1. General data and methods: 70 cases were admitted to hospital to practice the 'qi-circulation' qigong systematically for 100 days. Their sensational experience and general physiological changes were recorded. The 'conduction volume number' of acupoints and the skin temperature were measured. The observations of the clinical effect on certain diseases and follow-ups of some cases are reported here.
2. Results and analysis
2.1 Appearing of qigong sensation and its changing patterns
2.1.1 The common phenomenon in those who practiced the 'qi-circulation' qigong for the first time, often felt that qigong sensation appeared gradually and then weakened and disappeared gradually. See the following table.
Table 1:
Headings for following table show degree of sensation:
none = no sensation
local = local sensation only
notmer = clear local sensation and unclear transmission along meridians
mer30 = clear local sensation and clear transmission along meridians,
appearing in 30 days and unclear by 90 days
mer7 = ' '
appearing in 7 days and existing > 100 days
none local notmer mer30 mer7
Number of
cases 1 4 20 40 5
%-age 1.4 5.2 28.6 57.1 7.1
The follow-ups showed that most of the subjects did not have the general transmission along meridians again in later practice. But for those who had accomplished the goal of 'qi-circulation along both the Ren, Du meridians by practicing qi-circulation. The sensation included rotation, pulsating, or drawing lines around such acupoints as Baihui (Du 20), Yintang (Extra 1) ,Laogong (p8) and etc.
2.1.2. The order of meridians along which transmission occurred: the Ren Meridian->Du Meridian->the Eight Extra Meridians->the Twelve Meridians
2.1.3. The degree of sensation, clarity and completion of transmission along meridians varied with individuals.
Table 2. Statistics of 65 cases
Meridians Ren m. Dai. m. Dai m. Chong. m. other meridians
whole whole whole part part whole
meridian
number of
cases 5 45 14 12 15 3
percentage 7.7 69.2 21.5 18.4 23.1 4.6
After observing the different transmission along different meridians,the author found that the occurrence of transmission along the Du M. was the commonest and most obvious and the accompanied general changes were most noticeable. It seems to be the reason why qigong science holds the Du Meridian in esteem.
2.1.4. In the process of transmission along meridians, some local sensations were very special.
Table 3. Statistics of the 35 cases of transmission along meridians
Sensation quality number of cases percentage
pit of the stomach warm 25 73.5
Guanyuan(Ren 4) warm 29 85.3
Huiyin (Ren 1) pulsating 21 61.8
Coccyx pulsating 20 58.5
Mingmen (Du 4) pulsating 19 55.9
two kidneys boiling hot 22 64.7
Yuzhen (UB9) dull pain 25 73.6
Huantiao (GB 30) tension 19 55.9
Baihui (Du 20) 23 67.6
Yintang (Ertoal) tension 24 70.6
tip of the tongue vibrating 17 50.0
& numb
2.1.5. Transmission would result in pain or discomfort but it cured diseases along meridians.
2.2. Accompanying sensations:
2.2.1. Pulsating on the following points: Mingmeng (Du 4), Shenshu (UB 23),Dazhui (Du4), Baihui(Du20), Yongquan((K1), Taiyang (Lu9) etc and also on fossa cubitalis, fossa poplitea and foot back
2.2.2. Tension, vibrating or convulsion occurred on the eyelid, nose, tongue, lips, neck and back etc.
2.2.3. Though sitting on a chair, the subjects would feel that his or her body was getting bigger or smaller, light or heavy, moving forward or backward twisting or becoming deformed.
2.3. General physiological effect:
Ptyalism, more nasal discharge, tearing, slightly sweating, diuresis, breaking wind, loose stools, sexual excitation, sparse hair growing on a bald head.
2.4. Clinical test and verification:
Clinical data showed that practicing 'qi-circulation' qigong regulates the immunity and enhance the body resistance. The accomplishment of 'qi -circulation along the Ren and Du meridians' by systematically practicing this type of qigong, may bring high blood pressure down, hyperglycemia decreases and the function of heart, liver and gastrointestine strengthens. The 'acupoints' conduction volume varies at the different stage of practicing qi-circulation qigong. The skin temperature of acupoints from which heat is emitted rises, and the peak temperature of Mingmen (Du 4), Shenshu (UB 23) is higher than that of armpit measured at the same time.
2. Clinical Study
2-1 CLINICAL OBSERVATION OF II-TYPE DIABETES TREATED BY NON-MEDICATION THERAPY
Cai Jun
(Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of TCM, Beijing, China)
Subjects and methods:
1. Subjects
27 cases of diabetes were under observation. Among them 20 cases were diabetes (type II) according to the WHO Diagnostic Criteria. There were 8 males and 14 females and the average age was 62 years old. They had constantly took drugs to lower the BS level and the condition was controlled to some extent. 2 female cases had depended on insulin. Other cases had been suffering from old people's diseases. 2 cases were males and 1 case was female. Their average age was 71 years old.
2. Methods
(1) Observing index: Blood sugar content was measured before and after meals.
(2) Course of treatment: It was in 4 weeks in total. Saturday and Sunday in the first two weeks the patients did not take rest and in the latter two weeks, the patients took rest on Saturday and Sunday.
(3) Exercises daily: Taiji gymnastic exercise for one hour; sole self-massage for 40 min; mediation for 20 min.
(4) Criteria for effectiveness:
Marked effectiveness: Symptomatic integral reduced by over 80%, normal blood sugar content before and after meals, or the index decreased by over 30%.
Effectiveness: Symptomatic integral reduced by 50%--80% and the blood sugar content decreased by 10%.
Failure: No change
Result analysis:
1. Effective rate:
Marked effectiveness: 9 cases, (33.3%)
Effectiveness: 17 cases (62.9%)
Failure: 1 cases (suffering from prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc)(3.8%)
The total effective rate was 96.20%. In addition, in the course of treatment hypoglycemia appeared in 4 cases, and obvious relief of symptoms was seen, then the dose of drugs was reduced.
2. Relief of symptoms:
In the first week most of the patients found relief of symptoms, like thirst, preference for drinking water, spontaneous sweating and night sweats and constipation; in the 2nd week such symptoms as lassitude and weakness were relieved.
