Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " <dermot@a...> wrote: > Yes Jason....in fact I think it only relates to external Qigong. > > Kind regards > > Dermot D, If you have the time would be willing to present one of the better research studies cited from the book. I am curious i.e. how they evaluate success, how they differentiate treatment protocols etc. thanx, -Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 OK....this is one of the studies I don't really have time to judge if its the best, worst or average - but it seems detailed. Qigong Therapy Improves Pain in Late Stage Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in a Small Trial Objective. To determine the effect of Qigong on treatment resistant patients with late stage complex regional pain syndrome type 1. Design. Block random placebo-controlled clinical trial, small scale (n=26) Setting. The Pain Management Centre at New Jersey Medical School. Patients. Twenty six adult patients (aged 18-65 years) with complex regional pain syndrome type 1. Intervention. The experimental group received qi emission and qigong instruction (individual home exercise) by a qigong master. The control group received similar instructions from a sham master. The experimental protocol included six 40 minute qigong sessions over 3 weeks, with reevaluation at 6 and 10 weeks. Main outcome measures. A comprehensive medical history, physical exam, psychological evaluation, necessary diagnostic testing, symptom check list 90, and the Carleton University responsiveness to suggestion scale, thermography, swelling, discoloration, muscle wasting, range of motion, pain intensity rating, medication usage, behavior assessment (activity level and domestic disability), frequency of pain awakening, mood assessment, and anxiety assessment were all assessed. Main results. Twenty two subjects completed the protocol. Among the genuine qigong group, 82% reported less pain by the end of the first session compared to 45% of the control patients. By the last session, 91% of qigong patients reported decreased pain compared to 36% of control patients. Even though anxiety was reduced in both groups over time, the reduction was significantly greater in the experimental group, F = 6.23, P < 0.01. Conclusions. By using a credible placebo to control for non specific treatment effects, it was found that qigong resulted in a short term reduction in pain for those suffering late stage CRPS-1 and a long term reduction in anxiety. These positive findings were not related to pre-experimental differences between groups in hypnotizability. Future studies of qigong should control for possible confounding influences and use clinical disorders more responsive to psychological intervention. - " " < <Chinese Medicine > Wednesday, August 04, 2004 4:14 AM Qigong research > Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " > <dermot@a...> wrote: > > Yes Jason....in fact I think it only relates to external Qigong. > > > > Kind regards > > > > Dermot > > D, > > If you have the time would be willing to present one of the better > research studies cited from the book. I am curious i.e. how they > evaluate success, how they differentiate treatment protocols etc. thanx, > > -Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 a question for Dermot, or Dr Xu: I think one of the things that was being asked was: Do External Qigong healers in China do TCM differential diagnosis (bian zheng) and do they treat according to this? Or do they mainly treat according to Western diagnosis (as in this study cited by Dermot)? Or do they do neither and basically do a similar treatment on everyone? Slan, Robert Hayden Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " <dermot@a...> wrote: > OK....this is one of the studies I don't really have time to judge if its > the best, worst or average - but it seems detailed. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Robert, In China Medical Qigong practitioners treat according to TCM differential diagnosis.....Indeed, according to the way I was thought, this is usually the case in the West also. For me this is what makes Qigong different from other forms of energy healing which are quite often more " general " in their treatment.....I'm sure that I could be corrected on that one though. The research study that I quoted was performed in a US Western Clinical setting and as such had a western medical slant. If it had used a purely TCM diagnosis it would have been considered " non-scientific " by the conventional medical community. Kind regards Dermot - " kampo36 " <kampo36 <Chinese Medicine > Wednesday, August 04, 2004 12:39 PM Re: Qigong research > a question for Dermot, or Dr Xu: > > I think one of the things that was being asked was: Do External Qigong healers in > China do TCM differential diagnosis (bian zheng) and do they treat according to this? > Or do they mainly treat according to Western diagnosis (as in this study cited by > Dermot)? Or do they do neither and basically do a similar treatment on everyone? > > Slan, > Robert Hayden > > > Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " > <dermot@a...> wrote: > > OK....this is one of the studies I don't really have time to judge if its > > the best, worst or average - but it seems detailed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Thanx for the presentation. But are there any were there is JUST external qi gong (emission) without them doing qigong exercises at home? Also are there any besides conditions such as pain where criteria for improvement are subjective. I.e. with some organic disease process and they show substantial change in the tissue (or blood tests etc)... (i.e. some reversing of a disease process)… just curious, thanx again -Jason Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " <dermot@a...