Effect of External Qi on the Autonomic Nervous System - Difference of Effect in Expertise of Healers

The purpose of our study is to investigate the relationship between the changes of autonomic nervous system of subjects and the expertise of external Qi healers by measurement of the heart rate fluctuation. Healers were divided into 3 groups (A, B and C). Healers in group A were doctors, practitioners in acupuncture or nurses (n=10). Healers in group B were volunteer workers in a clinic or in-home care (n=12). Healers in group C were persons other than except the group A or B (n=8). Healthy subjects received external Qi by healer of group A (n=23), B (n=18) and C (n=14). HF and LF/HF were calculated by wavelet analysis of the fluctuation of the heart rate in the subject's electrocardiogram pre, during and post Qi emission. In the control, HF and LF/HF with prone position (n=19) and sitting position (n=12) were measured and compared to that of the external Qi. HF significantly increased during Qi emission of group A. Qi emission of group A was significantly more effective than group C.