A key branch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), qi gong (pronounced “Chi Kung”) draws its essence from the Tao and the notion of positive yang and negative yin energy. Medical Qi Gong is a powerful healing system designed to work effectively on energy, also known as qi (or chi), to maintain optimum health and psychological, spiritual and physiological balance.

According to the official translation, qi is defined as the flow of energy at the base of everything, while gong means “art, gift or skill”. Qi Gong can therefore be defined as mastering the circulation of chi in the body and working on it.

Medical Qi Gong: what is it?

Also known as Yi Liao Qi Gong, it’s a therapeutic approach designed to maintain and strengthen the health of the individual through direct action on the circulation of chi in the body and the flow of energy between the subject and his or her environment. To achieve this, the practitioner uses a sequence of slow, conscious movements accompanied by breathing exercises, visualization and concentrated meditation.

In China, this discipline is used either as a primary therapy or as a supporting treatment for other forms of TCM (acupuncture, herbology, tuina, etc.). Medical Qi Gong also works very closely with Hippocratic medicine. Some hospitals have even made it their specialty. In some countries (notably Germany), it is used as a complementary therapy for the treatment of pathologies such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, chronic low-back pain, etc., helping patients to improve their well-being and accelerate their recovery. This recognition has enabled it to become a body-mind therapy in retirement homes and rehabilitation centers.

Of course, medical Qi Gong should not be confused with therapeutic Qi Gong. Therapeutic Qi Gong aims to improve well-being through targeted, individualized exercises. These enable the practitioner to :

Control energy in the body;
Disperse emotional blockages;
Reduce the impact of stress;
Calm the mind.

Therapeutic Qi Gong therefore refers to all Qi Gong practices taught. On the other hand, when the approach is termed “medical”, we’re talking more about a practice requiring the action of the practitioner. The practitioner acts as a guide to help the patient get the most out of his or her treatment.

Medical Qi Gong: how does it work?

In practice, this technique is based on two fundamental principles.

The emission of external energy. In this sense, the practitioner projects his chi onto an area of the subject’s body. The aim is to re-establish the normal flow of energy. This area may be an acupuncture point, an organ, a meridian or a skin region. However, as most Chinese doctors are more familiar with the meridian line system of needle-free acupuncture, these points are generally the most targeted. At the same time, the practitioner performs comprehensive treatments. Medical Qi Gong therefore generally includes massage of specific points along the meridians, or stimulation.
Patient participation. The patient will engage in a series of exercises, either standing, sitting or lying down. The main aim is to detoxify the body and improve well-being. They are also designed to calm the mind, release emotional blockages and optimize the circulation of chi in the body.
These exercises consist first and foremost of movements and postures designed to improve the circulation of energy in the body. Medical Qi Gong then works through the various energy circuits of the meridians and acupuncture points.
These physical exercises are then accompanied by sounds designed to purge and tone the body.
Finally, the last part of the work focuses on meditation. The aim is to work on the mind. The aim is to rid the mind of certain belief systems and repetitive patterns.

Of course, all this work is done with awareness and with the help of the breath. The aim is to enable the subject to understand energy mechanisms and their contribution to action in the body.

The benefits of medical Qi Gong

The benefits of Qi Gong are not limited to its curative virtues. In fact, the practice also helps to :

Develop physical fitness;
Promote relaxation;
And improve respiratory capacity.

Indeed, the movements performed during the session help to strengthen muscles and joints. Static positions during meditation are a good way to promote vitality. And that’s not all! Breathing exercises also help to regulate emotions. This, in turn, enables the recipient of medical Qi Gong to step back from his or her emotions and find a sense of calm.

A number of studies have also demonstrated the benefits of Qi Gong in managing stress and anxiety. In fact, slow, deep breathing and postures help you achieve a state of deep relaxation. All this to say that the virtues of this practice are as numerous as they are diverse. Not only does it release vital energy, but it’s also a good way to promote psychological well-being. An excellent solution!

So, in concrete terms, how does a qi gong session with a practitioner work?

Medical qi gong: how the session unfolds

Generally speaking, the first session with a practitioner begins with a very precise interrogation. This takes into account the eight Ba Gang therapeutic principles.
Next, the practitioner carries out various examinations. These include taking the pulse, palpating the meridians and the traditional reading of the Yin-Yang or Five Elements. The aim of these procedures is to establish a balance sheet and determine the cause of the energy imbalance. This is done with a view to proposing treatment techniques adapted to the subject’s specific condition.
At the end of the medical Qi Gong session, the subject will be given exercises as personal work to accompany care or treatment. The aim of the latter is to enable the subject to continue progressing at home. But also, to reinforce and continue the treatment even outside the sessions.

