Fibroid is a common problem in women and the most common fibroid is uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors composed of smooth uterine muscle and connective tissue. The uterus is the most common site for muscle tumors to occur. Conventional Western medicine believes that estrogen can trigger fibroids and make the fibroids grow more quickly. Estrogen triggers the myometrium (the smooth muscle coat of the uterus) to grow and thicken, which is where the fibroids are located. Depending on the location, fibroids are classified into "intramural fibroids" (located in the innermost layer of the uterus), "subserous fibroids" (protruding into the abdominal cavity), "submucous fibroids" (invading the endometrium) and "parasitic fibroids" (those which have migrated out of the uterus).
Statistics indicate that uterine fibroids develop most commonly in women who are in their 30s and 40s. About 30% of all women will develop fibroids by the time they reach 35. If the fibroids are surgically removed, there is a 10% chance they will grow back. This might be the reason that hysterectomies are so widely favored by doctors to treat uterine fibroids. Actually, uterine fibroids are the most common reason for hysterectomies in the United States. About 30% of all the hysterectomies performed in this country are for uterine fibroids. Some complications of hysterectomy include hemorrhaging, eventual ovarian failure, loss of bladder function, urinary incontinence, depression, and infections. Some studies estimate that up to 70% of all hysterectomies performed in this country are either unnecessary or can be avoided by using alternative approaches.
Deficiency of Kidney energy or chronic illness is the origin of this pattern. It is an advanced stage of Yin Deficiency. Symptoms include: early periods with heavy or scanty, long-lasting bleeding; a hot sensation in the chest or abdomen; a sensation of itching in the breast, or a feeling of sharp or distending pain in the breast; blood-streaked white discharge or yellow-white vaginal discharge after periods; a red tongue, dry or with a yellow coating; and a wiry-thin or thin-rapid pulse. Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu), and phellodendron (Huang Bai) are the leading herbs used to address this pattern. Water Fire Balance (Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan) is a widely-used herbal formula in China.
Deficiency of Spleen energy is the origin of this pattern. Symptoms include: regular or late periods with heavy bleeding; a pulling sensation of the lower abdomen; loose bowels; thin vaginal discharge after periods; a pale tongue or thin-white tongue coating; and a soggy-thin or thin-wiry pulse. The fibroid tumor is a soft mass. Buplerum (Chai Hu), and peony (Bai Shao) are widely- used herbs, and Liver Spleen Harmonizer (Xiao Yao San) is a leading formula to address this pattern.
As for specific qigong prctice, I would recommend "hip rotation" with proper visualisation might help to eliminate the fibroid to dissapear and gone forever.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Meditation Postures
The first step in the practice of Qigong is to maintain a correct posture. It is important that the posture is natural and relaxed so as to allow for smooth breathing and to help lead the mind into a relaxed and quiet state. Each posture naturally has different physiological characteristics and therefore will have a different healing effect on the body according to the needs of the practitioner.
The most common postures are:
Normal Sitting: Sit upright on a chair, feet flat on the ground, legs slightly apart and torso at right angles to the thighs. Let the eyes and mouth rest gently closed with the tongue lightly placed on the upper palate. Assume a slight, unforced smile.
Cross-Legged: Sit upright on a hard bed or platform. Legs should be crossed naturally with the hands resting in front of the lower abdomen.
Half-Lotus: Sit upright on a firm bed or platform. The left foot rests on the right thigh. The right foot is under the left knee. Rest the hands on the knees.
Supine: Lie on one's back on a firm bed, with a low pillow. The upper body and legs should be straight. Arms should rest comfortably at one's sides.
Sideways Lying: Lie on one's side on a firm bed, with a low pillow. The upper body is straight and the legs are slightly bent. Rest the upper hand on the hip and lower hand, palm up, on the pillow.
Standing: Stand erect, feet parallel and apart at about shoulder width with toes pointing slightly inward. Bend knees slightly, hold in the chest and with the arms hanging comfortably at the sides, raise the forearms so that they are parallel to the floor in front of you about one foot apart. Palms can face down, up or towards each other. Keep the fingers separated and curved as if lightly holding a ball. Eyes and mouth are lightly closed with the tongue touching the upper palate. Place a natural slight smile on the face.
Walking: Stand quietly for about two to three minutes. Take a pace forward with the left foot. The heel should touch first; the body and hands swaying to the right as you move forward. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. When the weight is fully on the left foot, take a step forward with the right foot (body swaying to the left this time). The palms should be parallel to the floor with the fingers facing forward. The palms "collect Qi" as the arms swing forward and "release Qi" as they swing backwards.
The most common postures are:
Normal Sitting: Sit upright on a chair, feet flat on the ground, legs slightly apart and torso at right angles to the thighs. Let the eyes and mouth rest gently closed with the tongue lightly placed on the upper palate. Assume a slight, unforced smile.
Cross-Legged: Sit upright on a hard bed or platform. Legs should be crossed naturally with the hands resting in front of the lower abdomen.
Half-Lotus: Sit upright on a firm bed or platform. The left foot rests on the right thigh. The right foot is under the left knee. Rest the hands on the knees.
Supine: Lie on one's back on a firm bed, with a low pillow. The upper body and legs should be straight. Arms should rest comfortably at one's sides.
Sideways Lying: Lie on one's side on a firm bed, with a low pillow. The upper body is straight and the legs are slightly bent. Rest the upper hand on the hip and lower hand, palm up, on the pillow.
Standing: Stand erect, feet parallel and apart at about shoulder width with toes pointing slightly inward. Bend knees slightly, hold in the chest and with the arms hanging comfortably at the sides, raise the forearms so that they are parallel to the floor in front of you about one foot apart. Palms can face down, up or towards each other. Keep the fingers separated and curved as if lightly holding a ball. Eyes and mouth are lightly closed with the tongue touching the upper palate. Place a natural slight smile on the face.
Walking: Stand quietly for about two to three minutes. Take a pace forward with the left foot. The heel should touch first; the body and hands swaying to the right as you move forward. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. When the weight is fully on the left foot, take a step forward with the right foot (body swaying to the left this time). The palms should be parallel to the floor with the fingers facing forward. The palms "collect Qi" as the arms swing forward and "release Qi" as they swing backwards.
Qigong Meditation - Written by Master Wan Siu Jian
Quiet is the basis for all Qigong practice. Quiet water is crystal clear, quiet people have clarity of mind. In modern society, the seven conditions that cause disease are: Joy, Anger, Anxiety, Excessive Pensiveness, Sadness, Fear, and Shock. Too much anger can cause loss of Yin energy, too much joy can cause loss of Yang energy. Anger makes Qi rise and affects the liver. Joy slows Qi down and affects the heart. Anxiety and Pensiveness knot Qi and affect the spleen. Sadness dissolves Qi and affects the lungs. Fear makes Qi descend and affects the kidney. Shock scatters Qi and affects the kidneys and heart.
If any of these conditions persist for a long time, it causes stagnation of Qi and blood, creating malfunction of the body and disease such as cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and so on.
