Qi Gong (Chi Gong) - Pain Society of Oregon

2/25/2015
Qi Gong (Chi Gong)
Alzada Magdalena, M.S.
Licensed Acupuncturist
Oregon, California, Utah
B.A. Anthropology University California Davis
Post graduate work Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S. Oriental Medicine Meiji College of Oriental Medicine 2001
California State Board Certified 2002
National Acupuncture Certification 2013
Oregon and Utah licensed Acupuncturist 2013
Faculty Disclosure
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center declares that their Continuing Medical
Education (CME) coordinator, CME chair, all CME Committee members, along
with anyone in a position to control the content of an education activity disclose
that they have no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest to
the provider. The ACCME defines "relevant financial relationships" as financial
relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a
conflict of interest. Any conflicts of interest will be posted.
The speaker, Alzada Magdalena, MS, does not have any relevant financial
disclosures.
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2/25/2015
Interest in healing traditions:
First saw acupuncture, herbs, Qi gong and tai chi practiced in
Hong Kong at age 6.
Healings in Africa – movements, chanting, dancing, community
Healings in South America – fire, whiskey, songs, herbs
Native American – Sweat lodges, fasting, prayer, calling out
Christian tradition – laying on of hands, prayer
Common denominator – working with palpable energy, hands,
mind, and often herbs. Prayer often major component and
focuses mind of practitioner and patient. But not predictive of
outcome, no systemized theory of medicine or health.
I was searching for a predictive model, repeatable results,
systematic approach to the energy,
to the healing, and the outcome.
Chinese model of medicine and Chi
supplies these attributes.
Chi Gong is a complex set of exercises utilizing body movements,
different breathing patterns, mental focus and somatic awareness
to consciously alter the function of the body or mind.
The classic definition is Chi (breath, mist, steam, energy)
and Gong (practice or mastery)
therefore, Chi Gong is the practice of energy and breath.
Both Chi Gong and Tai Chi Chuan are considered
internal arts, as opposed to the external, martial arts.
Internal arts focus on internal sensing and knowledge,
work with meditative and relaxation states, and depend
on harmonic interactions of biomechanics and mind.
Ancient symbol implies
clouds
Later symbol shows
mist forming clouds.
Part of symbol for
steam.
Modern symbol includes rice.
Rice is symbolic of life and
nourishment.
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In this lecture we will cover:
•Who practices in US
•Evidence:
•What conditions can be affected
•What Chi Gong practice affects in the body.
•Experiential:
•Do two exercises
•Discuss from a first hand experience what is
happening in our bodies.
•Anatomy of Chi gong sequence:
•Purging, gathering, circulating
•Good candidates for Chi gong
•How to choose a Chi Gong Master or style
Chi Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga
Chi Gong, Tai Chi - Chinese. Yoga - Indian
Ancient practices, 3000+ year history
transmitted master to student, many lineages
Chi Gong –
Used for health and longevity practice, gaining internal
power for martial arts, focus for scholars, and spiritual
reasons.
Both movement and still forms are practiced. (Chi Gong,
Nei Gong)
Tai Chi – internal martial art
Forms of 8, 64 or 108 moves slow martial moves.
Common styles – Chen, Wu, Yang
Often involves Chi Gong at beginning and end
Yoga –
From India, stretching, standing, moving and still poses.
Was used for health, spiritual reasons and as a physical
therapy to realign the body. Practiced mostly in the US as
an external form.
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Although Chi is often translated using the words Vital Force,
that term comes to us from the Greeks.
The concept of Vital Force differs from that of Chi.
Chi flows in all things, whether animate or inanimate.
Trees, humans, rocks and water all have Chi. Yet, each one of
those items has a different nature, a different way of being.
Rocks are still, water flows, and trees grow up.
The nature of the Chi of each one those is different,
so you can also
consider the implication of function in the word Chi.
The proper Chi of water flows; if it is blocked, there is trouble.
Likewise, with the body – when chi is flowing correctly, there
is health, circulation, ease of movement, in short, proper
function.
According to Chinese medicine, Chi Gong is practiced for health and longevity.
It was expected that if you were over 40, you would be
practicing Chi Gong to conserve your life force and keep
your function as you aged.
Older people used Chi Gong practice to improve balance,
immune function and to regulate the heart and blood
pressure.
