Qigong as Medicine

[Eric Hunstad]

This is a new study published in the medical journal "Spine"

Qigong vs Exercise vs No Therapy for Patients with Chronic Neck Pain

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/739028?src=nl_topic

Eric Hunstad
www.OldSchoolKungFuNow.com

[Foiling Fist]

Here in the West, we seem to feel that disease begins with symptoms. Physicians will tell you that the disease process begins much earlier, at a cellular level, which is only logical. To the Chinese, disease begins with a disruption in energy flow (qi) through the meridian system. Qigong is designed to make that energy flow return to normal.
…
Scientific investigation has discovered four types of energy emitted from the hands of a Qigong master: infra-red, magnetic, electrical, and acoustical. The Infratronic CGM machine, said to be a Qigong acoustical energy emitter, came out in the early nineties and sells for around $500.

From Immune Perspectives, Spring, 1994, in an article entitled "Qigong And Cancer," by Dr. Feng Lida, one of China’s most famous cancer researchers, she tells of a study involving 123 patients with advanced cancer. Except for one group who practiced Qigong exercises for two hours daily, all the factors were the same: same food, same drugs, same nurses and doctors. At the end of three months, here were the results:

Experimental Group Control
Group
Regain strength 81.7% 10%
Improved appetite 63% 10%
Free of diarrhea or irregular defecation. 33.3% 6%
Body weight increase more than 3 kg. 50.54% 13.3%
Body weight decrease more than 3 kg. 5.4% 30%
Phagocytic rate of macrophages. Increased
12.31% Decreased 7.87%

Additionally, Dr Lida states, "It has been observed that in the [experimental] group, the erythrocyte sedimentation of 23 [patients] and the hepatic [liver] function of 20 of the 93 patients returned to normal. . . . In the control group, there were only three patients with normalized erythrocyte sedimentation, and two patients with normalized hepatic function out of the 30 . . . cases."

Normalized erythrocyte sedimentation means that there is no sign of the inflammatory process in the body. The liver is one of the most important organs in battling cancer.

One important note about Qigong exercises, beyond the overall improvement in cancer patients performing them, is that there are no side effects whatsoever.

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/qigong/qigong2.htm

[GeneChing]

New Research Shows Qi-Gong Helps Control Diabetes
posted:10/23/2011

In news that can apply to both massage therapist self-care and better health for the general population, a recent study indicates that practicing qi-gong helps control diabetes symptoms.

The study showed that people with elevated blood glucose levels who participated in 12 weeks of qi-gong mind-body therapy experienced a significant decrease in insulin resistance, along with reductions in weight and waist circumference, as well as improved leg strength.

The November issue of MASSAGE Magazine will feature a full report on the study, "Qi-Gong Mind-Body Therapy and Diabetes Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial."

Interesting teaser. We should do that with our magazine. Unfortunately we aren't research based in the same way.

[mawali]

There are far too many problems within the research community to actively consider the role of qigong in cancer amelioration. As a start here are some problems:
a. Patients are usually not stratified per their disease condition. They lump everyone together and then give minimum details.
b. They leave out the allopathic intervention, or the TCM combined western medicine portion, etc and this gives the impression that qigong cured the 'problem'.
c. Timing of tests are suspect to the extent that the x interval in the studies are left out. As an example, when you have cancers, laboratory tests tend to be done more frequently with a research environment when compared to trials with rheumatoid arthritis.

I realize that qigong can be an excellent complementary method but as of now, too many experts not documenting the actual effect taking place and this tends to make the qigongologists (teachers of qigong technology) something of a laughing stock because of lack of documentation

[mawali]

Here in the West, we seem to feel that disease begins with symptoms. Physicians will tell you that the disease process begins much earlier, at a cellular level, which is only logical. To the Chinese, disease begins with a disruption in energy flow (qi) through the meridian system. Qigong is designed to make that energy flow return to normal.

From Immune Perspectives, Spring, 1994, in an article entitled "Qigong And Cancer," by Dr. Feng Lida, one of China’s most famous cancer researchers, she tells of a study involving 123 patients with advanced cancer. Except for one group who practiced Qigong exercises for two hours daily, all the factors were the same: same food, same drugs, same nurses and doctors. At the end of three months, here were the results:

Experimental Group Control
Group
Regain strength 81.7% 10%
Improved appetite 63% 10%
Free of diarrhea or irregular defecation. 33.3% 6%
Body weight increase more than 3 kg. 50.54% 13.3%
Body weight decrease more than 3 kg. 5.4% 30%

One important note about Qigong exercises, beyond the overall improvement in cancer patients performing them, is that there are no side effects whatsoever.