> wrote: > OK....this is one of the studies I don't really have time to judge if its > the best, worst or average - but it seems detailed. > > > Qigong Therapy Improves Pain in Late Stage Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in > a Small Trial > > > Objective. To determine the effect of Qigong on treatment resistant > patients with late stage complex regional pain syndrome type 1. > > Design. Block random placebo-controlled clinical trial, small scale (n=26) > > Setting. The Pain Management Centre at New Jersey Medical School. > > Patients. Twenty six adult patients (aged 18-65 years) with complex > regional pain syndrome type 1. > > Intervention. The experimental group received qi emission and qigong > instruction (individual home exercise) by a qigong master. The control > group received similar instructions from a sham master. The experimental > protocol included six 40 minute qigong sessions over 3 weeks, with > reevaluation at 6 and 10 weeks. > > Main outcome measures. A comprehensive medical history, physical exam, > psychological evaluation, necessary diagnostic testing, symptom check list > 90, and the Carleton University responsiveness to suggestion scale, > thermography, swelling, discoloration, muscle wasting, range of motion, pain > intensity rating, medication usage, behavior assessment (activity level and > domestic disability), frequency of pain awakening, mood assessment, and > anxiety assessment were all assessed. > > Main results. Twenty two subjects completed the protocol. Among the > genuine qigong group, 82% reported less pain by the end of the first session > compared to 45% of the control patients. By the last session, 91% of qigong > patients reported decreased pain compared to 36% of control patients. Even > though anxiety was reduced in both groups over time, the reduction was > significantly greater in the experimental group, F = 6.23, P < 0.01. > > Conclusions. By using a credible placebo to control for non specific > treatment effects, it was found that qigong resulted in a short term > reduction in pain for those suffering late stage CRPS-1 and a long term > reduction in anxiety. These positive findings were not related to > pre-experimental differences between groups in hypnotizability. Future > studies of qigong should control for possible confounding influences and use > clinical disorders more responsive to psychological intervention. > > > > - > " " > <Chinese Medicine > > Wednesday, August 04, 2004 4:14 AM > Qigong research > > > > Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " > > <dermot@a...> wrote: > > > Yes Jason....in fact I think it only relates to external Qigong. > > > > > > Kind regards > > > > > > Dermot > > > > D, > > > > If you have the time would be willing to present one of the better > > research studies cited from the book. I am curious i.e. how they > > evaluate success, how they differentiate treatment protocols etc. thanx, > > > > -Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Jason....I think you should get your hands on the books. I'm quite busy and I don't have time to transcibe lots of case studies for you. You will find lots of information about studies relating to organic diseases in the books. Regarding the exercises....both the experimental group and the control group were performing similar exercises. What made the experimental group different was that they were receiving Qi emission from a genuine master. Qigong prescriptions (exercises) are a fundamental part of Medical qigong treatment and are almost always given after emission therapy. You are not correct about the criteria for improvement being purely subjective. If you look at the outcome measures again you will see that many are not subjective e.g. thermography, swelling, discoloration, muscle wasting, range of motion etc. Regarding the subjective elements - it was a placebo controlled trial so the control group allows us to discount this element. Remember that by the last session, 91% of qigong patients reported decreased pain compared to 36% of control patients. I'm sure that many people will reject the results of trials like this....but to do so would be unscientific. Kind regards Dermot - " " < <Chinese Medicine > Wednesday, August 04, 2004 1:52 PM Re: Qigong research Thanx for the presentation. But are there any were there is JUST external qi gong (emission) without them doing qigong exercises at home? Also are there any besides conditions such as pain where criteria for improvement are subjective. I.e. with some organic disease process and they show substantial change in the tissue (or blood tests etc)... (i.e. some reversing of a disease process). just curious, thanx again -Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Hi Dermot, I would like to share with you my perspective, based upon my current understandings: I have been to three qigong doctors, all of whom were trained in China (apprentice as well as formal training), and practiced in China for many years. Each had their own approach but none of them used differential diagnosis as a way of determining qigong treatment. One doctor used qigong together with acupuncture. I found him effective, but the results were temporary and he was not able to treat certain ailments at all. The same I would say for the second qigong doctor I visited who only used qigong. The third person I visited, and whom I have been visiting for about four years now, uses very vigorous physical treatment along with qigong. He has achieved very substantial " curative " results in a very wide range of cases among my family, friends, and acquaintences. Basically, I view all medicine as being " energy " medicine. Herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, Reiki, Feldenkrais, etc., seem to all be working toward " energy modulation " in one way or another. Even western pharmaceuticals seek to effect the energies of people - however the approach of " modulation " is very harsh and often " obstructive " which leads to very poor results. The lastest survey of injuries and deaths caused in hospitals each year (I believe that they are currently estimating this at over 180,000) is a case in point. I believe that the foundation of western medicine - i.e. the " scientific method " and double-blind studies are the source of this problem with western medicine. They are treating " symptoms " that can be " suppressed " in large groups based upon " large double blind studies " . This approach does not, and in all liklelihood " cannot produce " individualied cure " . I hope this is not the path that western doctors intend for Chinese medicine. Where I believe that qigong is different from other forms of medicine are in two areas: 1) The underlying theoretical foundation. That is: " If the Yang energy fails to enter the body and Yin energy can not come out from the body, the favorable condition of health will turn to the adversity, the contradiction between the exterior and anterior will cause the disease of mutual excluding Yin and Yang. " [Yellow Emperor's Canon Internal Medicine, Wu and Wu). Essentially, this means that the flow of qi from the outside to the inside, within the inside, and from the inside back to the outside should be unobstructed or else there will be adverse effects on health. While other medicines such as homeopathy also have theoretical foundations, e.g., " likes cure likes " , I believe that Chinese/Asian medicine is unique in that it has a very symmetrical view of the universe, and that the same theoretcial laws that applies to the " seasons " can also be applied to humans - humans being a " part " of the " whole " . This observation is probably in no small part due to the meditations of the ancient Daoists and Buddhists who learned about nature and applying it to humans by observing the outside (using the five senses) as well as the inside (using the sixth sense of meditation). 