The breath regulation aspects of Chi Gong improve lung
issues and asthma.
Mental benefits include decrease of anxiety, increase in
calmness and well being, and a sense of connection with
community.
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Tai Chi and Chi Gong in the US:
Equal distribution of both genders equally.
Even distribution across the ages from 18 to the elderly..
More popular in the West and Northeast.
Tai Chi and Chi Gong users have higher levels of education.
Predominately white and Asian.
Income, insurance, smoking rates, mental health and
cardiovascular conditions were similar to the general population.
There is overlap between the 3 practices:
70% of Chi Gong users also practiced Tai Chi
50% of Tai Chi users also practiced Yoga
There were higher rates of musculoskeletal conditions sprains and asthma
than the general population.
(Whether this was why they were practicing Tai Chi and Chi Gong or
whether this had to do with the overlap with the Yoga population is
unclear. The study also did not look into the overlap between Tai Chi and
practice of external martial arts, many people practice both)
(Yoga has a high reporting rate of sprains, musculoskeletal complaints.)
(Birdee et al. Tai Chi and Qi Gong for Health: Patterns of Use in the
United States 2009)
Chi Gong is used in China to treat asthma, especially bronchial
asthma.
” Immediate effect of Chi Gong exercises was noted in
broncho-spasmolytic action.”
“This effect can be achieved by some patients after just a few
minutes with the preparatory exercise of standing like a pine
tree”
Since asthma is a common and costly disease to treat, with low
patient compliance and no expectation of cure in Western
Medicine, it would be useful if it could be treated via Chi Gong
in a group setting.
German study: Used patients as own controls, volunteer, self
referred asthmatics, varying degrees of severity, instructors
were not Chi Gong practitioners, but physicians taught for the
study, 15 forms, and instruction once a week for 8 weeks.
Reuther and Aldridge, Qigong Yangsheng as a Complementary Therapy in the Management of Asthma, 1998
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Results:
Chi Gong practitioners
improved;
Those that did not practice
did not improve
Improvement during
practice could be seen in a
single session
“Qigong is not only clinically viable as form of treatment, it is cost effective”.
Patient motivation and practice is key for achieving and sustaining improvement.
“Qigong Yangsheng enables the patient to take an active part in his recovery
process. He is not just exclusively the inactive recipient of treatment, but becomes
now an active participant exerting influence on his condition.”
This brings us to the motivator in Chi Gong:
It feels good, has an immediate health effect, and has a lingering effect on mood and
sense of well being, so patients are reinforced in good practice.
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Cardio-pulmonary benefits:
Qi-training exerts “a positive effect on stabilizing
cardiovascular and pulmonary functions”
During training, blood oxygen concentration increased
and carbon dioxide concentration decreased. pH of blood
increased.
Heart and respiratory rates do not increase with
Qi-training but decrease.
Qi training and physical exercise differ in their effects
on physiological status. Qi-training decreases the
metabolic rate relative to the resting control state.
“Qi-trainees have a better parasympathetic heart
modulation and better autonomic function than their age
matched counterparts.”
Qigong is a low intensity exercise, using about 190kcal /
session; it is low impact and appropriate for cardio rehab
patients in early recovery.
Chi gong used for enhancing immune function, calming the mind:
“One hour of Q Training significantly decreased plasma concentration of Cortisol,
and increased plasma concentrations of growth hormone and melatonin.”
- Generation of superoxide by neutrophils increased significantly immediately after
Qi Training.
Used a classic approach to the Chi
Gong – a three part set comprised of
15 min. sound, 20 min of movement
and 20 min of meditational forms.
Taught by a Chi Gong master. Blood
sample drawn 10 before, 20 minutes
after and 2 hours after.
Lee MS & Ryu, H.: Qi Training enhances Neutrophil Function by
increasing Growth Hormone Levels in Elderly Men International Journal
of Neuroscience, 114:1313-1322, 2004
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Chi Gong affects the SNS and PNS in a different way than relaxation states.
“The modulation of the immune cells by Qi Training may be
related to the activity of the sympathetic nervous system
(SNS)
and neurohormonal axis”
“The practice of meditation may modify the activity of the
neural structures involved in attention and control of the
autonomic nervous system”( Lazar et al 2000)
Different neural pattern between meditation and normal rest
state; meditation increases parasympathetic nervous system
and decreases SNS activity.