Taoist and Buddhist meditations are used to preserve one’s health through movements developed over the long history of Chinese Qigong. Taoist meditation is the practice of breath control to get more energy to flow through the Xiao Zhou Tian (the yin and yang meridians) and Da Zhou Tian meridians (the twelve organ meridians), eventually to keep healthy and to have a long life. The Buddhist meditation is the practice of mind control to brighten people’s lives and to gain wisdom. So the practice of Taoist and Buddhist meditation together will result in improved physical and mental health, gaining new wisdom, and breaking off greed and foolish expectations; and finally, liberating one’s life from upset and sorrow.
In meditation, controlling the breath, the mind and the position of the body is important. Controlling the breath, practicing breathing is the way to save energy, which the ancients called "Tu Na". There are many types of controlled breathing practice: abdominal, counter abdominal, stop and close, and fetus breathing. In meditation practice, breathing will be slower, deeper, longer and more even; it seems to appear and disappear.
The highest level of breath control is fetus breathing, just like the baby in the mother’s belly. In old times, the Qigong Masters had these comments about breathing practice: "Breathing as a baby in mother’s belly, heart as sincere as a baby; the Yin and Yang are in balance; the heavens and earth are one. Breathing out gently, breathing in unbrokenly… by and by, energy manifestations will appear in the third eye (upper dantian). Fetus breathing restores to the original state – everything returns to the root, the universe." This is the ancient meditation procedure; the physical body is totally relaxed and peaceful, making the body and spirit completely harmonious.
Modern scientific researchers point out that breathing more deeply, slowly, more evenly and longer breaths can increase the oxygen intake of the body. In turn, the cells get enough oxygen and can improve the body’s metabolism, making the cells healthier. They found with x-ray machines that when doing meditation, the diaphragm and breathing system moves 3-4 times more than normal, thus improving lung function. Also, large blood vessels and heart have been moved more, thus enhancing heart function and helping prevent hardening of the arteries. The abdominal organs also were massaged internally, thus preventing problems of the stomach, intestines, liver and gall bladder.
The "Tao De Ching", authored by Lau Tze some 2,500 years ago, said, "make the mind as sincere as a baby". This means the practice of meditation can help us achieve the highest level of anything, such as kindness, unselfishness, equality, generosity, and spiritual attainment. It can help the bad Qi to exit the body and keep good health. It can also help the essence of energy (Qi) enter the body to build up the organs. Proper breathing helps a person to avoid diseases, vexation, anxiety and weakness. If the energy increases and the bad energy leaves the body, we can expect long life and total health.
If any of these conditions persist for a long time, it causes stagnation of Qi and blood, creating malfunction of the body and disease such as cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and so on.
Taoist and Buddhist meditations are used to preserve one’s health through movements developed over the long history of Chinese Qigong. Taoist meditation is the practice of breath control to get more energy to flow through the Xiao Zhou Tian (the yin and yang meridians) and Da Zhou Tian meridians (the twelve organ meridians), eventually to keep healthy and to have a long life. The Buddhist meditation is the practice of mind control to brighten people’s lives and to gain wisdom. So the practice of Taoist and Buddhist meditation together will result in improved physical and mental health, gaining new wisdom, and breaking off greed and foolish expectations; and finally, liberating one’s life from upset and sorrow.
In meditation, controlling the breath, the mind and the position of the body is important. Controlling the breath, practicing breathing is the way to save energy, which the ancients called "Tu Na". There are many types of controlled breathing practice: abdominal, counter abdominal, stop and close, and fetus breathing. In meditation practice, breathing will be slower, deeper, longer and more even; it seems to appear and disappear.
The highest level of breath control is fetus breathing, just like the baby in the mother’s belly. In old times, the Qigong Masters had these comments about breathing practice: "Breathing as a baby in mother’s belly, heart as sincere as a baby; the Yin and Yang are in balance; the heavens and earth are one. Breathing out gently, breathing in unbrokenly… by and by, energy manifestations will appear in the third eye (upper dantian). Fetus breathing restores to the original state – everything returns to the root, the universe." This is the ancient meditation procedure; the physical body is totally relaxed and peaceful, making the body and spirit completely harmonious.
Modern scientific researchers point out that breathing more deeply, slowly, more evenly and longer breaths can increase the oxygen intake of the body. In turn, the cells get enough oxygen and can improve the body’s metabolism, making the cells healthier. They found with x-ray machines that when doing meditation, the diaphragm and breathing system moves 3-4 times more than normal, thus improving lung function. Also, large blood vessels and heart have been moved more, thus enhancing heart function and helping prevent hardening of the arteries. The abdominal organs also were massaged internally, thus preventing problems of the stomach, intestines, liver and gall bladder.
The "Tao De Ching", authored by Lau Tze some 2,500 years ago, said, "make the mind as sincere as a baby". This means the practice of meditation can help us achieve the highest level of anything, such as kindness, unselfishness, equality, generosity, and spiritual attainment. It can help the bad Qi to exit the body and keep good health. It can also help the essence of energy (Qi) enter the body to build up the organs. Proper breathing helps a person to avoid diseases, vexation, anxiety and weakness. If the energy increases and the bad energy leaves the body, we can expect long life and total health.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Qigong Healing for Weight Loss
Qiqong is a form of self practice exercise, which requires the integration of posture/movement, some type of breathing technique and mental focus. It cultivates the qi (vital energy) and actively realigns all levels of the body together thus creating a new internal environment.
From a TCM viewpoint, the pathological changes in obesity are mainly spleen and kidney dysfunctions, sluggish qi (vital energy) flow, poor vaporization processing of body fluid and turbid phlegm obstruction. Qigong helps to regulate the qi (vital energy) and blood flow, promotes the metabolic functions and eliminates blockages caused by evils such as dampness and phlegm. Moreover, through the practice of qi-gong, the excitatory state of the spleen and stomach can be prohibited, which will relieve or clear the desire for food.
Sample of qi-gong exercise: The Jade Toad Practice
1. Posture: Sit up right on a chair with thighs and legs at a 90° angle, and the feet placed on the ground. The knees are separated shoulder-width apart; let the elbows rest on the knees separately. The right hand is made into a fist while the left hand wraps around it. The upper body leans forward slightly, with head lowered and the forehead is placed lightly onto the top part of the fist. The eyes are slightly closed; adjust the posture to the most comfortable degree.
2. Mental focusing: Focus on the happy things in your life and put on a smile on your face; that helps the body and mind to be relaxed and peaceful. Keep the mind focused and regulate mental activity to be calm in order to a enter qi-gong state. When entering the qi-gong state, the mind should completely follow the respiratory activities and not be disturbed by the outer influences.
3. Breathing: This is the stage where the real practice starts. Firstly inhale a breath freely, make the air go deep down to the abdomen, and then exhale by the mouth very slowly. Secondly, relax the whole body especially the abdomen to become totally loose and flabby. The third step is to inhale through the nose slowly until the abdomen is fully expanded; hold the breath for 2 seconds; take a short inhalation again and then immediately exhale slowly. Repeat the third step again and again. A practitioner should not have any chest movement at all; only abdominal expansion and contraction are performed during the whole process.
