural context and are apt to seek scientific validation of their practice.<\/p>\n

We are often asked by our Western students, \u201cIs there any scientific evidence for Qigong and Tai Chi health benefits?\u201d \u00a0This survey and summary of literature was designed to offer an overview on the science of Qi healing, with review of more than 240 English and Chinese studies. \u00a0\u00a0The purpose of this summary is to familiarize the reader with the volume of material available and provide a starting point for further research. It is important to note that the information in this publication is for informational purposes only. Please read carefully the DISCLAIMER above and consult with your physician or health care practitioner before beginning any form of exercise or treatment.<\/p>\n

If you do decide to begin practicing Qigong, Tai Chi or any of the many other Chinese healing modalities, we encourage you to find an art and teacher that resonates with you. These arts are rarely quick fixes. It is often said that these arts are a journey, not a destination. In many cases they require diligent daily practice for an extended period of time before realizing any benefits. For example, in Nei Dan (Internal Alchemy), the highest level of Qigong training, the first stage is only reached after a minimum of 100 days of intense practice. To maintain this level, the student practices every day!<\/p>\n

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Beginnings of Qigong<\/p>\n

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image courtesy of bgtent.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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Traditional Chinese medicine attributes the origin of Qigong (\u6c23\u529f) to the legendary Yellow Emperor, Huangdi (\u9ec4\u5e1d) and his classic book of internal medicine, Huangdi Neijing (\u9ec4\u5e1d\u5185\u7ecf), about 4500 years ago. However, a Neolithic vessel nearly 7000 years old shows a shaman in meditative and gymnastic exercises associated with early Qigong. In spite of this ancient history it did not become popularly associated with health practices in China until the 1950s. It then unfortunately became a forbidden practice during the Cultural Revolution and not until about 1978 did scientists and health practitioners reestablish Qigong as one of the effective methods to be used in health care for the general populace.<\/p>\n

Qigong can be thought of as the process through which cultivation of Qi (\u6c23 vital energy) and Yi (\u610f intent and consciousness) achieve an optimal state of both mind and body. This can be developed with great effectiveness through an individual\u2019s diligent self-practice, consisting of guided movement and static meditation leading to a state of empty mind, or stillness, wherein one senses an expansion of self, a connection with the rest of the universe.<\/p>\n

But the truly committed student, through long and dedicated practice, may achieve an enhanced awareness of Qi and the ability to guide it toward sites in the body. Highly experienced Qigong healers can direct their Qi outward (external Qi, EQ, or external Qi therapy, EQT\uff0c\u5916\u6c23\u6cbb\u7597) to help unhealthy individuals balance the energy system in their bodies and begin their own process of recovery.<\/p>\n

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Qigong and Taiji <\/strong><\/p>\n

Taiji is clearly related to the postures of Qigong and flows from Qigong\u2019s own ancestral beginnings. It evolved as a \u2018soft\u2019 martial application of the development of Qi and is one of three extant internal martial arts (Tai Ji Quan \u592a\u6781\u62f3, Ba Gua Chang \u516b\u5366\u638c, Xing Yi Quan \u5f62\u610f\u62f3) subsumed under the Qigong umbrella as its martial progeny. Not often practiced nowadays as the potent martial art it is, the gentle postures of Taiji are, instead, done as a health-building exercise by students who may not even be aware of its martial origins.[1]<\/strong><\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The legendary beginning of the martial art of Taiji Quan (\u201cQuan\u201d = \u201cfist\u201d) is attributed to one Zhang San Feng (\u5f20\u4e09\u4e30) around 1100 A.D., but the principles were known at least 500 years earlier. Obfuscating the foundation of this art are the facts that there may have been at least two persons of that name; Zhang is reported to have lived in the Sung (960-1279), the Yuan (1279-1368), and the Ming Dynasties (1368-1654); he is reported to have practiced on Dragon-Tiger Mountain (\u9f99\u864e\u5c71 Jiangxi Province) and Wu Dang Mountain (\u6b66\u5f53\u5c71 Hubei Province), several hundred miles apart; and is said to have been taught by god through a dream. There is also a Zhang San Feng recorded in a book of the Ming History, but with no mention of martial arts or Taiji Chuan.<\/p>\n

We do, however, have clear historical confirmation of a human founder of Taiji in one Chen Wang Ting (\u9648\u4e07\u5ef7) (1600-1680), a military general at the end of the Ming Dynasty. General Chen modified the standard military training of 32 Postures Long Fist of that period, combining it with Chinese Medicine and Taoist Nei Gong (\u5167\u529f Internal Practice) into what became the beginnings of Chen Style Taiji Quan (\u9648\u592a\u6781\u62f3), the original form of Taiji Quan.<\/p>\n

Benefits of Taiji<\/strong><\/p>\n

We may think of the health version of Taiji as a linked set of Qigong postures constituting a form practiced for its promotion of serenity, balance, strength, and Qi enhancement. Both of these activities share the practice of deep, abdominal breathing commonly associated with meditation, and which is known to elicit the relaxation response, although different areas of the brain are triggered. Many of the same meditative benefits accrue, as shown by the improvement in cardiovascular parameters, skin temperature changes, and the psychological health of wheelchair-bound elderly who, presumably, were limited in their ability to fully execute the prescribed postures of their Qigong program.<\/p>\n

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image courtesy of thisyearinmartialarts.wordpress.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Taiji is regularly recommended as an exercise alternative, especially for the elderly, in Sunday supplements, online medical E-zines, in lay magazines geared to that age segment (such as AARP Magazine and Prevention), and even by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). Always touted are its meditative aspects and the improvement in balance to prevent dangerous falls, which account for some 15,000 deaths annually. Two well-known research papers found that only 4 months of Taiji training in a group of elderly subjects reduced the incidence of falls by over 47%, as well as lowering blood pressure and improving several psychosocial parameters.<\/p>\n

An important review paper documented the benefits of both Qigong and Taiji from research published only in peer-reviewed English-language journals which were cited in the medical literature and which used a randomized controlled trial design. \u00a0Seventy-seven articles with 6410 participants formed the database for this meta-analysis. \u00a0From all 77 studies reviewed, physiological and psychological health benefits were identified. These were grouped into nine outcomes: bone density, cardiopulmonary effects, physical function, falls and balance, quality of life, self-efficacy, patient reported outcomes, psychological symptoms, and immune- and inflammation-related responses. The authors conclude that an impressive body of research exists showing that a wide range of health benefits accrue in response to both these meditative movement forms. Since several other papers among the other references listed below combined Qigong and Taiji in assessing health benefits, they were considered to be similar for this present compilation and no attempt was made to separate their combined data; some Taiji-only studies were also included.<\/p>\n

Integrating with Western Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, the wise patient makes use of the best characteristics of all<\/em> healing modalities, including sensible nutrition, adequate and varied exercise, daily quiet time for reflection and renewal, traditional Asian remedies of proven lineage, as well as Western medicine with its ability to rapidly muster biological and technological resources for diagnosis and treatment. The last of these remains the alternative of choice in most acute situations: serious trauma, fulminating infections, accidents, wounds, broken bones, and the like.<\/p>\n

But the plagues of modern American health are the chronic illnesses cascading from too little attention to the preventive measures above: hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiac and renal insufficiency, musculo-skeletal weakness and pain, Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and the attendant psychological issues of stress, anxiety, and depression.<\/p>\n

Chronic diseases are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems:<\/p>\n