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/qigong/qigong2.htm

My analyses of some of the above
...disease begins with a disruption of energy flow....
I would instead note that a root level of modern diseases begins in the mouth and made so by uninformed eating habits, decreased nutritional value of foods and marketing of aforementioned foods. This disrupts circadian patterns, which in turn will affect 'energy''. Excess is the main problem!


...qigong will make the energy flow normal.....
OK. Changing eating patterns involves more than qigong. There has to be a learning process to choose the necessary types of food, with the how and why associated with choice(s) to make all this relevant. Obesity----NIDDM---hypertension---all of these involve retraining ourselves as opposed to infec tious diseases, which is pandemic in parts of the undeveloped world, which is actually disease (life threatening) as opposed to our chronic condition, though not serious, can cut short quality of life.

...who practiced qigong exercises...
The main points here are as follows:
a. What were the exercise?
b. What was the name of the system practiced?
c. Practice duration and time!

...what does it mean .. one group regained strength.....
What were the measures

If there is an increased appetitie, then this is good, which would explain the weight increase.. Weight decrease can mean 2 additional things i.e. patient's conditioning is worsening, or they werre in the high range of excessive weight and said weight decreased!

These type of studies usually utilize SF36 that address most components of physical and mental doamins plus the mapping of changes to ascertain quality of life.

[David Jamieson]

Qigong can assist in healing and definitely produces a sense of well being in the practitioner.

I believe disease starts when a foreign invader enters the body (virus/bacteria) or when a set of genes turns on or off that cause repercussions in the system.

It is quite therapeutic in practice and is like giving yourself an internal massage.

there are intangibles to practice as well that don't apply to everyone.

results are not quick, don't expect that.

[GeneChing]

This article, which is mostly another PRC web he-said-she-said piece, will sit well here on our forum, yes?

'Official' panacea cure under fire
Updated:2012-05-25 17:10
(chinadaily.com.cn / Xinhua)



Editor's note:
Finding an economical and effective way to help combat disease is a challenge for every society. China is no exception and is sparing no effort to step up medical reform.

However, one case has sparked a fierce debate online. Liu Weizhong, director of the Gansu Health Department and known for actively promoting traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), promoted qigong as an affordable way to help people in the relatively underdeveloped areas keep fit.

Invincible kung fu?

'Official' panacea cure under fire

Myth: The Health Department of Gansu Province organized a nine-day qigong course for health officials and medical workers this month. "After the qigong training, 41 of the 47 practitioners have successfully opened up Conception Vessel (ren mai) and Governor Vessel (du mai)," said a statement posted on the department's official website on Tuesday.

"They feel vigorous after the accomplishment. Their old diseases are now relieved or cured, and their diet, sleep, and bowel movement are back to normal," it said.

Popular kung fu fictions mention that martial arts masters -- often practitioners of qigong -- become undefeatable after opening up the two vessels. But it requires years or even decades to accomplish this.

'Official' panacea cure under fireOnline response: Chinese netizens fought back with negative comments.

One writer going by the name "Da Xia" asked whether Liu was a kung fu master or a health official.

Others wondered why medical workers would be practicing kung fu instead of practicing medicine.

"If they're capable of doing that, I really hope these health officials can teach everyone in this country this skill so no one will get sick again," said a netizen screenamed Huluyao Lulu.

'Official' panacea cure under fireExperts view: Li Yingcong, a professor at the Gansu Institute of TCM, said qigong is not as magical as described in kung fu novels.

"As an important stage in qigong exercises, opening up the Conception Vessel and the Governor Vessel means letting the 'qi' inside one's body flow freely to coordinate Yin and Yang, but there is no way of telling whether one's two vessels are opened up or not because it's just a feeling of the practitioner, " Li said.

'Official' panacea cure under fireSelf-defense: Liu Weizhong, director of the Gansu Health Department and the man behind the nine-day qigong course, said the practice is not as mysterious as it sounds.