4. Closing the practice: After exercising for 15 minutes, raise the head, keep the eyes closed slightly, and then rub hands in front of the chest for over 10 times. Then comb the hair with fingers for several times and open the eyes. Lastly, raise up the hands while still holding the fist; inhale deeply and exhale slowly; release the hands and finish the practice.
For individuals who would like to practice, an experienced qi-gong practitioner should guide them. Doing this exercise improperly can lead to the occurrence of abnormal phenomena; which may be harmful. This exercise is contraindicated in people who are pregnant or have cardiovascular disease, cerebral vascular disease or liver and kidney dysfunctions. It is not advisable for those who feel unwell with symptoms of dizziness and weakness. Individuals should also maintain a healthy diet when applying this exercise.
From a TCM viewpoint, the pathological changes in obesity are mainly spleen and kidney dysfunctions, sluggish qi (vital energy) flow, poor vaporization processing of body fluid and turbid phlegm obstruction. Qigong helps to regulate the qi (vital energy) and blood flow, promotes the metabolic functions and eliminates blockages caused by evils such as dampness and phlegm. Moreover, through the practice of qi-gong, the excitatory state of the spleen and stomach can be prohibited, which will relieve or clear the desire for food.
Sample of qi-gong exercise: The Jade Toad Practice
1. Posture: Sit up right on a chair with thighs and legs at a 90° angle, and the feet placed on the ground. The knees are separated shoulder-width apart; let the elbows rest on the knees separately. The right hand is made into a fist while the left hand wraps around it. The upper body leans forward slightly, with head lowered and the forehead is placed lightly onto the top part of the fist. The eyes are slightly closed; adjust the posture to the most comfortable degree.
2. Mental focusing: Focus on the happy things in your life and put on a smile on your face; that helps the body and mind to be relaxed and peaceful. Keep the mind focused and regulate mental activity to be calm in order to a enter qi-gong state. When entering the qi-gong state, the mind should completely follow the respiratory activities and not be disturbed by the outer influences.
3. Breathing: This is the stage where the real practice starts. Firstly inhale a breath freely, make the air go deep down to the abdomen, and then exhale by the mouth very slowly. Secondly, relax the whole body especially the abdomen to become totally loose and flabby. The third step is to inhale through the nose slowly until the abdomen is fully expanded; hold the breath for 2 seconds; take a short inhalation again and then immediately exhale slowly. Repeat the third step again and again. A practitioner should not have any chest movement at all; only abdominal expansion and contraction are performed during the whole process.
4. Closing the practice: After exercising for 15 minutes, raise the head, keep the eyes closed slightly, and then rub hands in front of the chest for over 10 times. Then comb the hair with fingers for several times and open the eyes. Lastly, raise up the hands while still holding the fist; inhale deeply and exhale slowly; release the hands and finish the practice.
For individuals who would like to practice, an experienced qi-gong practitioner should guide them. Doing this exercise improperly can lead to the occurrence of abnormal phenomena; which may be harmful. This exercise is contraindicated in people who are pregnant or have cardiovascular disease, cerebral vascular disease or liver and kidney dysfunctions. It is not advisable for those who feel unwell with symptoms of dizziness and weakness. Individuals should also maintain a healthy diet when applying this exercise.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Qigong For Cancer: Self-Healing Practice
Qigong (pronounced Chee Gung) has been said to be 1 of the most powerful healing traditions ever highly-developed in human history. It is Chinaware's 3000-4000 year-old system of ego-healing, which integrates simple focused movements or Qigong allows I to cultivate this vigor for wellness maintenance, healing, and postures, breath, and mental intention to balance and unify consistency, head, and heart. Based on the concept of Chi--inner vigour--the life force--practicing increased vitality. By strengthening the brain-consistence connection, Qigong tin determine the course of chronic disease.
(1) Millions of citizenry in People's Republic of China pattern Qigong every day to help relieve a range of maladies such as diabetes, asthma, Cancer, poor circulation, interior organ problems, arthritis, nerve painful sensation, bad backs, joint problems, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and other tangible diseases. (2) I agree that this gentle form of exercise tin can be highly efficient in reducing stress and increasing vim, merely my question as a health care professional is whether there is any proof of its benefit for serious illnesses. For example, ace style called Guo Maya Lin's Genus Cancer Retrieval Qigong became so popular inside Mainland China that it was adopted in hospitals and centers across the country. To investigate this matter I decided to focus on studies examining the relationship between Qigong and genus Cancer and to interview prominent experts in this field.
Jahnke says Qigong activates natural home(a) healing mechanisms and encourages Cancer the Crab patients to start practicing now and be patient and consistent. "Use Qigong not only to activate biological and energetic healing, simply also to build a sense of inner calm and a trust for single's destiny," suggests Dr. "In other words, in addition to the touchable practices, explore and implement some of the philosophical aspects of Qigong as well." He shared a story with me about unity of his eight inquiry trips to Communist China. "I rich person visited with the Cancer the Crab Convalescence Society which uses the Walking Qigong by Guo with great success, along with "social oncology." I said to the group, 'Your method has apparently helped to save many lives, you must be doing enquiry.' Many multitude wanted to respond to this and after several had spoken, an elder just vital-looking woman said, 'I wealthy person Crab.
You see these other 60 masses here, they all give birth malignant neoplastic disease. We alive, that's our search. Yes, the scientific explore that is organism done is important. But, beingness with these mass and hearing their stories and practicing Qigong with them everyday--that is my .'" With a multitude of " cures" touted by certain individuals and companies out to make a fast dollar, a guiding principle would be to avoid those that discourage mainstream treatment.
Instead, doctors should encourage patients to try non-invasive and comforting complementary therapies such as Qigong. Since science doesn't deliver good means to measure subtle push, therapies such as Qigong ignored. Consequently, any positive personal effects attributed to placebo. Nevertheless, the benefits more than a psychological phenomenon because clinical observations and laboratory studies demonstrate improved immune function, increased microcirculation, and raised annoyance threshold.
(1) Millions of citizenry in People's Republic of China pattern Qigong every day to help relieve a range of maladies such as diabetes, asthma, Cancer, poor circulation, interior organ problems, arthritis, nerve painful sensation, bad backs, joint problems, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and other tangible diseases. (2) I agree that this gentle form of exercise tin can be highly efficient in reducing stress and increasing vim, merely my question as a health care professional is whether there is any proof of its benefit for serious illnesses. For example, ace style called Guo Maya Lin's Genus Cancer Retrieval Qigong became so popular inside Mainland China that it was adopted in hospitals and centers across the country. To investigate this matter I decided to focus on studies examining the relationship between Qigong and genus Cancer and to interview prominent experts in this field.
Jahnke says Qigong activates natural home(a) healing mechanisms and encourages Cancer the Crab patients to start practicing now and be patient and consistent. "Use Qigong not only to activate biological and energetic healing, simply also to build a sense of inner calm and a trust for single's destiny," suggests Dr. "In other words, in addition to the touchable practices, explore and implement some of the philosophical aspects of Qigong as well." He shared a story with me about unity of his eight inquiry trips to Communist China. "I rich person visited with the Cancer the Crab Convalescence Society which uses the Walking Qigong by Guo with great success, along with "social oncology." I said to the group, 'Your method has apparently helped to save many lives, you must be doing enquiry.' Many multitude wanted to respond to this and after several had spoken, an elder just vital-looking woman said, 'I wealthy person Crab.
