Methodological Challenges in Qigong Research

During the 1980's, two opposing camps began to form in the Qigong community. These camps differed over their views as to whether Qi could be 'emitted' to treat patients. Proponents of one camp believed that therapeutic effects observed in patients receiving treatment from a Qigong practitioner resulted from the power of suggestion. Scientists from this camp claimed to have conducted experiments in which cues from the practitioner were blocked from the patient, and so were the effects. In the other camp, however, many scientists continued to believe that Qi could be 'emitted to influence health and refer to reports of successful in vitro experiments in which psychological cues are eliminated. Our laboratory has endeavored to develop rigorously controlled in vitro protocols for evaluating external qigong. Lessons learned and results will be presented.