Medical Qigong

The following highlighted text is a paraphrase of the opening few paragraphs in the
abstract "A Review of Qigong Therapy for Cancer Treatment" by Kevin CHEN and
Raphael YEUNG, Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of
New Jersey (New Jersey, USA)



























































Following are only a few examples of the many uses to which Medical Qigong has
been used effectively.  

Medical Qigong for Cancer:
 Reduce the size of cysts and tumors
 Boost the immune system response  
 Reduce the effects of stress on the mind and body
 Reduce pain without the need for drugs
 Reduce or eliminate the side effects of many chemotherapies
 Reduce or eliminate the side effects of radiation  
 Improve the effectiveness of conventional treatments  

Medical Qigong for Surgery
 Promotes rapid recovery from anesthesia
 Pain reduction
 Reduction or elimination of "phantom pain" associated with amputations
 Reduction or elimination of subcutaneous scar tissue, which often improves the
flow of lymph through the area  


Medical Qigong in Palliative Care
 Reduce physical and mental manifestations of stress  
 Reduce or eliminate pain without the use of drugs
 Reduce fear and the effects of fear


Other Areas that Respond Well to Medical Qigong  
 Heart Disease/Stroke
 Blood and Bone Diseases
 Fibromyalgia
 Stress Reduction/Relaxation
 HIV/AIDS
 Immune System Disorders
 Hypertension
 Menopause
 Headaches, Muscle Aches, & Back Pain
 Sleep Disorders
 Osteo- and Rheumatoid Arthritis


An Important Point
Medical Qigong is not a replacement for conventional healthcare; rather, it is a
complement to it.  Because most Medical Qigong practitioners do not have the
means to test your conditions as a normal doctor would, it is always suggested that
you keep your doctor apprised of what you are doing, and get regular checkups to
monitor your progress.  


Medical Qigong Homework
Often called prescriptions, medical Qigong homework assignments are usually not
physically difficult; however, they do require a considerable commitment of time and
attention.  In some extreme cases, patients may be asked to complete several hours
of Qigong homework daily.  In order for your Medical Qigong experience to be
effective, it is imperative that you be willing to follow through with the homework
assignment the same as you would with a prescription for pills provided by your
normal doctor.  Homework usually consists of various mixes of the following:
 Dynamic or Static Qigong Postures
 Guided Meditations
 Breathing Exercises
 Toning Exercises
 Emotional Release Procedures


Mike Powers has undergone intensive training with Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson of the
International Institute of Medical Qigong in Pacific Grove, California, for the use of
Medical Qigong in treating cancer patients.  See the Links page to learn more about
Dr. Johnson and the institute where he practices.
Medical Qigong
It is generally known that Qigong practice is beneficial
to our health and can prevent disease, but it is less
known, even in China, that Qigong may be an effective
treatment for various diseases, including cancer.  
Although most Qigong styles brings some health
benefits, Medical Qigong is the one that has been
specifically developed for the purpose of treating
disease.

Medical Qigong refers to the Qigong forms used by
Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners to utilize
vital energy or Qi in diagnosis and treatment of various
diseases.  Although Qigong is mainly a self-training
method, Qi Emission Therapy has always been part of
the Medical Qigong practice.  Qi Emission Therapy
refers to the process by which a practitioner uses his
intention to emit his Qi energy into others, for the
purpose of helping them dissolve Qi blockages and
remove toxic and stagnant Qi from the body.  This
process may reduce or eliminate pain, abate the
disease, and/or rebalance the flow of Qi through all or
part of the body.

Although there might be some cases of cancer
recovery reported in many Qigong forms, most Qigong
schools or clinics in China generally do not openly take
patients with cancer due to their high mortality rate.  
However, two Qigong forms in China have publicly
challenged cancer: Guo-Lin New Qigong and Chinese
Taiji Five-Elements Qigong.  In an official assessment
meeting held in 1996 by the Chinese government,
Chinese scholars and experts in medicine and science
examined the number of cancer cases and the results
of scientific research with Taiji Five-Elements Qigong.  
They affirmed the positive anti-cancer effectiveness of
this Qigong and concluded that it was an effective
therapy to treat cancer.  

Media reports on cancer recovery by the use of Qigong
have caught the attention of many scientists.  Some
are even formulating studies to answer questions such
as: Can Qigong practice really have a therapeutic effect
on cancer?  It is well known that some cancer patients
may experience spontaneous remissions without any
therapy.  How do we discern spontaneous remissions
from Qigong induced remissions?  Does Qigong
treatment provide merely a placebo, or does it truly
provide a therapeutic effect?  These are questions that
need to be answered before Qigong can truly be
accepted as a form of treatment.