You see these other 60 masses here, they all give birth malignant neoplastic disease. We alive, that's our search. Yes, the scientific explore that is organism done is important. But, beingness with these mass and hearing their stories and practicing Qigong with them everyday--that is my .'" With a multitude of " cures" touted by certain individuals and companies out to make a fast dollar, a guiding principle would be to avoid those that discourage mainstream treatment.
Instead, doctors should encourage patients to try non-invasive and comforting complementary therapies such as Qigong. Since science doesn't deliver good means to measure subtle push, therapies such as Qigong ignored. Consequently, any positive personal effects attributed to placebo. Nevertheless, the benefits more than a psychological phenomenon because clinical observations and laboratory studies demonstrate improved immune function, increased microcirculation, and raised annoyance threshold.
Friday, September 28, 2007
How Chi Gong Works on Cancer
[Excerpt from Paul Dong's book, Chi Gong: The Ancient Chinese Way to Health, Paul Dong and Aristide H. Esser, 1990, Marlowe and Company]
Haughtiness invites ruin; humility receives benefits.
-I Ching (The Book of Changes)
Paul Dong has a personal interest in the effect of chi gong on cancer which he explains as follows:
Because several of my relatives and friends died of cancer, I always felt particularly fearful of cancer. When I came across a Chinese book on five chi gong exercise techniques and discovered that chi gong can cure cancer, I became highly interested and started collecting materials on this subject. I also went to China in 1984 to see for myself, and found that it is definitely true that chi gong is being used to cure cancer. In the eleven years since 1979, the Chinese have cured hundreds of cancer victims through chi gong, and thousands upon thousands have used chi gong to achieve improvement and to prolong their lives. When news of this spread outside China, many medical professionals from other countries came to mainland China to observe. Members of the staff at Harvard Medical School have shown great interest in this area and have been to China twice to observe the practice. According to the article "Cancer Does Not Mean Death" by Ke Yan,1 an American oncologist (the article doesn't give the doctor's name) visited China and requested an interview with the pioneer of chi gong cancer treatment, Mrs. Guo Lin (1906-1984). Guo Lin said, "Even if I tell you about it, you wouldn't believe me. You'd better find a patient of mine to talk to." The oncologist found quite a few of her patients in the Beijing district chi gong cancer class, spent four days talking with them, and saw the facts for himself
Doctors have taken two contrasting approaches to cancer. The first approach is to consider the cancer to be an isolated condition localized at one spot in the body and to attack it directly using chemicals, surgery, or radiation. The second approach, which is gaining more and more prominence today, is to consider the condition of the whole person as the environment for the cancer, and to strengthen the body's resistance to cancer. This may come under the modem heading of psychoneuroimmunology (discussed in chapter 13) and relies on many factors, including exercise, diet, and mental imaging to combat the disease. Chi gong is part of this second approach.
The use of chi gong cancer treatment in China originated with Ms. Guo Lin, a Chinese traditional painter, mentioned above. In 1949, she was afflicted with uterine cancer and had it removed by surgery in Shanghai. The cancer recurred in 1960. This time it had metastasized to the bladder, and she had another operation in Beijing to remove part of the bladder that was cancerous. When she had another relapse, the doctors gave her six months to live. However, she did not give up hope, and in her struggle against cancer, she remembered that her grandfather, a Taoist priest, had taught her as a child to practice chi gong. She determinedly began to research and practice chi gong, hoping to recover her health in this way. After initial practice with no effect, she turned to the ancient chi gong texts willed to her by her grandfather and created her own exercise schedule. She practiced diligently for two hours every day, and in half a year her cancer subsided. She was strongly convinced of chi gong's ability to cure diseases, and in 1970 started giving lessons in what she called New Chi Gong Therapy. According to Cyrus Lee, Master Guo's therapy is not based on the external energy (wei chi) of others, but upon the inner energy (nei chi) of the patient (for these distinctions, review chapter 1, "Special Section on Chi"). Her therapy combines "active and passive exercises in three stages: relaxation (sung jing), concentration (yi lian), and breathing (tiao hsi)."2
By 1977 Master Guo had achieved spectacular results and proclaimed publicly that chi gong can cure cancer. Cancer victims from all over immediately streamed into Beijing to take part in the chi gong cancer therapy class she had organized. Each day three hundred to four hundred people studied chi gong techniques for cancer treatment with her. Until her death in 1984 she worked tirelessly, curing hundreds of cancer patients, while easing the pain and prolonging the lives of thousands more. Mrs. Wong Chung-siu, a student of Guo Lin's currently living in Fremont, California, told Paul Dong that Guo Lin's pinnacle of success came in 1982. Aided by nine assistants she had trained, Guo Lin held nine cancer classes of seventy students each, meeting three times a day. With her nine assistants to help her, she was able over the next two years to travel all over China to twenty provincial capitals to teach and lecture at the request of many local health care and medical departments, and she became a national celebrity before her death in 1984 (twenty years after her life had been given up by Western medicine).
Because Guo Lin had demonstrated that her chi gong techniques were able to cure cancer, people trained in other styles of chi gong were eager to see if they could achieve the same results. Among these other styles, quiet gong and movement gong also demonstrated the same ability to achieve cures or alleviation of cancer. Paul Dong judges from the Chinese literature that movement gong is more effective in curing cancer. The technique used by Guo Lin combines both movement chi gong and meditation chi gong (movement first and quiet gong afterward).
One type of movement gong is Flying Crane, which is quite popular in China. According to reports, it has cured many cancer patients. In a journal Qi Gong of the flying Crane, published in Beijing, an article "Fight Cancer with the True Qi", written by Xie Hau,3 states that the Beijing Flying Crane Club invited eleven cancer victims to participate in an experiment. After three months of practicing chi gong, they showed varying degrees of improvement. Among them, Li Shan-cheng showed the most notable effects. Li, fifty-nine years old at the time, had cancer of the esophagus and was unable to eat; in fact, he couldn't even swallow water. He was emaciated. Then he watched a report on TV about chi gong curing cancer and joined a Flying Crane therapy class. After practicing chi gong for ten days, he had a check-up and discovered that his tumor had become smaller, and he was able to eat again. With this encouragement, he practiced chi gong an hour at a time, four times a day. After three months, he had made a complete recovery and went back to work as usual. He credited chi gong with saving his life.
In Hebei province's Tianjin University, the chi gong class for the fourth quarter of 1983 included fifteen cancer victims (the categories were cancer of the liver, the stomach, the mammary gland, and the rectum). After six months to a year of practicing chi gong, not one of them had died. Their conditions showed various levels of improvement, and all of the patients experienced the triple benefit of eating, sleeping, and feeling well. They were also firm in their conviction that "to exercise right is to survive." The styles of chi gong that they practiced were Standing-On-Stake and meditation gong, which will be described in chapters 8 and 12 respectively.
