Qigong offers you a practice with physical and mental components that come from Chinese medicine. The goal of the practice is to bring the body toward homeostasis. Homeostasis is your body’s natural balance. Qigong, as defined by Kenneth Sancier and Devatara Holman in a 2004 issue of the “Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine,” is the act of bringing awareness and skill to direct the function and movement of qi.
Types
There are over 1,000 varieties of Qigong. This ancient healing system from China consists of three elements: physical postures, breathing techniques and focused intentions. These can be classified as martial, medical or spiritual, according to the National Qigong Association. Tai Chi presents an internal style of Qigong, while kung fu is a vigorous outward style. The Shaolin Monks employ Qigong to help them eliminate pain when, for example, concrete blocks are broken on their head with a hammer.
Etymology
The word Qigong is a compound word combining the Chinese words “qi” and “gong.” The NQA explains their meanings. Qi, pronounced as “chee,” signifies the life force and vital energy flowing through your body and all living things in Chinese medicinal practices. According to the NQA, the second syllable, “gong,” pronounced “gung,” means “accomplishment, or skill you cultivate through steady practice."
Fibromyalgia
A pilot trial of 10 women examining Qigong as a treatment for severe fibromyalgia syndrome was conducted by the Robert Johnson Medical School Department of Psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Women received between five and seven Qigong treatment sessions in three weeks. The results, which were reported in the November 2006 issue of the “Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine,” found the women “experienced significant improvement after external qigong therapy.” Two out of the 10 women participating in the trial reported feeling symptom free.
Chronic Orofacial Pain
An anecdotal pilot trial on Qigong therapy conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School found "Qigong therapy has some effect on pain relief for most of our participants.” As reported in a 2002 issue of the “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine,” 10 female chronic orofacial pain patients spent up to 10 minutes with a Qigong healer who spoke to them in Chinese, with a translator present, and occasionally touched the patient. The women, interviewed after treatment, described feeling various degrees of pain relief.
Choosing a Teacher
Although you can practice Qigong at home by yourself, the NQA recommends learning from a qualified instructor. To find a good Qigong teacher, the NQA suggests asking about their training and experience. Observe a class and ask yourself if the instructor treated everyone in a respectful way or made unsubstantiated claims. The NQA advises you to “to trust your intuition in finding an instructor who is right for you.”
References
- PubMed; "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; A Pilot Study of External Qigong Therapy for Patients With Fibromyalgia; K.W. Chen et al.; November 2006
- Qigong Institute: Multifaceted Health Benefits of Medical Qigong
- Qigong Institute: External Qigong Therapy for Chronic Orofacial Pain
- National Qigong Association: What is Qigong?
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