What Are The Health Benefits Of Tapping & Qi Gong?

Tapping and qi gong are two sides of a very similar coin. In both practices, you use simple body movements coupled with a mental process to bring about a specific mental or physical state. Although both are firmly in the realm of "nontraditional medicine," some practitioners and patients report successful results.

How They Work

Qigong and tapping both begin with physical motions. Qigong uses motions similar to martial arts practice, while tapping uses a sequence of taps on specific parts of the body. Mentally, qigong uses visualization and focus on energy, while tapping uses repetition of affirmations. In both cases, the mental discipline tied with the physical motion is intended to elicit a specific, healthier, mental state.

Stress Relief

At the most basic level, both of these practices are helpful to relieve stress and "kick" your mind out of a negative cycle of thoughts. Stress is a factor in more than half of the top causes of death in America -- and all but one of the top five, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz in "You: The Owner's Manual." Lowering your stress can have a direct influence on your lifespan and on the quality of that life.

Symptom Control

Tapping is used most often in the West as psychiatric treatment. Patients with anxiety disorders, depression and even more serious mental illnesses can use this discipline to re-establish control over negative cognition, according to Elaine M. Corona, LCSW, in her article Anxiety, Children and Meridian Tapping Techniques. Although not prescribed frequently for this purpose in the West, qigong uses the same principles and might be just as effective.

Breathing and Wellness

Proper breathing can improve relaxation, boost sports performance, increase immunity and contribute to your overall wellness, according to Bob Smith in "Yoga for a New Age." Breathing methods are an integral part of both tapping and qigong -- although they are emphasized more strongly in qigong practice. Regular practice breathing is the best way to make breathing well a part of your everyday reflex.

Energy Manipulation

Belief in energy flow, and the manipulation of that flow, is integral to the study of qigong. Although tapping gives this aspect less attention, qigong practitioners would describe tapping as a form of energy manipulation. According to believers in the personal energy called "chi," proper energy flow can do anything from improve your posture to cure serious illnesses. However, no clinical research supports these claims as of the time of publication.