2) The practice methodologies. This is basically increasing one's awareness of qi, storage of qi, and modulation of qi, by various meditative practices. Together these three aspects of qi can be applied to one's own internal health, i.e., to maintain free-flowing, well-modulated qi qithin oneself, and can be applied in exactly the same fashion to increase the health and well-being of others. Of course, the reverse is true. A person who is highly unmodulated (e.g., full of anger, fear, worries, dogmatism), can not only harm oneself's health but that of others (as we often see in the political world that we live in. :-) ). Qigong techniques, I believe, are designed to increase one's own awareness of oneself, so that the qi energy that runs through us (let's consider human beings as " information transformers " ), is well modulated, free-flowing, and conducive to good health. With this in place, we can help others. This I believe is a very interesting differentiator though other practices, e.g. the yoga traditions, I believe, pretty much do the same thing. Regards, Rich Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " <dermot@a...> wrote: > Robert, > > In China Medical Qigong practitioners treat according to TCM differential > diagnosis.....Indeed, according to the way I was thought, this is usually > the case in the West also. For me this is what makes Qigong different from > other forms of energy healing which are quite often more " general " in their > treatment.....I'm sure that I could be corrected on that one though. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Hi Rich, I'd have to agree with most of what you say there. Most of the Qigong doctors that I studied with used differential diagnosis AS WELL AS intuitive and " energy sensing " techniques that are also a major part of Medical Qigong diagnosis. Kind regards Dermot .. - " Rich " <rfinkelstein <Chinese Medicine > Wednesday, August 04, 2004 5:38 PM Re: Qigong research > Hi Dermot, > > I would like to share with you my perspective, based upon my current > understandings: > > I have been to three qigong doctors, all of whom were trained in China > (apprentice as well as formal training), and practiced in China for > many years. Each had their own approach but none of them used > differential diagnosis as a way of determining qigong treatment. One > doctor used qigong together with acupuncture. I found him effective, > but the results were temporary and he was not able to treat certain > ailments at all. The same I would say for the second qigong doctor I > visited who only used qigong. The third person I visited, and whom I > have been visiting for about four years now, uses very vigorous > physical treatment along with qigong. He has achieved very substantial > " curative " results in a very wide range of cases among my family, > friends, and acquaintences. > > Basically, I view all medicine as being " energy " medicine. Herbs, > homeopathy, acupuncture, Reiki, Feldenkrais, etc., seem to all be > working toward " energy modulation " in one way or another. Even western > pharmaceuticals seek to effect the energies of people - however the > approach of " modulation " is very harsh and often " obstructive " which > leads to very poor results. The lastest survey of injuries and deaths > caused in hospitals each year (I believe that they are currently > estimating this at over 180,000) is a case in point. I believe that > the foundation of western medicine - i.e. the " scientific method " and > double-blind studies are the source of this problem with western > medicine. They are treating " symptoms " that can be " suppressed " in > large groups based upon " large double blind studies " . This approach > does not, and in all liklelihood " cannot produce " individualied cure " . > I hope this is not the path that western doctors intend for Chinese > medicine. > > Where I believe that qigong is different from other forms of medicine > are in two areas: > > 1) The underlying theoretical foundation. That is: " If the Yang energy > fails to enter the body and Yin energy can not come out from the body, > the favorable condition of health will turn to the adversity, the > contradiction between the exterior and anterior will cause the disease > of mutual excluding Yin and Yang. " [Yellow Emperor's Canon Internal > Medicine, Wu and Wu). Essentially, this means that the flow of qi from > the outside to the inside, within the inside, and from the inside back > to the outside should be unobstructed or else there will be adverse > effects on health. While other medicines such as homeopathy also have > theoretical foundations, e.g., " likes cure likes " , I believe that > Chinese/Asian medicine is unique in that it has a very symmetrical > view of the universe, and that the same theoretcial laws that applies > to the " seasons " can also be applied to humans - humans being a " part " > of the " whole " . This observation is probably in no small part due to > the meditations of the ancient Daoists and Buddhists who learned about > nature and applying it to humans by observing the outside (using the > five senses) as well as the inside (using the sixth sense of meditation). > > 2) The practice methodologies. This is basically increasing one's > awareness of qi, storage of qi, and modulation of qi, by various > meditative practices. Together these three aspects of qi can be > applied to one's own internal health, i.e., to maintain free-flowing, > well-modulated qi qithin oneself, and can be applied in exactly the > same fashion to increase the health and well-being of others. Of > course, the reverse is true. A person who is highly unmodulated (e.g., > full of anger, fear, worries, dogmatism), can not only harm oneself's > health but that of others (as we often see in the political world that > we live in. :-) ). > > Qigong techniques, I believe, are designed to increase one's own > awareness of oneself, so that the qi energy that runs through us > (let's consider human beings as " information transformers " ), is well > modulated, free-flowing, and conducive to good health. With this in > place, we can help others. This I believe is a very interesting > differentiator though other practices, e.g. the yoga traditions, I > believe, pretty much do the same thing. > > Regards, > Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " <dermot@a...