All kinds of cases regarding the cure of cancer with different styles of chi gong are frequently reported in chi gong magazines. The conclusion may be that no matter what chi gong style is used, it is possible to cure cancer. The simple truth is that every style of chi gong adheres to three principles: (a) achieving a state of tranquility, (b) relaxation and release of tension, (c) commitment and development of willpower. And each of these principles is important in one's fight against cancer. In addition, we think that the reason Guo Lin's chi gong was especially effective is because she had her patients train in groups. Group practice is the best way to arouse interest and bring good cheer. Interest helps one concentrate on doing the chi gong exercises, and cheerfulness produces a beneficial effect on the organism. As the first step in curing cancer, Guo Lin had the patients come together as a group and swear an oath to resist cancer, for the purpose of increasing their fighting spirit. Willpower was applied as a healing technique. In a large group of patients (Guo Lin's cancer therapy groups usually consisted of seventy people), there would be one or two of a more sensitive disposition, achieving the beneficial effects of chi gong earlier than the others. As soon as one or two patients had shown good results, the rest of the patients would be encouraged to have greater confidence, and as we know, a positive attitude plays a role in curing disease. Also, if people practice chi gong exercises alone and then fail to achieve results, they are more likely to become discouraged.
One reason for the negative impact of failure acknowledged in Western medicine is that the feeling of helplessness appears to suppress the immune system's ability to resist tumor development.4 On the other hand, fostering positive images appears to strengthen immunological competence.5 Lawrence Leshan has pointed to psychological factors in cancer causation since the fifties.6 Specific methods to fight cancer successfully with visualization techniques were introduced in the U.S. by Carl Simonton, M.D., in the early seventies. 7 Thus there are reasons to think that a positive attitude improves and negative thoughts decrease the immune mechanism's ability to defend the body.
Much, but not all of chi gong's effect is based on entering a state of meditation. In meditation, there are no distractions, depressing thoughts, or worries. The body's functions are able to return to normal by relaxation, which is the key to balancing the circulation of the chi and the blood. In Chinese traditional medical theory, stimulating the circulation of the chi and blood is the main healing method. Additionally, a sense of happiness is achieved in meditation, and that is a major wellspring of increased confidence and fighting spirit.
The several effects described above are important mechanisms for treating any disease. As the term psychoneuroimmunology implies, these mechanisms include both psychological and physiological elements. As we know, the psychological and the physiological aspects operate in interdependent ways. From the physiological point of view, the Shanghai Institute of Medical Science's Institute for the Combined Use of Chinese and Western Medicine has conducted a study on the effects of chi gong and tai ji chuan on elderly people's endocrine systems (the pituitary, thyroid, and sex glands). They invited forty-seven elderly people of the same age, sixty-six years old, to perform chi gong exercises regularly. After doing this for several weeks, the capabilities of their pituitary, thyroid, and sex glands were shown to have increased. This strengthening and stabilizing of the endocrine system can have a beneficial regulating effect on the vigor of the whole body's metabolism.
This is not to suggest that we understand the extent of chi gong's effects on cancer. We do know that practicing chi gong exercises influences many of the body's mechanisms. For instance, it not only raises the capabilities of the endocrine system, it also has a regulating effect on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). These two substances play a vital bioenergetic role in phosphorylation, which is the key to respiration and thus the oxygen provision for all of the body's cells. As we will review below, oxygen prevents cancer growth. In addition, cyclic AMP is familiar as an intracellular signal transforming stimuli from outside the cell into a response by the cell, and therefore could play an important role in our immune system.
In a recent study, Wang Chong-xing and collaborators at the Shanghai Institute of Hypertension reported at a world conference on chi gong on improvement in the ratio of cAMP/cGMP within one year of chi gong practice.8 It is claimed that the concentration and physiological stability (expressed in a stable ratio) of these two enzyme messengers play major roles in the normal regulation and maintenance of health. It is assumed that cancer cells thrive when the blood cAMP content is low. Ding Shen and other investigators, reporting at the same world conference, have found that the practice of chi gong, among other beneficial effects, increases the cAMP content of the blood which may explain part of chi gong's effect on cancer.
Another important factor in cancer growth is whether or not the body's oxygen content is sufficient. Beijing's Qi Gong and Cancer Research Unit has conducted many experiments on this aspect. When the body is deficient in oxygen, cancer cells grow; and when the body is rich in oxygen, cancer cells die. One explanation for the sense of serenity produced by entering a state of deep meditation through chi gong is the increase in the absorption of oxygen. In ancient China, Taoist priests chose to meditate underneath the pine tree because they had discovered that the pine exudes the greatest amount of oxygen.
The above points are possible explanations by modem science of several mechanisms by which chi gong cures cancer. From the point of view of Chinese traditional medicine, chi gong has the functions of activating the body's vital forces (chi), strengthening the blood's circulation, balancing the yin and the yang, stimulating the conductivity of the meridians and improving the psychological state. Chinese medical theory emphasizes that chi is the driving force of life. The body's health is determined by the strength or weakness of its chi. As soon as the chi is weakened, the "blood is clogged," the yin and yang lose their balance, and disease will result. Research by the Bei Dai He Chi Gong Clinic indicates that after doing a chi gong exercise for a certain period of time (we judge this to be approximately forty minutes), the body's internal regional blood volume increases by 30 percent and the body temperature rises two to three degrees Celsius. For the Chinese, these facts demonstrate the way that chi gong acts to clear the meridians-unclog the blood-and moderate the chi and blood. In other words, when the chi and the blood are flowing freely, the body will maintain physiological balance (the balance of yin and yang), and diseases will disappear of themselves.
In recent years, scientists and medical specialists have been turning their attention to the immune system for the purpose of fighting disease. China took up this point more than two thousand years ago. As The Emperor's Classic state in "Questions and Answers": "Be imperturbable and the true chi will come to you; concentrate the inner spirit and well-being follows." This signifies that if the body's energy is at its full level, it will not sicken. Chi gong exercises bring out and mobilize the body's latent strength, raise the body's energy level, and activate the cells of the immune system, causing a feeling of well-being.
Many studies have demonstrated that people suffering from emotional damage, tension, a low level of energy, depression, and irritability have a markedly higher rate of cancer occurrence. Through the practice of chi gong, especially when reaching the level of the deep meditative state, a whole set of beneficial psychological and spiritual conditions emerge, including emotional well-being, spiritual happiness, stability of mood, and complete relaxation of the body. This directly inspires the patient's confidence of defeating cancer, as well as benefiting the body's dynamic balance, and as a consequence makes a positive contribution to the healing and comfort of the body.
