Medical Qigong is an ancient form of Chinese energetic medicine and is one of the four primary disciplines of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Qigong promotes healing by balancing the client’s “qi, “ the electromagnetic energy permeating and surrounding all sentient creatures and beings.
Many environmental and behavioral factors we experience in modern life disrupt the electromagnetic energy of our body. These stressors may include a poor diet, injuries or surgeries, a sedentary lifestyle, emotional trauma, and aging. Qigong strives to correct the bio-energetic imbalances and blockages that all human beings manifest due to these influences.
Qigong enables the body to strengthen and regulate its own major systems, from internal organs to the immune and nervous systems. Positive results are diverse and potent, including pain relief, hormone stabilization, and emotional release.
Is Qigong a Spiritual Practice? Medical qigong therapy takes the form of meditation and movement. Qigong can also be practiced as a spiritual discipline, as the tenets of self-awareness, tranquility, and harmony with nature align with all religions.
Holistic Wellness and Western Medicine
Medical qigong is a holistic system of healthcare that seeks and treats the roots cause of disease, rather than simply treating the symptoms of that disease. The qigong practitioner will utilize physical movement and breathing methods to heal and restore function to the body and provide qigong prescriptions to help with the ongoing healing process.
Recognizing what Chinese and Asian healers have known for millennia, Western doctors are beginning to recommend qigong as a beneficial form of complementary medical treatment. Medical qigong therapy and prescriptions are being utilized for a diverse range of medical applications, including:
* treating chronic pain
* reducing or eliminating the side effects from radiation and chemotherapy
* assisting in the treatment of cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease
* helping patients recover post-stroke
* treating chronic disorders of the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
Methods of Qigong Application
Medical qigong can be divided into two distinct application methods. They are as follows:
- Internal Qigong (Self Treatment): Internal qigong plays a significant role in qigong therapy. Internal qigong can be described as psycho-physiological self-regulation, as it regulates the body’s qi to harmonize internal energy systems. The individual practices this form of qigong to obtain a specific goal, using simple breathing and movement exercises to achieve health enhancement and proactively prevent disease or illness.
- External Qigong (Qi Emission): When applying external qigong, the practitioner directs or emits their qi to the client. The purpose is to release toxic emotions from the body’s tissues, purge energetic stagnations, and regulate the internal organs, immune system, and energetic fields. The practitioner may either touch areas on the client’s body or pass their hands over the body. The application of external qigong can be utilized as a standalone therapy when a patient is sick and experiencing low levels of personal qi. Receiving qi from the practitioner in this way can stimulate recovery, although qigong is considered most effective when both internal and external practices are engaged.
What to Expect at Your QiGong Session
Qi emitted from the practitioner passes through air and clothing, so clients are fully clothed during the session. The practitioner’s hands are typically about a foot away from their client’s body as hand movements guide the Qi.
The client may experience various sensations as the qi is manipulated, such as warmth or coolness, tingling, and vibration, or even twitching as stagnant energy is released. Most clients find sessions relaxing and rejuvenating, although some people do experience an emotional release as negative or suppressed emotions come to the surface. These reactions may feel uncomfortable at first but are exceptionally beneficial to the overall process. One of the primary goals of medical qigong is to eliminate toxic emotions from within the body’s tissues, so emotional and psychological well-being is improved when this release takes place.
Dr. Cynthia Clark is a NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. She is the recipient of several awards, including Best Applied Medical Qigong Practitioner and Best Qigong Healer.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Bradenton offices of Longevity Wellness Clinic .