> wrote: > Jason....I think you should get your hands on the books. I'm quite busy and > I don't have time to transcibe lots of case studies for you. You will find > lots of information about studies relating to organic diseases in the books. > > Regarding the exercises....both the experimental group and the control group > were performing similar exercises. I understood this as, the sham master was giving similar (like) instructions but they were not real qigong exercises. Who knows… What made the experimental group > different was that they were receiving Qi emission from a genuine master. > Qigong prescriptions (exercises) are a fundamental part of Medical qigong > treatment and are almost always given after emission therapy. > > You are not correct about the criteria for improvement being purely > subjective. If you look at the outcome measures again you will see that > many are not subjective e.g. thermography, swelling, discoloration, muscle > wasting, range of motion etc. Well the review IMO is quite unclear and IMO very vague, I would love to see the whole study. I.e. If you notice the RESULTS (pasted in below) they do not mention anything about R.O.M. or any other objective finding, it is all just subjective, as I mentioned. One can only assume that the objective criteria was not significant or they would have mentioned it..correct?? , or the author is presenting a loaded study, otherwise all finding would be mentioned. It is just unclear what happened with all the thermography etc. " Main results. Twenty two subjects completed the protocol. Among the genuine qigong group, 82% reported less pain by the end of the first session compared to 45% of the control patients. By the last session, 91% of qigong patients reported decreased pain compared to 36% of control patients. Even though anxiety was reduced in both groups over time, the reduction was significantly greater in the experimental group, F = 6.23, P < 0.01. " I am not asking you to waste all your time typing in studies, but maybe if see an impressive one (large group, organic changes for some sort of disease (not pain), just external qigong used) I would love to check it out. You could just send a link (if on the net) and we can read it and evaluate it for ourselves. I am not at the moment going to rush out and buy these books, somewhat $$, so I would like to see if anyone can present any cool studies. > Qigong prescriptions (exercises) are a fundamental part of Medical qigong > treatment and are almost always given after emission therapy. If qigong exercises are always given with external qigong than we have a problem evaluating how effecting the external is. In the mentioned study if the exercises are the same then of course we have some kind of control, unfortunately this study was for pain. I think we all know that yoga, meditation, qigong etc all can produce health benefits. I personally would like to see how potent just external QG can be. > I'm sure that many people will reject the results of trials like this....but > to do so would be unscientific. I find this study not that impressive for what I am looking for, especially with some questionable # of participants (22) and some methodology issues. It is interesting because at the end of the abstract it says: " Future studies of qigong should control for possible confounding influences and perhaps use clinical disorders more responsive to psychological intervention. " But this study does say something. Interested to learn more (I have search Medline and haven't really found anything yet, hints anyone?) - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 No worries Jason, There are lots of research studies detailed in the books, some are very impressive and some less so. I typed in the information and don't have access to a link. The National Qigong Association has a library of thousands of studies - but it will cost you money to gain access, which I'm sure you're not willing to pay. Some of the headings of the studies in the book include: Effects of Emitted Qi on the Brain - Measured by EEG Neuro Science - Nerve Impingement and Emitted Qi Emitted Qi strengthens Immune Function Effects of Emitted Qi on Healing Fractures Measuring Qi in the Blood - Measuring Changes in Blood ATP content Effects of Emitted Qi on monoamine neurotransmitter 5 - hydroxytamine The effect of Emitted Qi on Carcinoma Cells The effect of Emitted Qi on the gastric adenocarcinoma cells The effect of emitted Qi on Leukemia in Mice When you gain access to these books and studies you can have a more imformed opinion about Medical Qigong. Kind regards Dermot - " " < <Chinese Medicine > Thursday, August 05, 2004 3:05 AM Re: Qigong research Chinese Medicine , " Dermot O'Connor " <dermot@a...> wrote: > Jason....I think you should get your hands on the books. I'm quite busy and > I don't have time to transcibe lots of case studies for you. You will find > lots of information about studies relating to organic diseases in the books. > > Regarding the exercises....both the experimental group and the control group > were performing similar exercises. I understood this as, the sham master was giving similar (like) instructions but they were not real qigong exercises. Who knows. What made the experimental group > different was that they were receiving Qi emission from a genuine master. > Qigong prescriptions (exercises) are a fundamental part of Medical qigong > treatment and are almost always given after emission therapy. > > You are not correct about the criteria for improvement being purely > subjective. If you look at the outcome measures again you will see that > many are not subjective e.g. thermography, swelling, discoloration, muscle > wasting, range of motion etc. Well the review IMO is quite unclear and IMO very vague, I would love to see the whole study. I.e. If you notice the RESULTS (pasted in below) they do not mention anything about R.O.M. or any other objective finding, it is all just subjective, as I mentioned. One can only assume that the objective criteria was not significant or they would have mentioned it..correct?? , or the author is presenting a loaded study, otherwise all finding would be mentioned. It is just unclear what happened with all the thermography etc. " Main results. Twenty two subjects completed the protocol. Among the genuine qigong group, 82% reported less pain by the end of the first session compared to 45% of the control patients. By the last session, 91% of qigong patients reported decreased pain compared to 36% of control patients. Even though anxiety was reduced in both groups over time, the reduction was significantly greater in the experimental group, F = 6.23, P < 0.01. " I am not asking you to waste all your time typing in studies, but maybe if see an impressive one (large group, organic changes for some sort of disease (not pain), just external qigong used) I would love to check it out. You could just send a link (if on the net) and we can read it and evaluate it for ourselves. I am not at