"We've all been reading kung fu novels and watching kung fu movies since we were kids. Because of the misleading information in those novels, many of us think that opening up the two vessels is a very difficult thing to do, but I want to tell you . . . it is not supernatural kung fu," Liu said in a weibo post.

The Gansu health department said that misunderstanding over the qigong claim was a result of insufficient work to introduce TCM theories among the public.

Pig foot soup?

'Official' panacea cure under fireMyth: Liu Weizhong, 54, was given the nickname "pig foot director" by netizens after advocating the medical benefits of pig feet on his microblog account.

Liu has more than one million microblog followers.
"We had 340 patients here after the fatal landslide in Zhouqu (in Gansu province) and the fatal earthquake in Yushu (in Qinghai province). All of them had my pig foot soup and recovered soon," said Liu, who has a medical license and studied medicine at the Lanzhou Medicine College in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, from 1978 to 1982.

"Patients with serious ailments need nutritious food like pig feet soup. I never said that the soup was a type of medicine, only that it enhanced the effect of medicine," Liu said.

'Official' panacea cure under fireExperts view: "It is dangerous to feed pig foot soup to patients. The soup can easily cause stress ulcers in their digestive systems," according to Xiao Ji, a postgraduate student of clinical medicine at Shanghai Communication University's School of Medicine.

Zhu Lijia, a professor from the Chinese Academy of Governance, said government officials should be careful on the Internet due to their special positions.

"Their words could have unexpected consequences," he said.

His blogs might possibly mislead the public, as they may believe that the Gansu provincial government is supporting Liu's recommendations, according to Wang Yukai, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance.

'Official' panacea cure under fireSelf-defense: Liu was quick to apologize after the incident of pig feet.

"I lack experience. Netizens are welcome to raise suggestions regarding the local health department's work, as well as questions about the development of traditional Chinese medicine," he wrote.

Liu said in his micro blog that all his attempts were intended to find a simple and affordable way to help people in the relatively underdeveloped areas keep fit.

"I am already in my 50s and willing to sacrifice my political career for the development of traditional Chinese medicine and the benefits of the patients,” Liu wrote.

[GeneChing]

UT MD Anderson study finds qigong improves quality of life for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy

Results underscore growing benefits of mind body practices in oncology

MD Anderson News Release 01/25/13
Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D.

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found qigong, an ancient mind-body practice, reduces depressive symptoms and improves quality of life in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer.

The study, published in the journal Cancer, is the first to examine qigong in patients actively receiving radiation therapy and include a follow-up period to assess benefits over time. Even though individual mind-body practices such as meditation and guided imagery appear to reduce aspects of distress and improve quality of life, questions remain about their effectiveness when conducted in conjunction with radiation therapy.

"We were also particularly interested to see if qigong would benefit patients experiencing depressive symptoms at the start of treatment," said Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., professor in MD Anderson's Departments of General Oncology and Behavioral Science and director of the Integrative Medicine Program. "It is important for cancer patients to manage stress because it can have a profoundly negative effect on biological systems and inflammatory profiles."

For the trial, Cohen, the corresponding author, and his colleagues enrolled 96 women with stage 1-3 breast cancer from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center in Shanghai, China. Forty-nine patients were randomized to a qigong group consisting of five 40-minute classes each week during their five-to-six week course of radiation therapy, while 47 women comprised a waitlist control group receiving the standard of care.

The program incorporated a modified version of Chinese medical qigong consisting of synchronizing one's breath with various exercises. As a practice, qigong dates back more than 4,000 years when it was used across Asia to support spiritual health and prevent disease.

Participants in both groups completed assessments at the beginning, middle and end of radiation therapy and then one and three months later. Different aspects of quality of life were measured including depressive symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbances and overall quality of life.

Results show benefits emerged over time
Patients in the qigong group reported a steady decline in depressive symptom scores beginning at the end of radiation therapy with a mean score of 12.3, through the three month post-radiation follow-up with a score of 9.5. No changes were noted in the control group over time.

The study also found qigong was especially helpful for women reporting high baseline depressive symptoms, Cohen said.

