Effects of Practicing Qigong - was Digest Number 605

[Guest guest]

Steve and all,

 

You may be interested in the latest issue of Tai Chi Magazine (Vol 28.

#4) which briefly outlines Dr. Shin Lin's studies (professor of Cell

Biology, Physiology, and Biomedical Enginering at the Univ. of Cal. at

Irvine) in the article " Using Science to Study Qigong, Tai Chi " . He

studied 25 qigong/tai chi practitioners which included 10 control

subjects and found that a period of about 15 minutes of qigong

practice significantly improved results in different tests.

 

1) " What is interesting is that when we use the tecnology of measuring

meridian conductance with normal people and very experiencd Tai Chi

and qigong practitioners we found a very substantial change, and

increase in th value of the conductance from before and after they did

15 minutes of Tai Chi or qigong exercises. " " On the average, the

increase in the conductance of these meridians measured at the jing

well points would increase by as much as 35 percent after practice.

This is a huge change. And these are very precise measurements. " " In

contrast, the same people when asked to ride a stationary bicycle for

the same amount of time before the test of the conductance experienced

a very small change in the condcutance. It was very small, less than

five percent. " " When the participances lifted weights there was almost

no change in conducance. "

 

2) Another experiment analyzed the heart rate variability or the

changes in the beat rhythm of the heart using electrocardiograms. He

said there as a lot of reseach that indicates that the greater the

heart rate variability, the more relaxed a perons is, such as during

deep restful sleep. " We have found that when people are in a state of

qigong meditation, they will show a lot of this heart rate

variability, indicative of deep relaxation. " " They have both short

wavelengths and long wavelength brain waves at the same time. That

shows that they are reaping two types of benefits. They are getting

deep rest and at the same time sharmeing their mind for daily activities. "

 

3) " With the use of Laser Doppler Flowmetry, we showed that certain

qigong movements significantly increase cutaneous bloof flow measured

at teh Laogong acupuncture point on the palm. " Research studies also

found that people doing deep breathing exercises also produced

increase in blood flow.

 

4) One research study at the University of Arizona Medical Schol found

that students who were taught how to meditate did a lot better in

their grades and were able to focus a lot better.

 

5) Dr. Lon that there could be a long-term benefit to breath holding

exercises since people who do Tai Chi and qigong are exercising the

brain blood vessels all their lives and they have not atrophied,

compared with people their own age because of the lack of exercise.

 

6) He also cited a study at the Hong Kong University by Dr. Brian

Jones that involved a qigong method of breathing and stepping used in

China for cancer patients. They found a substantial decrease in the

stress hormones cortisol and interleukin 10, which suppress

anti-cancer immunity. There was also an increase in interferon, whcih

protects against cancer, in the blood stream.

 

7) Dr. Lin has also used Gas Discharge Visualization, or digital

Kirlian photography, to study the effects of qigong and Tai Chi on teh

bioelectromagnetic fields of the body. The results showed that of the

people who did Tai Chi, 65 percent showed and increase int eh aura

image after practicing.

 

Regards,

Rich