the moment going to rush out and buy these books, somewhat $$, so I would like to see if anyone can present any cool studies. > Qigong prescriptions (exercises) are a fundamental part of Medical qigong > treatment and are almost always given after emission therapy. If qigong exercises are always given with external qigong than we have a problem evaluating how effecting the external is. In the mentioned study if the exercises are the same then of course we have some kind of control, unfortunately this study was for pain. I think we all know that yoga, meditation, qigong etc all can produce health benefits. I personally would like to see how potent just external QG can be. > I'm sure that many people will reject the results of trials like this....but > to do so would be unscientific. I find this study not that impressive for what I am looking for, especially with some questionable # of participants (22) and some methodology issues. It is interesting because at the end of the abstract it says: " Future studies of qigong should control for possible confounding influences and perhaps use clinical disorders more responsive to psychological intervention. " But this study does say something. Interested to learn more (I have search Medline and haven't really found anything yet, hints anyone?) - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Hi All, & Jason > I have searched Medline and haven't really found anything yet, > hints anyone? When searching Medline (or any other digital database), one must remember that Chinese transliterations may be in pinyin or wade- gilles terms, and in amalgamated or spilt form. For example the concept of Qigong may be written as qi-gong OR chi-kung OR qigong OR chikung Medline [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi] has1663 hits for the profile qi-gong OR chi-kung OR qigong OR chikung Try it! The latest 20 hits are: 1: Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Jul-Aug;10(4):38-50.|An analytic review of studies on measuring effects of external QI in China.|Chen KW.|University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, USA.|Scientists have long been interested in measuring external qi (EQ or wai qi) during qigong healing, and have produced a large body of literature over the past 20 years. This paper reviews the major research on measuring EQ in China and tries to help other researchers to get a picture on what has been done so as to eliminate the simple replication of already verified results. Starting with the historical background of EQ studies in China, this paper analytically reviews the major studies of EQ effects from five different categories of detectors: 1) physical signal detectors; 2) chemical dynamics methods; 3) detectors using biological materials; 4) detectors using life sensors; and 5) detectors using the human body. The focus is on the pros and cons of each detector. These studies documented some important correlates of EQ process or qi healing, which cannot be explained by psychological effect or the known biological processes. Even though the extant literature suggests that intent plays a critical role in the effect or characteristics of EQ we know little about its role in EQ effect and its relationship with qigong healing from these experiments. These studies have confirmed the existence of measurable EQ effects from various perspectives; however, none has really revealed the primary nature of EQ or how EQ healing works. Given the fact that qigong therapy is based on the dialectic view of two interdependent spheres, while modern science and medicine is based on the reductionist view of one material world, it is recommended that future studies should use more biological or life-sensor detectors to increase our understanding of the healing potentials of qigong, instead of stay at the level of verification of signals. New methodologies, new theories, and new perspectives are urgently needed for further understanding what qigong is and how EQ healing works.|PMID: 15285273 [PubMed - in process] 2: J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Jul;10(3):456-62.|Effects of qi therapy (external qigong ) on premenstrual syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled study.|Jang HS, Lee MS.|Department of Nursing, Wonkwang Health Science College, Iksan, Korea.|OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of qi therapy on premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). DESIGN: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Thirty-six (36) college women with symptoms of PMS.INTERVENTION: After 2 months of screening, subjects with PMS were randomized to receive real qi therapy (18 subjects) or placebo (18 subjects). The subjects were informed that they would receive one of two types of treatment. They did not know which treatment they received. Each intervention was performed eight times during the second and third cycles with subjects completing a PMS diary Results: There were significant improvements in the symptoms of negative feeling, pain, water retention, and total PMS symptoms in subjects receiving qi therapy compared to placebo controls. CONCLUSION: Qi therapy may be an effective complementary therapy for managing the symptoms of PMS.|PMID: 15253849 [PubMed - in process] 3: Disabil Rehabil. 2004 May 20;26(10):595-602.|Using a novel exercise programme for patients with muscular dystrophy. Part II: a quantitative study.|Wenneberg S, Gunnarsson LG, Ahlstrom G.|Department of Caring Sciences, University of Orebro, Orebro, Sweden.|PURPOSE: To quantitatively evaluate the effects of qigong in patients with muscular dystrophy. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with muscular dystrophy were assigned to either a treatment or comparison group, by means of a stratified randomization procedure. The intervention period lasted for 3 months. Balance and respiratory function were assessed by means of Berg's Balance Scale and an electronic spirometer, respectively. Health-related quality of life was tested by means of a Swedish version of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), coping levels by means of a Swedish version of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and depression levels by means of a modified version of the Montgomery asberg Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: Perceived general health was maintained in the treatment group whereas this was not the case in the comparison group (p=0.05). Positive reappraisal coping decreased in the treatment group but not in the comparison group (p=0.05). There was a tendency to maintain balance function during training and performance of qigong whilst there was a decline when not training. CONCLUSION: Qigong may be useful as an adjunct therapy regimen in patients with muscular dystrophy in that it can bring about a decreased rate of decline in general health. The change in coping pattern in this study needs more investigation. More research is also needed in order to more fully investigate the effects of qigong on such physical variables as balance function.