"We examined women's depressive symptoms at the start of the study to see if women with higher levels would benefit more," Cohen said. "In fact, women with low levels of depressive symptoms at the start of radiotherapy had good quality of life throughout treatment and three months later regardless of whether they were in the qigong or control group. However, women with high depressive symptoms in the control group reported the worst levels of depressive symptoms, fatigue, and overall quality of life that were significantly improved for the women in the qigong group."

As the benefits of qigong were largely observed after treatment concluded, researchers suggest qigong may prevent a delayed symptom burden, or expedite the recovery process especially for women with elevated depressive symptoms at the start of radiotherapy.

Cohen notes the delayed effect could be explained by the cumulative nature of these modalities, as the benefits often take time to be realized.

Future research needed
The authors note several limitations to the study, including the absence of an active control group making it difficult to rule out whether or not the effects of qigong were influenced by a patient's expectations or simply being a light exercise. Additionally, the ****geneity of the group, Chinese women at a single site, limits the ability of applying the results to other populations.

According to the authors, the findings support other previously reported trials examining qigong benefits, but are too preliminary to offer clinical recommendations. Additional work is needed to understand the possible biological mechanisms involved and further explore the use of qigong in ethnically diverse populations with different forms of disease.

This work was supported through National Cancer Institute grants R21CA108084, U19CA121503 and CA016672. The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

In addition to Cohen, MD Anderson authors on the paper include: Zhongxing Liao, M.D., Department of Radiation Oncology; Qi Wei, Integrative Medicine Program and Kathrin Milbury, Ph.D., Department of Behavioral Science. Other authors include Zhen Chen, M.D., Jiayi Chen, M.D., Zhiqiang Meng, M.D., Ph.D., Wenying Bei, M.D., Ying Zhang, Xiaoma Guo, Luming Liu, M.D., Ph.D., all of Fudan University Cancer Hospital; Jennifer McQuade, M.D., Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Clemens Kirschbaum, Ph.D., Dresden University of Technology; and Bob Thornton, Merck & Co., Inc (on MD Anderson staff when research was conducted).

Being a qigong practitioner myself, I wish they were a little more specific in defining a modified version of Chinese medical qigong. We published the The Shanghai Medical Qigong Exercises by Shaun McCorkell (in two parts). I wonder if this is the same system.

[mawali]

Being a qigong practitioner myself, I wish they were a little more specific in defining a modified version of Chinese medical qigong. We published the The Shanghai Medical Qigong Exercises by Shaun McCorkell (in two parts). I wonder if this is the same system.

Gene,
There are quite a few 'qigong' routines that help with subjective quality of life (QOL) in all disease states. They dont all work for the same person but if one show a propensity for it and they enjoy the specific routine, then it is great.
1. waitankung
2. baduanjin
3. wuqinxi
4. 8 shi taijiquan
5. yoga
6. pilates

[GeneChing]

But this is claiming to be scientifical so specifics count. There is such a wide range of qigong (there's a wide range of yoga for that matter) that it's sloppy science if the specific routine within the study isn't specified.

[David Jamieson]

But this is claiming to be scientifical so specifics count. There is such a wide range of qigong (there's a wide range of yoga for that matter) that it's sloppy science if the specific routine within the study isn't specified.

I agree with this observation. I have a book by Iyengar which details exactly these "targeted" yogic routines. There's more along those lines as well than just my one book.

[GeneChing]

Follow the link for the entire article. EQT is mentioned, but I don't know much about that curriculum aside from that it is commonly used for studies. Anyone familiar with EQT?

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

A Pilot Study of Qigong for Reducing Cocaine Craving Early in Recovery

To cite this article:
David Smelson, Kevin W. Chen, Douglas Ziedonis, Ken Andes, Amanda Lennox, Lanora Callahan, Stephanie Rodrigues, and David Eisenberg. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. February 2013, 19(2): 97-101. doi:10.1089/acm.2012.0052.
Published in Volume: 19 Issue 2: February 14, 2013
Online Ahead of Print: July 3, 2012

Author information
David Smelson, PsyD,1,2 Kevin W. Chen, PhD, MPH,3 Douglas Ziedonis, MD, MPH,2 Ken Andes, MS, LAc,4 Amanda Lennox, BA,1,2 Lanora Callahan, MS,5 Stephanie Rodrigues, PhD,1,2 and David Eisenberg, MD6
1Center for Health, Quality, Outcomes & Economic Research, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA.
2Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.
3Center for Integrative Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD.
4Private Traditional Chinese Medicine Practice, Ramsey, NJ.
5Veterans Healthcare Administration, Lyons, NJ.
6Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.
Address correspondence to:
David Smelson, PsyD
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
200 Springs Road (152)
Bedford, MA 01730
E-mail: david.smelson@va.gov

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This pilot study examined the feasibility, preliminary efficacy, and determined the effect sizes of external qigong therapy (EQT) in reducing cue-elicited cocaine craving and associated symptoms among recently abstinent cocaine-dependent (CD) individuals.