“Rhythmical reciting of a sound exercise may play a role in
tuning the autonomic nervous system.”( Lee et al, 1997)
“Qi Therapy reduced the level of pain and blood pressure,
and increased in vitro NK cell function.”
Weng Ah Hong Mmm
1. Stance – feet shoulders width apart, knees
slightly bent
2. Tailbone points at earth, feel top of head open
to sky
3. Teeth slightly apart, tongue on roof of mouth,
4. Relax forehead and smile
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Three sets of arm movements:
Direct hands to the front, palms forward.
Hands out at shoulder level to the sides
Hands down at sides of body
Keep a slight curve in your elbows, and relax
the shoulders
As you move your hands, project your voice with the sounds.
Pay attention to palms of your hands.
Use the tone which produces the best resonance in your body. It may be
high for some people, low for others.
You want to feel the most vibration in your head for Weng, in your
throat for Ah in your chest and lungs for Hong, and in your whole body
for Mmmm
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Weng – vibrates the head
Ah – vibrates throat
Hong – vibrates chest
Mmm – vibrates body
3 times out in front
3 times to the side
3 times down
Pulling Down Heavens
Gathering and Circulating
Stand as before – feet shoulder width apart, toes straight ahead, knees flexed
Point tailbone to the earth, top of the head to the sky
Tongue at the roof of your mouth, relax your forehead and smile.
As you raise your hands to shoulder level, breathe in through your nose.
Breathe out through your nose as you turn your hands palms up at the shoulder level
Breathe in through your nose as you reach toward the sky
Breathe out through your nose as your bring your hands down in front of you.
Breathe in and out as you stand and feel the chi.
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3 deep breathes
Breathe in
Breathe out
Breathe in
Breathe out
Breathe in and out
Basic Chi Gong elements:
Purging –Clearing restrictions through sound, movement or, in still poses, energy
washing through the body. Emphasis on the exhale.
Gathering – increasing personal chi by gathering chi from the universe. Rounded
hand movements, emphasis on the inhale.
Circulating – moving the energy and awareness in patterns throughout the body
to increase circulation of Chi and Blood. Even breath, inhale and exhale through
nose.
Sets –
Beginning: Movements to warm up and free joints.
Purging: Clearing obstacles or restrictions in body or mind.
Gathering: Increasing one’s personal Chi
Circulating the gathered Chi: This movement equalizes the Chi in the body.
Ending: Movements which clear the head and often, movements that thicken and
firm the defensive Chi around the exterior of the body.
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Patients who will benefit from Chi Gong training:
Asthma, cardiac rehab, deconditioned, nervous disease, neuropathy, certain
types of anxiety and depression.
Problems of nervous system derangements – POTS, Type A stress, depressive
styles that have insufficient SNS activation. Qigong regulates the autonomic
system toward a central point, so is good for over-sympathetic mode vs.
parasympathetic dominant.
Musculoskeletal complaints – pain, lack of range of motion, inflexibility.
•Students who will do well vs. those who don’t:
•People have to have a certain level of function to do well with Chi Gong. It
requires frequent practice, continual effort and discipline.
•Addicts, alcoholics, people with severe depression, or chaotic lives will not be
able to do the work. They need to attend to the basics of life before they can
undertake a Chi Gong practice.
• Ironically, this same group is often very sensitive to Chi, so they desperately
need the teachings, but cannot hold it together. It is often best to give them one
very simple exercise that they can do until they get themselves in a better place.
How to choose a teacher:
Teacher student relationship very important in Asia. Reciprocal responsibility.
Watch teacher; try a session or two. Results are more important than resume.
You should feel better, function better outside of lessons.
Lessons should make sense. False mysticism often covers ignorance.
Choose someone who has practiced a long time and in whom you feel confidence.
They should have an upright character.
Working with muscles, can choose almost anyone. With chi, must be careful. The
training goes much deeper than the physical.
Chi Gong is very powerful, and while there are well known exercises and specific
prescriptions, small deviations create disruptions in the chi and can cause pain or
emotional problems.
Stay away from sets that concentrate energy on eyes or heart, or are of the “Organ
Packing School”
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If you would like copies of the studies or of this lecture, please email me at:
HealingArtsNorth@gmail.com
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