Popularized in the United States in 1953 by Liu Gui-zheng when he wrote "Practice On Qigong Therapy," qi gong is an ancient martial art technique that originated in the monasteries of China more than 5,000 years ago, according to Shen Nong. They state that qi gong is thought to have been originated for healing purposes, and the body movements and breathing were designed to aid you in readjusting certain body functions.
Western Perspective on Anxiety
Anxiety, from a Western perspective, is characterized by agitation, a mental state of worry, and an irrational fear about the future. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 40 million adults in America, or 18 percent, experience anxiety disorders each year. Typical treatment for this condition ranges from the use of psychotropic medications to cognitive or traditional talk therapy. Generally, a combination of medications and therapy are found to be most effective in treating anxiety from the Western perspective.
Eastern Perspective on Anxiety
According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation, anxiety is a symptom of wrong thinking by the mind. They say that when the mind receives new information from the outside world, it processes the information from past experiences; you want your future to match what you wish were true. This they say, causes anxiety-- the inability to accept events or circumstances as they are rather than how you wish they were.
Qi Gong and Anxiety
Qi gong is directed towards improving the body's energy flow and holds the perspective that the mind resides in the heart and not the brain, according to AltMD. They go on to explain that physical symptoms of anxiety such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest pain result from imbalanced heart energy. Qi gong clears the heart energy pathways, thereby calming the mind and restoring mental balance, says AltMD.
External and Internal Qi Gong
Treatment for anxiety using qi gong can be external and practitioner-directed, internal and patient-directed or a combination of the two. Qi gong performed by a practitioner directs the patient's qi or energy flow and uses the practitioner's own energy to help restore balance to the patient's qi. The practitioner might also direct the patient in self-care methods of qi gong.
Using focused breath and visualization of energy movement in the body is the core of internal qi gong. This aids the patient in removing the obstructions in her energy flow, according to AltMD, which claims that diligent practice over time can help a patient overcome her anxiety.