|PMID: 15204513 [PubMed - in process] 4: Disabil Rehabil. 2004 May 20;26(10):586-94.|Using a novel exercise programme for patients with muscular dystrophy. Part I: a qualitative study.|Wenneberg S, Gunnarsson LG, Ahlstrom G.|Department of Caring Sciences, University of Orebro, Orebro, Sweden.|Muscular dystrophy patients have often experimented with different alternative or complementary methods since there is at present no curative medical treatment. PURPOSE: To evaluate, through qualitative analysis of interview data, the subjective experiences of twenty-eight patients with muscular dystrophy practising a complementary method, qigong. METHODS: Semi- structured qualitative interviews were performed and data were analysed by a method inspired by Grounded Theory. The material was first coded into 119 categories, thereafter condensed to 59 categories through a constant comparison analysis. In the final analysis, six broad categories were formed out of these 59 categories. RESULTS: These broad categories were: (1) experience of health care and alternative methods; (2) expectations, acceptance and compliance; (3) qigong as an adaptable form of exercise; (4) stress reduction and mental effects; (5) increased body awareness and physical effects; (6) psychosocial effects of group training. CONCLUSION: Qigong was accepted as a novel exercise regimen and there was a wide variation of experience regarding it among the participants. Depending upon factors such as expectation of benefits, time available to do qigong and perceived effects doing it, compliance varied. One major advantage of qigong is the ability to adapt the different exercises to the physical capability of the person practising qigong. There were reports of mental, physical and psychosocial effects of the qigong, which reduced the feeling of stress and improved well-being.|PMID: 15204512 [PubMed - in process] 5: Int J Neurosci. 2004 Jul;114(7):777-86.|Effects of qigong on blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other lipid levels in essential hypertension patients.|Lee MS, Lee MS, Kim HJ, Choi ES.|Department of Nursing, Mokpo Catholic University, Mokpo, Korea.|This study investigated the effectiveness of Qigong on blood pressure and several blood lipids, such as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, Apolipoprotein A1 (APO-A1), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) in hypertensive patients. Thirty-six patients were randomly divided into either the Qigong group, or a wait-listed control group. Blood pressures decreased significantly after eight weeks of Qigong. The levels of TC, HDL, and APO-A1 were changed significantly in the Qigong group post- treatment compared with before treatment. In summary. Qigong acts as an antihypertensive and may reduce blood pressure by the modulation of lipid metabolism. Copyright Taylor and Francis Inc.|Publication Types: Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial|PMID: 15204043 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 6: J Obstet Gynaecol. 2004 Jun;24(4):474.|Comment on: J Obstet Gynaecol. 2003 Mar;23(2):204-5.|Intractable hiccoughs in pregnancy.|Morris L, Marti J, Ziff D.|Publication Types: Comment Evaluation Studies Letter|PMID: 15203608 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 7: Int J Neurosci. 2004 Apr;114(4):529-37.|Endocrine and immune effects of Qi-training.|Lee MS, Kang CW, Ryu H, Moon SR.|Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine and Center for Integrative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea.|Psychoneuroimmunological approaches have shown that Qi-training influences the holistic health state in men. We found that Qi-training increased the plasma level of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I. In addition, the respiratory function and adhesion capacity of neutrophil was increased after Qi-training. In an in vitro analysis, GH primed and increased the respiratory function and adhesion of neutrophils through tyrosin kinase passway. Taken together, in vivo and in vitro data suggest that the beneficial effects of Qi-training on immunological functions are mediated via neuroendocrine responses.|PMID: 15195356 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 8: Nursing. 2004 Mar;34(3):56-7.|Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).|Pope BB.|Medical/Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa, USA.|Publication Types: Patient Education Handout|PMID: 15180007 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 9: J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Apr;10(2):228-30.|Qigong commentary.|Zhang HL.|Publication Types: Comment Letter|PMID: 15176378 [PubMed - in process] 10: Med Sci Monit. 2004 Jun;10(6):CR264-70. Epub 2004 Jun 01.|Assessment of immunological parameters following a qigong training program.|Manzaneque JM, Vera FM, Maldonado EF, Carranque G, Cubero VM, Morell M, Blanca MJ.|Department of Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, Spain. manzaneque|BACKGROUND: Qigong is a type of Chinese psychosomatic exercise that integrates meditation, slow physical movements, and breathing, and to which numerous physical as well as mental benefits have been classically ascribed. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of a qigong program on various immunological parameters. MATERIAL/METHODS: 29 naive subjects participated in the study, of whom 16 were allocated to the experimental group and the rest to the control group. The experimental subjects underwent a qigong training program, conducted by a qualified instructor, consisting of half an hour of daily practice for one month. The day before the experiment commenced and the day after it finished, blood samples were drawn from all subjects for the quantification of immunological parameters (leukocytes, immunoglobulins, and complement). As statistical analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was carried out. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the control and experimental groups, with the experimental group showing lower numbers of total leukocytes and eosinophils, number and percentage of monocytes, as well as complement C3 concentration. In addition, a similar result with a trend towards significance was observed in the number of eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that after one month of practicing qigong, significant immunological changes occurred between the experimental and control groups, with a consistently lower and broadly significant profile of these measures within the qigong practitioner group.