Qigong is a combination of two words--qi, meaning energy or life force, and gong, which refers to exercise. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine lists qigong as a "mind-body" therapy under the umbrella of traditional Chinese medicine.
History
Although the term qigong has been around since 1948, according to the Qigong Institute, the practice is said to be rooted in Taoism which dates to 5,000 years ago. Pronounced "chee-gung" and variously written as chi kung, qi gong, and qi kung, it is said to be the basis for traditional Chinese medicine's more well-known therapies, such as acupuncture, tai chi and Chinese herbal medicines.
Function
The practice of qigong functions primarily as a tool to assist the body in maintaining homeostasis. As a preventive practice, balancing the qi, or energy flow, to the body's internal systems and organs means the body is able to deal with the demands of daily life. Meridians, invisible pathways that carry the qi throughout the body, can get blocked when a body is under stress. The daily practice of qigong functions to relieve stress, boost the immune system and increase overall energy levels.
Types
Three main categories of qigong include medical, spiritual and martial, though there are countless qigong methodologies. As a medical modality, qigong is preventive medicine and claims to alleviate symptoms of, and even heal, illnesses. Known as an internal martial-arts practice, qigong's movements are secondary to the practitioner's ability to manipulate her inner workings of energy. Taoism, in which the art of qigong is spiritually based, provides an opening to explore the hidden mysteries of life through meditation.
Techniques
There are two levels of qigong--moving meditation and still meditation--with moving meditation being the most accessible for beginners. Specific techniques for breathing, aligning the body and quieting the mind are practiced while learning to move smoothly from one qigong posture to another, or for the advanced level, while holding a particular pose.
Benefits
Roger Jahnke of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi declares benefits of qigong to include "the prevention and integrative treatment of cardiovascular disease, asthma/COPD, falls prevention, reducing the negative effects of stress, pain management, cancer and more." Since stress has been declared an underlying cause of over 70 percent of chronic illnesses, reducing stress through qigong practice can potentially ameliorate the toll of rampant stress in everyday life.
Warning
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine cautions that scientific evidence for the effectiveness of qigong is limited, despite its common use in traditional Chinese medicine. Let your doctor know if you are using qigong or any other alternative medicine therapy in conjunction with Western prescriptive medications.
References
- Qigong Institute: What is Qigong?
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction
- Qigong Institute: Qigong-Energy Medicine for the New Millennium
- Center for Spirituality & Healing: Taking Charge of Your Health: Qigong
- Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi: Traditional Chinese Health Promotion Practices--Qigong and Tai Chi--in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Disease
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