Besides one's own practice of chi gong, another method of treating cancer is through the use of a chi gong expert who can provide relief by transmitting external chi from his body to that of the patient, thereby purportedly killing cancer cells. Dr. Feng Li-da, vice-president, General Hospital of the Chinese Navy, Beijing, and professor of immunology, Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has done many experiments in this area. She reported that by transmitting external chi for one minute, a chi gong expert can destroy 90 percent of colon and dysentery bacilli, and in ten minutes 60 percent of a flu virus. In sixty minutes, the rate of destroyed uterine cancer cells is also around 60 percent, and that of destroyed gastric cancer cells 25 percent. A twenty-gram tumor on a mouse disappeared within a five-week period of external chi treatment. A few of the experiments referred to above were reported in the following press release of November 28,1983, by the New China (Xinhua) News Agency:
A meeting for the evaluation and demonstration of the action of chi gong on certain bacteria had recently been held, presided over by Feng, Li Da, deputy superintendent of the Navy General Hospital and director of the Immunology Research Division. Test tubes filled respectively with coliform bacillus and dysentery bacteria, golden and white staphylococcus, and virus were handed over one by one to a chi gong master, who held each of the tubes firmly in his hand for a minute to release external energy (chi) at it. A projector displayed the image of each experimental sample on a screen. Under an electronic microscope, the bacteria were shown to be expanding, cracking, and dissolving, being killed by chi gong. From the immunological standpoint, Feng has thus demonstrated that chi energy is an objective reality. Furthermore, she has confirmed that chi gong is effective to a certain degree in treating B-hepatitis. There is also encouraging preliminary evidence of the therapeutic effect of chi gong with respect to the treatment of guinea pigs suffering from ascites ( an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen) caused by cancer. Dr. Feng declared that in mainland China chi gong has now advanced from the prescientific phase to a new epoch in which modern methods are employed in its study. The study of chi gong has been conducive to the development of immunology and other sciences.
Another example: A Japanese cancer victim, Ansei Shonin, who had a tumor in the lower part of his head, deeply imbedded in his nasal cavity. Made a special trip from Japan to Beijing's General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army to undergo external chi treatment. A chi gong expert performed twelve days of external chi treatment, and as a result Ansei Shonin's tumor, as large as an egg, shrunk, and his pain was distinctly eased.
Why external chi works toward strengthening of the cells and the immune responses of the body in the case of healing a disease, and appears to kill or otherwise interrupt and reverse the growth of cells (or bacteria) in the case of cancer (or the influencing of bacterial cultures) is not known. To the best of our knowledge, it is due to the different intent of the qi gong master. This may be similar to visualization or imaging therapy, as applied in Western alternative medical approaches. As part of the therapy, the determination is made in advance whether the patient will visualize growth of healthy or destruction of cancerous cells in his or her own body.
In conclusion, then, cancer victims apparently can achieve effective treatment by practicing chi gong as shown by Master Guo. But one might suggest that if the patient is too weak or for other reasons unable to practice chi gong regularly and vigorously, external chi should be tried as a cure or used as a supplement to chi gong. Finally, as described in the previous chapter regarding practices in the Bei Da Hei Clinic, combinations of "internal" and "external" chi with dietetic therapy and Western medical science may all be attempted when looking for a cure for cancer.
Haughtiness invites ruin; humility receives benefits.
-I Ching (The Book of Changes)
Paul Dong has a personal interest in the effect of chi gong on cancer which he explains as follows:
Because several of my relatives and friends died of cancer, I always felt particularly fearful of cancer. When I came across a Chinese book on five chi gong exercise techniques and discovered that chi gong can cure cancer, I became highly interested and started collecting materials on this subject. I also went to China in 1984 to see for myself, and found that it is definitely true that chi gong is being used to cure cancer. In the eleven years since 1979, the Chinese have cured hundreds of cancer victims through chi gong, and thousands upon thousands have used chi gong to achieve improvement and to prolong their lives. When news of this spread outside China, many medical professionals from other countries came to mainland China to observe. Members of the staff at Harvard Medical School have shown great interest in this area and have been to China twice to observe the practice. According to the article "Cancer Does Not Mean Death" by Ke Yan,1 an American oncologist (the article doesn't give the doctor's name) visited China and requested an interview with the pioneer of chi gong cancer treatment, Mrs. Guo Lin (1906-1984). Guo Lin said, "Even if I tell you about it, you wouldn't believe me. You'd better find a patient of mine to talk to." The oncologist found quite a few of her patients in the Beijing district chi gong cancer class, spent four days talking with them, and saw the facts for himself
Doctors have taken two contrasting approaches to cancer. The first approach is to consider the cancer to be an isolated condition localized at one spot in the body and to attack it directly using chemicals, surgery, or radiation. The second approach, which is gaining more and more prominence today, is to consider the condition of the whole person as the environment for the cancer, and to strengthen the body's resistance to cancer. This may come under the modem heading of psychoneuroimmunology (discussed in chapter 13) and relies on many factors, including exercise, diet, and mental imaging to combat the disease. Chi gong is part of this second approach.
The use of chi gong cancer treatment in China originated with Ms. Guo Lin, a Chinese traditional painter, mentioned above. In 1949, she was afflicted with uterine cancer and had it removed by surgery in Shanghai. The cancer recurred in 1960. This time it had metastasized to the bladder, and she had another operation in Beijing to remove part of the bladder that was cancerous. When she had another relapse, the doctors gave her six months to live. However, she did not give up hope, and in her struggle against cancer, she remembered that her grandfather, a Taoist priest, had taught her as a child to practice chi gong. She determinedly began to research and practice chi gong, hoping to recover her health in this way. After initial practice with no effect, she turned to the ancient chi gong texts willed to her by her grandfather and created her own exercise schedule. She practiced diligently for two hours every day, and in half a year her cancer subsided. She was strongly convinced of chi gong's ability to cure diseases, and in 1970 started giving lessons in what she called New Chi Gong Therapy. According to Cyrus Lee, Master Guo's therapy is not based on the external energy (wei chi) of others, but upon the inner energy (nei chi) of the patient (for these distinctions, review chapter 1, "Special Section on Chi"). Her therapy combines "active and passive exercises in three stages: relaxation (sung jing), concentration (yi lian), and breathing (tiao hsi)."2
By 1977 Master Guo had achieved spectacular results and proclaimed publicly that chi gong can cure cancer. Cancer victims from all over immediately streamed into Beijing to take part in the chi gong cancer therapy class she had organized. Each day three hundred to four hundred people studied chi gong techniques for cancer treatment with her. Until her death in 1984 she worked tirelessly, curing hundreds of cancer patients, while easing the pain and prolonging the lives of thousands more. Mrs. Wong Chung-siu, a student of Guo Lin's currently living in Fremont, California, told Paul Dong that Guo Lin's pinnacle of success came in 1982. Aided by nine assistants she had trained, Guo Lin held nine cancer classes of seventy students each, meeting three times a day. With her nine assistants to help her, she was able over the next two years to travel all over China to twenty provincial capitals to teach and lecture at the request of many local health care and medical departments, and she became a national celebrity before her death in 1984 (twenty years after her life had been given up by Western medicine).
Because Guo Lin had demonstrated that her chi gong techniques were able to cure cancer, people trained in other styles of chi gong were eager to see if they could achieve the same results. Among these other styles, quiet gong and movement gong also demonstrated the same ability to achieve cures or alleviation of cancer. Paul Dong judges from the Chinese literature that movement gong is more effective in curing cancer. The technique used by Guo Lin combines both movement chi gong and meditation chi gong (movement first and quiet gong afterward).
