Medical Qigong
Widely understood in China but little known in the West, medical Qigong is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In fact, it is the oldest and most sophisticated therapeutic form of TCM. Medical Qigong is a way of affecting and directing Qi, or the life force, for medical benefit. Rather than using needles, herbs, or massage, medical Qigong relies on the ability to direct Qi with the mind, and the hands, but without necessarily touching the body.
Like its better known counterparts (acupuncture and herbal medicine), medical Qigong requires thorough knowledge of TCM scientific theory. To develop skill with medical Qigong, a practitioner needs to be highly disciplined with a focused mind, similar to that of a well seasoned meditator. To practice medicine as subtle as medical Qigong, a practitioner must have unusual abilities of subtle perception.
When patients are ill and their level of Qi is very low or stagnant, receiving Qi from a Qigong practitioner can prove to be a powerful stimulant toward recovery.
After the treatment, the client will be given Qigong prescriptions to assist in their ongoing healing. Tailored specifically to the client, medical Qigong exercises use physical movement, breathing methods and mental intention to correct and restore the function in the body. Medical Qigong is a complete system of health care that recognizes the root causes of symptoms or disease, and treats the client as a whole. Practiced as an excellent adjunct to Western medicine, Chinese medicine may successfully treat people with conditions which modern medicine finds resistant or ambiguous.
How does medical Qigong work?
Medical Qigong strengthens and redistributes the vital energy, or “Qi” of an individual. This is the same way that acupuncture and other TCM modalities work. The principles of treatment are the same, only the technique varies. Medical Qigong is well suited for sensitive people, children, and people in frail health, but can be beneficial for absolutely anyone.
Medical Qigong involves working directly and subtly with a person’s Qi in ways that are not invasive, and are gentler than acupuncture, Tui Na, or herbology. Medical Qigong can be used to treat many subtle and spiritual conditions.
Sports Qigong
In sports and martial arts, Qigong meditation is the key to strength, stamina, coordination, speed, flexibility, balance, and helps resist injury. Qigong meditation exercises can develop performance in any sport.