Methods: This study randomized 101 CD subjects to either a real EQT (n=51) or sham EQT control (n=50) group. Subjects underwent a baseline assessment and a weekly cue-exposure session for 2 weeks. Total EQT or sham treatments ranged from 4 to 6 sessions in 2 weeks.

Results: EQT-treated subjects displayed a greater reduction in cue-elicited craving (p=0.06) and symptoms of depression (p<0.05) with medium effect sizes.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of delivering EQT among CD individuals early in residential treatment. Future research should include a larger sample and examine the mechanisms and potential longitudinal benefits of EQT.

[SoCo KungFu]

But this is claiming to be scientifical so specifics count. There is such a wide range of qigong (there's a wide range of yoga for that matter) that it's sloppy science if the specific routine within the study isn't specified.

Not necessarily. There does seem to be a link between stress and cancer, mainly in hormone levels such as cortisol. Really cortisol is only good for a couple things, which modern life rarely finds us in. For anything else, glucocorticoids usually cause more problems than good.

So in that, ANYTHING that can reduce stress can potentially aid in cancer treatment. Given that there's no confirmed link between qigong and aiding in cancer treatment other than improved quality of life, it really might not matter what qigong they are doing. It might not even matter that they're doing qigong at all vs. some other form of exercise/stress relief.

Accuracy is great and all, but before that can be addressed the qigong researchers/proponents need to take a few more steps back and validate the basic fundamentals of qigong before we can start worrying about which one they're doing.

[SoCo KungFu]

Follow the link for the entire article. EQT is mentioned, but I don't know much about that curriculum aside from that it is commonly used for studies. Anyone familiar with EQT?

There are some very major problems with this. First off, all their metrics used are subjective questionnaire or interview. And while 2 of the questionnaires are used in typical psychiatric research with addiction, there is absolutely no objective measure to go along side in this case.

Furthermore, their sample size is nonexistent. They've made a very basic design error. They claim to have a sample of n=101. But in actuality, its only 5. This is because while they are trying to measure the subjective response of the cocaine addict, the actual variable at play is the "healer." Of which there are 2 "healers" and 3 "shams." This is because the patient does nothing, takes no medication, etc. The design has the "healer" doing the treatment, energy manipulation. It would be like having 2 physical therapists and 3 phonies treating patients. What is at play isn't so much the injury of the patient (although their circumstances are important) but rather the skill of the therapist and the efficiency of that therapist's technique/treatments. When you're working with a drug for example, you can accurately standardize the active ingredient concentration across the board, removing that variable. Here, you can't. And they've mistaken what they're actual predictor variable really is. They're pseudo-replicating their experiment.

And it only gets worse when you look at what the actual treatment was...

http://online.liebertpub.com/action/...Facm.2012.0052

Sorry, but that's just nonsense. They need to go back and find out if voodoo hand waving does anything at all before they can make claims about specific treatment uses. Beyond this point, I didn't bother to read much further.

There may be some use in qigong in treating craving, but its not going to be this chi ball nonsense and its likely going to have to be the patient participating oneself. Addiction is a medical matter related to biochemical changes from drug use. Craving is a matter of habit.

http://www.npr.org/2012/03/05/147192...-to-break-them

Exercise, in general, is one of those good "super habits."

[Syn7]

I think they are using the term to try to make "qi projection" sound more "standardized" (as opposed to the older distinction of 'bat sh1t crazy')

Funny how they have to redefine terms to stay relevant. People can benefit from all sorts of things. Just because some of the methods are in some way legit doesn't mean you should be excused for having the wrong explanation as to why and how it works.

We all remember Aether from like 8th grade. Just because the basic principle turned out to be somewhat correct when put into a certain context does not excuse the fact that it was basically wrong in so so so many ways.