One type of movement gong is Flying Crane, which is quite popular in China. According to reports, it has cured many cancer patients. In a journal Qi Gong of the flying Crane, published in Beijing, an article "Fight Cancer with the True Qi", written by Xie Hau,3 states that the Beijing Flying Crane Club invited eleven cancer victims to participate in an experiment. After three months of practicing chi gong, they showed varying degrees of improvement. Among them, Li Shan-cheng showed the most notable effects. Li, fifty-nine years old at the time, had cancer of the esophagus and was unable to eat; in fact, he couldn't even swallow water. He was emaciated. Then he watched a report on TV about chi gong curing cancer and joined a Flying Crane therapy class. After practicing chi gong for ten days, he had a check-up and discovered that his tumor had become smaller, and he was able to eat again. With this encouragement, he practiced chi gong an hour at a time, four times a day. After three months, he had made a complete recovery and went back to work as usual. He credited chi gong with saving his life.
In Hebei province's Tianjin University, the chi gong class for the fourth quarter of 1983 included fifteen cancer victims (the categories were cancer of the liver, the stomach, the mammary gland, and the rectum). After six months to a year of practicing chi gong, not one of them had died. Their conditions showed various levels of improvement, and all of the patients experienced the triple benefit of eating, sleeping, and feeling well. They were also firm in their conviction that "to exercise right is to survive." The styles of chi gong that they practiced were Standing-On-Stake and meditation gong, which will be described in chapters 8 and 12 respectively.
All kinds of cases regarding the cure of cancer with different styles of chi gong are frequently reported in chi gong magazines. The conclusion may be that no matter what chi gong style is used, it is possible to cure cancer. The simple truth is that every style of chi gong adheres to three principles: (a) achieving a state of tranquility, (b) relaxation and release of tension, (c) commitment and development of willpower. And each of these principles is important in one's fight against cancer. In addition, we think that the reason Guo Lin's chi gong was especially effective is because she had her patients train in groups. Group practice is the best way to arouse interest and bring good cheer. Interest helps one concentrate on doing the chi gong exercises, and cheerfulness produces a beneficial effect on the organism. As the first step in curing cancer, Guo Lin had the patients come together as a group and swear an oath to resist cancer, for the purpose of increasing their fighting spirit. Willpower was applied as a healing technique. In a large group of patients (Guo Lin's cancer therapy groups usually consisted of seventy people), there would be one or two of a more sensitive disposition, achieving the beneficial effects of chi gong earlier than the others. As soon as one or two patients had shown good results, the rest of the patients would be encouraged to have greater confidence, and as we know, a positive attitude plays a role in curing disease. Also, if people practice chi gong exercises alone and then fail to achieve results, they are more likely to become discouraged.
One reason for the negative impact of failure acknowledged in Western medicine is that the feeling of helplessness appears to suppress the immune system's ability to resist tumor development.4 On the other hand, fostering positive images appears to strengthen immunological competence.5 Lawrence Leshan has pointed to psychological factors in cancer causation since the fifties.6 Specific methods to fight cancer successfully with visualization techniques were introduced in the U.S. by Carl Simonton, M.D., in the early seventies. 7 Thus there are reasons to think that a positive attitude improves and negative thoughts decrease the immune mechanism's ability to defend the body.
Much, but not all of chi gong's effect is based on entering a state of meditation. In meditation, there are no distractions, depressing thoughts, or worries. The body's functions are able to return to normal by relaxation, which is the key to balancing the circulation of the chi and the blood. In Chinese traditional medical theory, stimulating the circulation of the chi and blood is the main healing method. Additionally, a sense of happiness is achieved in meditation, and that is a major wellspring of increased confidence and fighting spirit.
The several effects described above are important mechanisms for treating any disease. As the term psychoneuroimmunology implies, these mechanisms include both psychological and physiological elements. As we know, the psychological and the physiological aspects operate in interdependent ways. From the physiological point of view, the Shanghai Institute of Medical Science's Institute for the Combined Use of Chinese and Western Medicine has conducted a study on the effects of chi gong and tai ji chuan on elderly people's endocrine systems (the pituitary, thyroid, and sex glands). They invited forty-seven elderly people of the same age, sixty-six years old, to perform chi gong exercises regularly. After doing this for several weeks, the capabilities of their pituitary, thyroid, and sex glands were shown to have increased. This strengthening and stabilizing of the endocrine system can have a beneficial regulating effect on the vigor of the whole body's metabolism.
This is not to suggest that we understand the extent of chi gong's effects on cancer. We do know that practicing chi gong exercises influences many of the body's mechanisms. For instance, it not only raises the capabilities of the endocrine system, it also has a regulating effect on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). These two substances play a vital bioenergetic role in phosphorylation, which is the key to respiration and thus the oxygen provision for all of the body's cells. As we will review below, oxygen prevents cancer growth. In addition, cyclic AMP is familiar as an intracellular signal transforming stimuli from outside the cell into a response by the cell, and therefore could play an important role in our immune system.
In a recent study, Wang Chong-xing and collaborators at the Shanghai Institute of Hypertension reported at a world conference on chi gong on improvement in the ratio of cAMP/cGMP within one year of chi gong practice.8 It is claimed that the concentration and physiological stability (expressed in a stable ratio) of these two enzyme messengers play major roles in the normal regulation and maintenance of health. It is assumed that cancer cells thrive when the blood cAMP content is low. Ding Shen and other investigators, reporting at the same world conference, have found that the practice of chi gong, among other beneficial effects, increases the cAMP content of the blood which may explain part of chi gong's effect on cancer.
Another important factor in cancer growth is whether or not the body's oxygen content is sufficient. Beijing's Qi Gong and Cancer Research Unit has conducted many experiments on this aspect. When the body is deficient in oxygen, cancer cells grow; and when the body is rich in oxygen, cancer cells die. One explanation for the sense of serenity produced by entering a state of deep meditation through chi gong is the increase in the absorption of oxygen. In ancient China, Taoist priests chose to meditate underneath the pine tree because they had discovered that the pine exudes the greatest amount of oxygen.
The above points are possible explanations by modem science of several mechanisms by which chi gong cures cancer. From the point of view of Chinese traditional medicine, chi gong has the functions of activating the body's vital forces (chi), strengthening the blood's circulation, balancing the yin and the yang, stimulating the conductivity of the meridians and improving the psychological state. Chinese medical theory emphasizes that chi is the driving force of life. The body's health is determined by the strength or weakness of its chi. As soon as the chi is weakened, the "blood is clogged," the yin and yang lose their balance, and disease will result. Research by the Bei Dai He Chi Gong Clinic indicates that after doing a chi gong exercise for a certain period of time (we judge this to be approximately forty minutes), the body's internal regional blood volume increases by 30 percent and the body temperature rises two to three degrees Celsius. For the Chinese, these facts demonstrate the way that chi gong acts to clear the meridians-unclog the blood-and moderate the chi and blood. In other words, when the chi and the blood are flowing freely, the body will maintain physiological balance (the balance of yin and yang), and diseases will disappear of themselves.