|PMID: 15173671 [PubMed - in process] 11: J N J Dent Assoc. 2004 Winter;75(1):10-1.|Dentists' wellness guide.|Le Pera AF, Mahevich RA, Silverstein H.|Restorative Department, Operative Division, New Jersey Dental School, USA.|PMID: 15160428 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 12: Am J Chin Med. 2004;32(1):141-50.|The aerobic capacity and ventilatory efficiency during exercise in Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan practitioners.|Lan C, Chou SW, Chen SY, Lai JS, Wong MK.|Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. chinglan|The objective of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory responses to exercise among older Qigong participants, Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practitioners and normal sedentary controls during cycle ergometry. Thirty-six community-dwelling men with a mean age of 59.1 +/- 6.6 years participated in this study. Each group (Qigong, TCC and control) included 12 subjects with matched age and body size. The Qigong group practiced Qigong regularly for 2.3 +/- 1.5 years; the TCC group practiced Yang TCC for 4.7 +/- 2.3 years. Heart rate (HR) responses were measured during the practice of Qigong and TCC. Additionally, breath-by-breath measurement of cardiorespiratory function was performed during the incremental exercise of leg cycling. The mean HR during Qigong and TCC practice was 91 +/- 5 bpm and 129 +/- 7 bpm, respectively. At the peak exercise and the ventilatory threshold (VeT), TCC group displayed highest oxygen uptake (VO2), O2 pulse and work rate among the three groups. The Qigong group also showed higher oxygen uptake and O2 pulse than the control group. At the same relative exercise intensity, the Qigong group had the highest tidal volume among the three groups. In conclusion, Qigong and TCC show a beneficial effect to aerobic capacity in older individuals, but TCC displays a better training effect than Qigong due to its higher exercise intensity. However, Qigong can enhance breathing efficiency during exercise due to the training effect of diaphragmatic breathing.|Publication Types: Evaluation Studies|PMID: 15154293 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 13: Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2003 Oct-Dec;59(4):300-3.|Muscle retraining in ICU patients.|Cirio S, Piaggi GC, De Mattia E, Nava S.|Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Via Ferrata 8, 27100 Pavia, Italy.|The general aim of an ICU respiratory rehabilitation programme is to improve the patient's measured quality of life. It can be done by applying advanced therapeutic modalities in order to improve the remaining functions and to decrease the patient's dependency as well as the risks associated with an ICU admission. A number of physiological changes involve all the body systems as a consequence of a bed-rest period and play an important role in the weaning failure of ventilated patients. Inactivity muscle mass declines from the first week of ICU admission, as well as the muscle's ability to perform aerobic exercise. The respiratory muscles strength and endurance decreases, also the ventilatory pump and the cardiovascular response to exercise may be alterated. Disorientation, and disfunction of the Central Nervous System may occur. The aim of this review is to analyse the usefulness of skeletal and respiratory muscle training in improving strength, endurance and decreasing dyspnea at rest and during exercise and the role of rehabilitation in obtaining maximal functional capacity of ICU patients.|Publication Types: Review Review, Tutorial|PMID: 15148840 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 14: Prev Cardiol. 2004 Spring;7(2):64-70.|Relaxation response for Veterans Affairs patients with congestive heart failure: results from a qualitative study within a clinical trial.|Chang BH, Jones D, Hendricks A, Boehmer U, Locastro JS, Slawsky M.|Center for Health Quality, Outcomes, and Economic Research, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA 01730, USA. bhchang|Fifty-seven veterans with congestive heart failure were interviewed about their experiences and changes after participating in a three-armed randomized trial: relaxation response (RR) training, cardiac education, and usual care. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Half of the 20 RR group interviewees reported physical improvements, and 13 reported emotional improvements. These improvements went beyond disease management to lifestyle changes and improved family/friends relationships. Five of 16 cardiac education group interviewees reported physical improvements, and eight reported emotional improvements. These improvements consisted of a better understanding of the disease and resulted in feeling more at ease. None of the usual care group interviewees reported any improvement from study participation. Although group support contributed to the benefits reported by RR and cardiac education groups, the use of the RR techniques seems to be the factor that distinguished the improvements. The value of the RR in congestive heart failure health care is suggested by the results.|Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial|PMID: 15133373 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 15: Nurs Manage. 2001 Dec;32(10):73-6.|Breathing easy.|Schultz T.|Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., USA.|Patient care models increasingly call for collaborative initiatives between nursing and respiratory care practitioners.|PMID: 15124371 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 16: Przegl Lek. 2003;60 Suppl 6:73-5.|[Effect of intensive movement rehabilitation and breathing exercise on respiratory parameters in children with idiopathic stage-I scoliosis] [Article in Polish]|Zaba R.|Katedra i Oddzial Kliniczny Pediatrii Slaskiej Akademii Medycznej w Bytomiu.|In 70 children with mild idiopathic scoliosis I degree by the method of Cobb, participating in two or several rehabilitation camps, and in the control group of 22 healthy children ventilatory lung parameters: vital capacity--FVC, FVC%pred., Maximal forced expiratory volume one sec.--FEV1, FEV1%pred., FEV1% FVC, and Maximal Mid Expiratory Flow-- MMEF, MMEF%pred. and Maximal Voluntary Ventilation--MVV were determined. Tests were carried out with use of the Vitalograph and Jaeger Spirometer after several four-week rehabilitation camps. Intensive movement rehabilitation with breathing exercises and relaxation with Yoga was used in children. The mean values of spirometric parameters were correlated between the examined groups and statistically significant increased values of parameters MMEF% pred., MVV were defined in the group of children with scoliosis.