Excerpts from “The Complete Guide to Chi-Gung” by Daniel Reid
Qigong (Chi Gung) & Your Immune System
Qigong activates the innate healing positive feedback between the nervous system and the endocrine system stimulating production of neurotransmitters, hormones, and other immune factors required for healing.
Qigong practice enhances white blood cell production by stimulating the marrow and increases their phagocytic activity. Blood tests on practitioners show an increase in the production of T-cells, which are vital in immune response, in the thymus gland.
Qigong practice also stimulates the pituitary, adrenal and other glandular secretions, thereby maintaining proper balance of the entire endocrine system. Just 30 minutes of Qigong practice results in an increase in red blood cell count, enhancing the circulation of oxygen to the cells, further improving the immune response.
Qigong practice also inhibits the secretion of adrenaline & cortisol, both of which suppress the immune system.
Qigong (Chi Gung) & Your Digestive System
The diaphragmatic breathing and movements of Qigong provide a highly stimulating massage to all the digestive organs helping to regulate their functions and balance their secretions.
Qigong stimulates an immediate increase in the secretion of saliva in the mouth, digestive secretions in the stomach, and essential digestive fluids in the intestines. Fifteen minutes of practice has been shown to produce a major elevation in the secretion of pepsin, one of the most important digestive enzymes in the stomach.
Qigong has also been shown to enhance the production of salivary lysozyme, an enzyme with potent antibacterial properties. It has also been scientifically demonstrated that Qigong balances the PH level of digestive fluids, which is essential to the proper digestion of food and assimilation of nutrients.
Qigong (Chi Gung) & Your Heart
Qigong takes a tremendous workload off the heart by turning the diaphragm into a “second heart” to support circulation, thereby preventing exhaustion of the heart muscle. Twenty to thirty minutes of Qigong practice reduces the pulse by an average of 15%. This effect is felt several hours after practice.
Deep diaphragmatic breathing gives a powerful boost to the circulation of blood throughout the body by alternately compressing and releasing pressures in the abdominal and chest cavities. This practice balances blood pressure throughout the circulatory system, thereby reducing blood pressure.
Diaphragmatic breathing can be practiced throughout the day serving as a highly effective preventative against heart disease and helping prolong life.
Qigong (Chi Gung) & The Respiratory System
The deep diaphragmatic breathing involved in Qigong exercises greatly improves respiratory functions and protects the lungs from damage due to airborne pollution.
Qigong breathing increases the oxygenation of the blood and the elimination of carbon dioxide in the lungs by increasing the surface area of the alveoli involved in the gas exchange in the bloodstream. While Qigong breathing increases the oxygenation of the blood in the lungs, the movements improve delivery of oxygen to the cells, resulting in a significant enhancement in overall respiratory efficiency. The net result of this improved respiratory efficiency is a significant increase in the oxygenation and detoxification of the tissues and cells throughout the body.
Qigong (Chi Gung), The Brain & Central Nervous System
Qigong practice switches the autonomous nervous system from the stress-related “fight or flight” mode of the sympathetic branch over to the restorative healing mode of the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system affording the body the opportunity to heal itself and restore balance.
EEG tests have demonstrated that Qigong practice activates the dormant 90% of the human brain resulting in significant improvement in memory, learning and enhancement in physiological functions controlled by the brain. Numerous studies have shown that after a session of Qigong practice, there is a significant rise in the level of the essential neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, serotonin & dopamine, in the blood, brain & cerebrospinal fluids. Deficiencies or imbalances of these neurotransmitters are casual factors in Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s disease, chronic depression, insomnia & drug addiction.
Studies also show that Qigong practice stimulates the brain to produce large amounts of enkephalin, one of our body’s natural pain-killing petrochemicals, while enhancing the capacity of the endorphin receptors to receive & hold it.
Reid, Daniel. The Complete Guide to Chi-Gung. Shambhala Publications, Inc, (Jan, 01, 2000)
What is the Official spelling of Qigong and why?