In recent years, scientists and medical specialists have been turning their attention to the immune system for the purpose of fighting disease. China took up this point more than two thousand years ago. As The Emperor's Classic state in "Questions and Answers": "Be imperturbable and the true chi will come to you; concentrate the inner spirit and well-being follows." This signifies that if the body's energy is at its full level, it will not sicken. Chi gong exercises bring out and mobilize the body's latent strength, raise the body's energy level, and activate the cells of the immune system, causing a feeling of well-being.
Many studies have demonstrated that people suffering from emotional damage, tension, a low level of energy, depression, and irritability have a markedly higher rate of cancer occurrence. Through the practice of chi gong, especially when reaching the level of the deep meditative state, a whole set of beneficial psychological and spiritual conditions emerge, including emotional well-being, spiritual happiness, stability of mood, and complete relaxation of the body. This directly inspires the patient's confidence of defeating cancer, as well as benefiting the body's dynamic balance, and as a consequence makes a positive contribution to the healing and comfort of the body.
Besides one's own practice of chi gong, another method of treating cancer is through the use of a chi gong expert who can provide relief by transmitting external chi from his body to that of the patient, thereby purportedly killing cancer cells. Dr. Feng Li-da, vice-president, General Hospital of the Chinese Navy, Beijing, and professor of immunology, Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has done many experiments in this area. She reported that by transmitting external chi for one minute, a chi gong expert can destroy 90 percent of colon and dysentery bacilli, and in ten minutes 60 percent of a flu virus. In sixty minutes, the rate of destroyed uterine cancer cells is also around 60 percent, and that of destroyed gastric cancer cells 25 percent. A twenty-gram tumor on a mouse disappeared within a five-week period of external chi treatment. A few of the experiments referred to above were reported in the following press release of November 28,1983, by the New China (Xinhua) News Agency:
A meeting for the evaluation and demonstration of the action of chi gong on certain bacteria had recently been held, presided over by Feng, Li Da, deputy superintendent of the Navy General Hospital and director of the Immunology Research Division. Test tubes filled respectively with coliform bacillus and dysentery bacteria, golden and white staphylococcus, and virus were handed over one by one to a chi gong master, who held each of the tubes firmly in his hand for a minute to release external energy (chi) at it. A projector displayed the image of each experimental sample on a screen. Under an electronic microscope, the bacteria were shown to be expanding, cracking, and dissolving, being killed by chi gong. From the immunological standpoint, Feng has thus demonstrated that chi energy is an objective reality. Furthermore, she has confirmed that chi gong is effective to a certain degree in treating B-hepatitis. There is also encouraging preliminary evidence of the therapeutic effect of chi gong with respect to the treatment of guinea pigs suffering from ascites ( an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen) caused by cancer. Dr. Feng declared that in mainland China chi gong has now advanced from the prescientific phase to a new epoch in which modern methods are employed in its study. The study of chi gong has been conducive to the development of immunology and other sciences.
Another example: A Japanese cancer victim, Ansei Shonin, who had a tumor in the lower part of his head, deeply imbedded in his nasal cavity. Made a special trip from Japan to Beijing's General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army to undergo external chi treatment. A chi gong expert performed twelve days of external chi treatment, and as a result Ansei Shonin's tumor, as large as an egg, shrunk, and his pain was distinctly eased.
Why external chi works toward strengthening of the cells and the immune responses of the body in the case of healing a disease, and appears to kill or otherwise interrupt and reverse the growth of cells (or bacteria) in the case of cancer (or the influencing of bacterial cultures) is not known. To the best of our knowledge, it is due to the different intent of the qi gong master. This may be similar to visualization or imaging therapy, as applied in Western alternative medical approaches. As part of the therapy, the determination is made in advance whether the patient will visualize growth of healthy or destruction of cancerous cells in his or her own body.
In conclusion, then, cancer victims apparently can achieve effective treatment by practicing chi gong as shown by Master Guo. But one might suggest that if the patient is too weak or for other reasons unable to practice chi gong regularly and vigorously, external chi should be tried as a cure or used as a supplement to chi gong. Finally, as described in the previous chapter regarding practices in the Bei Da Hei Clinic, combinations of "internal" and "external" chi with dietetic therapy and Western medical science may all be attempted when looking for a cure for cancer.
Medical Qigong
Qigong is also used as a total healing method. That is, the 'doctor' of Qigong is able to use the Qigong stances to not only heal but also to diagnose any problems. Firstly on a large scale whereby he/she places the disease into one large area of the body and whether it is a 'yin deficient' disease or a yang deficient' disease.
The way that this is established is, (and his is on a very basic level), the doctor takes note of the position of the palms after some minutes of the patient practising his/her own Qigong stance. (The position of all of the limbs is also taken into account but for this article I will only deal with the simpler palm positions). If for instance the right palm has fallen to a lower level than the left palm then this indicates that there is a yang deficiency in the right side of the body.
One has also to take into account the position of the other limbs to establish if upper of lower body is effected. To further pin point the problem, the patient is placed into a series of other postures including some of the T’ai chi postures to find out which ones cause pain or are extremely more difficult than any of the others. If for instance the posture of 'brush knee twist step' causes some pain around the chest area and is grossly difficult (more so than normal for a beginner) to perform then this would indicate a heart problem of the yang deficient variety.
Further diagnosis including tongue, face and kin condition would further confirm the problem. The Qigong doctor has then to decide how to heal the ailment. He may decide to use acupuncture to heal the immediate effect of the pain and then use some Qigong postures to put some yang energy into the heart. He may also practice his own Qigong for either twenty minutes for a minor ailment or for ten days and fast on only fruit for that time for a more serious disease. He will then place his palms around the affected area or over the relevant acupuncture points and put his own yang energy into these points to further help the cure.
There is a point on the palm called 'laogung' point, which is a pericardium 8 point; this point is said to be the point where the Qi is sent from one body into another. If you close your fist and see where the longest finger points to, then this is the point to which I am referring.
The way that this is established is, (and his is on a very basic level), the doctor takes note of the position of the palms after some minutes of the patient practising his/her own Qigong stance. (The position of all of the limbs is also taken into account but for this article I will only deal with the simpler palm positions). If for instance the right palm has fallen to a lower level than the left palm then this indicates that there is a yang deficiency in the right side of the body.
One has also to take into account the position of the other limbs to establish if upper of lower body is effected. To further pin point the problem, the patient is placed into a series of other postures including some of the T’ai chi postures to find out which ones cause pain or are extremely more difficult than any of the others. If for instance the posture of 'brush knee twist step' causes some pain around the chest area and is grossly difficult (more so than normal for a beginner) to perform then this would indicate a heart problem of the yang deficient variety.
Further diagnosis including tongue, face and kin condition would further confirm the problem. The Qigong doctor has then to decide how to heal the ailment. He may decide to use acupuncture to heal the immediate effect of the pain and then use some Qigong postures to put some yang energy into the heart. He may also practice his own Qigong for either twenty minutes for a minor ailment or for ten days and fast on only fruit for that time for a more serious disease. He will then place his palms around the affected area or over the relevant acupuncture points and put his own yang energy into these points to further help the cure.
There is a point on the palm called 'laogung' point, which is a pericardium 8 point; this point is said to be the point where the Qi is sent from one body into another. If you close your fist and see where the longest finger points to, then this is the point to which I am referring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)