Why not take a closer look at the essence of traditional Chinese medicine?

Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the most established systems of medicine. It dates back to at least 23 centuries BC. As such, it is one of the world’s oldest healing methods. Medical Qi Gong is an integral part of this. The earliest known written record is associated with the Huangdi Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic). This work provided the theoretical concepts of TCM that remain the basis of its practice to this day.

In essence, traditional Chinese healers seek to re-establish a dynamic balance between two complementary forces, yin (passive) and yang (active). They permeate the human body in the same way as the universe as a whole. According to TCM, a person is effectively healthy when there is harmony between these two energies. Hence the interest in medical Qi Gong.

Traditional Chinese medicine and chi

In traditional Chinese medicine, we believe in the existence of chi, which flows throughout the body. Any imbalance in this life force can lead to illness. This instability is generally thought to be created by a change in the yin and yang that make up chi. In Chinese culture, human beings are also seen as microcosms of the surrounding universe, interconnected with nature. They are thus subject to these opposing forces.

Similarly, it is believed that – through techniques such as medical Qi Gong – we can regain the balance between the two. This involves bringing the body’s internal organs into balance with the five external elements. Worth knowing:

Wood (mu);
Fire (huo);
Earth (tu);
Metal (jin);
Water (shui).

To achieve this harmony, traditional Chinese medicine combines a wide range of therapies. It includes, but is not limited to:

Acupuncture (insertion of very fine needles into precise points);
Acupressure (applying pressure to acupuncture points);
Moxibustion (heat stimulation);
Medical Qi Gong (of course!) ;
Cupping (use of suction cups to induce blood flow by suction effect);
Guasha (skin scraping to remove pathogens);
Tuina (massage technique);
Phytotherapy (treatment with plants and plant extracts);
Dietetics (science of food hygiene);
Feng shui (art of living);
tai chi chuan (slow sequence of movements).

To stick to the essentials, these techniques are used to :

Prevent and cure illness;
Strengthen the immune system;
Boost daily energy with medical Qi Gong or another practice;
Improve the ability to enjoy life.

The role of meridians in TCM

An essential aspect of traditional Chinese medicine is the understanding of meridians. These are the vessels in which chi circulates throughout the human body. These energy networks link :

Organs;
Tissues;
Veins;
Nerves;
Cells;
Atoms;
And consciousness itself.

Generally speaking, there are 12 main meridians, each of which connects to an organ or viscera. During medical Qi Gong sessions, these lines of energy flow are very much in demand. They are also associated with a variety of phenomena, including circadian rhythms, the seasons and planetary movements.

ACUPUNCTURE
Fine needles are inserted into specific points along the meridians. These stimulate the meridians and readjust the circulation of chi to balance the body’s yin and yang. Other needle-free practices also use these pressure points to induce healing. Not only can the network be used to alleviate symptoms, it can also endow TCM (like medical Qi Gong) with the ability to change consciousness in those being treated.

To discover the source of a health problem linked to a blockage in these meridians, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine uses :

Sense of smell;
Hearing;
Touch;
Pulse diagnosis;
Vibratory frequency.

Also, by observing the law of nature in action, ancient Chinese healers found that the five elements had a myriad of visible and invisible correlations. This framework helps them to identify the imbalance of a meridian. These little subtleties make medical Qi Gong (and other practices) an unconventional technique.

For example, a key correspondence concerns the time of day. If a person still has a headache at 4 p.m., this indicates that the bladder meridian is blocked. Indeed, this organ is responsible for maintaining the body’s functions at that time. Using this same theory, practitioners can draw up a suitable healing plan.

Traditional Chinese medicine and meditation

Meditation is an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. It is also present in medical Qi Gong. This discipline is thought to have originated in India around 4,000 years ago. It was widely practiced in Hindu and Buddhist religions. It was also used as a means of achieving inner peace and enlightenment. Of course, China may have had some form of meditation long before this, but there is little documentation from ancient times.

Still, meditation found its way to China when Buddhism began to spread. From there, the practice was introduced into healing techniques such as medical Qi Gong and into religion. This goes back to the beginning of the history of traditional Chinese medicine, which means that it arrived at the right time. Similarly, it found its way into Japanese and Korean cultures. Which probably explains why it has become so popular in these countries.

On the other hand, meditation can be defined as a set of approaches designed to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention. You may notice that you often spend time thinking about things that have already happened or may happen in the future. In medical Qi Gong, or more precisely in meditation, you deliberately put all this aside to focus on the here and now: your body, your breath, the world around you. There are different types of meditation to choose from. No method is “right” or “wrong”. You just have to find what works for you.

Qi Gong or meditation? Or both? It’s up to you now!