Qi Gong—pronounced chee-gung—translates from the Chinese to mean energy-skill. The International Institute of Medical Qi Gong describes this ancient healing practice as a combination of movement exercise and meditation. Visualization is a contributing factor that is further employed to enhance the overall mind-body-spiritual experience while reducing the effects of pain, which is needed for optimum health benefits.
Good Health/Disease Prevention
Qi Gong has shown tremendous benefits for strength building, stamina, mental focus, immune defense, coordination of body movements and increased flexibility, building resistance to injuries from sports, and reducing blood pressure. According to the Qi Gong Research and Practice Center, Tai Chi—a dance-like ritual practiced in Qi Gong—is a whole body/whole mind exercise that can be replicated by all users in a standing, seated or supine body postural center. Unlike most exercise programs, Qi Gong does not have joint impact and can be practiced with benefit rather than harm despite most medical conditions, age or althletic ability.
Stress Reduction
Stress is receiving a considerable amount of attention today as it relates to chronic disease and disease progression and prognosis in acute illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. The National Institutes of Health posit that stress reduction practices are a necessary adjunct treatment to significantly change the way Americans cope with illness and recover from life-threatening situations. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine indicates that Qi Gong is a facilitator of significant change when employed for stress reduction among stroke patients who practiced two or more times per week for at least 30 minutes each.
Pain Management
With the benefits of Qi Gong carrying over into relaxation and stress reduction and lowering blood pressure, it is no surprise that it can also work for managing pain. The website Intelihealth suggests that while the preliminary research studies are not conclusive at this juncture, this method does exhibit great promise in reducing the perception of pain via easing the anxiety typically associated with it and the possible placebo effects known for managing symptoms. The benefits certainly outweigh the risks in the majority of cases, from cardiac rehabilitation to cancer. As always, it is imperative to seek the counsel of a licensed health professional before embarking on any new treatment.
References
- International Institute of Medical Qi Gong: Resources
- Qi Gong Research and Practice Center: Qi Gong
- Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Multifaceted Health Benefits of Medical Qigong; K. Sancier Ph.D., et al.; 2004
- National Institutes of Health; Stress and Disease: New Perspectives; H. Wein Ph.D., October 2009
- Intelihealth: Qi Gong