|PMID: 15106462 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 17: BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004 Mar 15;4(1):5.|In vitro test of external Qigong.|Yount G, Solfvin J, Moore D, Schlitz M, Reading M, Aldape K, Qian Y.|Research Institute, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco 94115, USA. yount|BACKGROUND: Practitioners of the alternative medical practice 'external Qigong' generally claim the ability to emit or direct " healing energy " to treat patients. We investigated the ability of experienced Qigong practitioners to enhance the healthy growth of cultured human cells in a series of studies, each following a rigorously designed protocol with randomization, blinding and controls for variability. METHODS: Qigong practitioners directed healing intentionality toward normal brain cell cultures in a basic science laboratory. Qigong treatments were delivered for 20 minutes from a minimum distance of 10 centimeters. Cell proliferation was measured by a standard colony- forming efficiency (CFE) assay and a CFE ratio (CFE for treated samples/CFE for sham samples) was the dependent measure for each experiment. RESULTS: During a pilot study (8 experiments), a trend of increased cell proliferation in Qigong-treated samples (CFE Qigong/sham ratios > 1.0) was observed (P = 0.162). In a formal study (28 experiments), a similar trend was observed, with Qigong-treated samples showing on average more colony formation than sham samples (P = 0.036). In a replication study (60 experiments), no significant difference between Qigong-treated samples and sham samples was observed (P = 0.465). CONCLUSION: We observed an apparent increase in the proliferation of cultured cells following external Qigong treatment by practitioners under strictly controlled conditions, but we did not observe this effect in a replication study. These results suggest the need for more controlled and thorough investigation of external Qigong before scientific validation is claimed.|Publication Types: Validation Studies|PMID: 15102336 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 18: Int J Rehabil Res. 2004 Mar;27(1):27-35.|Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation.|van Weert E, Hoekstra-Weebers JE, Grol BM, Otter R, Arendzen JH, Postema K, van der Schans CP.|Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. Evw|In order to overcome cancer-related problems and to improve quality of life, an intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme for cancer patients was developed. We hypothesised that this six-week intensive rehabilitation programme would result in physiological improvements and improvement in quality of life. Thirty-four patients with cancer-related physical and psychosocial problems were the subjects of a prospective observational study. A six-week intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme consisted of four components: individual exercise, sports, psycho-education, and information. Measurements (symptom-limited bicycle ergometry performance, muscle force and quality of life [RAND-36, RSCL, MFI]) were performed before (T0) and after six weeks of rehabilitation (T1). After the intensive rehabilitation programme, statistically significant improvements were found in symptom-limited bicycle ergometry performance, muscle force, and several domains of the RAND-36, RSCL and MFI. The six-week intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme had immediate beneficial effects on physiological variables, on quality of life and on fatigue.|PMID: 15097167 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 19: Spine. 2004 Feb 15;29(4):464-9.|The effects of breath control on intra-abdominal pressure during lifting tasks.|Hagins M, Pietrek M, Sheikhzadeh A, Nordin M, Axen K.|Division of Physical Therapy, Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York 11201, USA. mhagins|STUDY DESIGN: This was a repeated measures study examining 11 asymptomatic subjects while performing dynamic lifting using various postures, loads, and breath control methods. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of breath control on magnitude and timing of intra-abdominal pressure during dynamic lifting. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Intra-abdominal pressure has been shown to increase consistently during static and dynamic lifting tasks. The relationship between breath control and intra-abdominal pressure during lifting is not clear. METHODS: Eleven healthy subjects were tested using lifting trials consisting of two levels of posture and load and four levels of breath control (natural breathing, inhalation-hold, exhalation-hold, inhalation-exhalation). Intra-abdominal pressure was measured using a microtip pressure transducer placed within the stomach through the nose. Timing of intra-abdominal pressure was determined relative to lift-off of the weights. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine the effect of breath control, posture, and load on intra-abdominal pressure magnitude and timing. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of breath control (P < 0.018) and load (P < 0.002), but not of posture (P < 0.434), on intra-abdominal pressure magnitude. The inhalation-hold form of breath control produced significantly greater peak intra-abdominal pressure than all other forms of breath control (P < 0.000 for all comparisons). No other comparisons among levels of breath were significantly different. No significant main effects of breath control were found relative to intra-abdominal pressure timing. CONCLUSIONS: Breath control is a significant factor in the generation of intra-abdominal pressure magnitude during lifting tasks. The effects of respiration should be controlled in studies analyzing intra-abdominal pressure during lifting.|PMID: 15094544 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 20: J Nurs Care Qual. 2004 Apr-Jun;19(2):95-9.|Reducing postoperative pulmonary complications in cardiac surgery patients with the use of the best evidence.|Fanning MF.|Adult Cardiac Nursing Units, West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, WV, USA. fanningm|Publication Types: Evaluation Studies|PMID: 15077825 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Best regards, Email: < WORK : Teagasc Research Management, Sandymount Ave., Dublin 4, Ireland Mobile: 353-; [in the Republic: 0] HOME : 1 Esker Lawns, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland Tel : 353-; [in the Republic: 0] WWW : http://homepage.eircom.net/~progers/searchap.htm Chinese Proverb: " Man who says it can't be done, should not interrupt man doing it " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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