No matter whether we are performing qigong needing, emitted qi therapy or psychotherapy with arousing of qi (vital energy), the exchange of qi between the performer and the patient, the solicitude and encouragement given by the performer to the patient and the respect and confidence shown by the patient to the performer can in various degrees lead to positive therapeutic effect physically and mentally. When I carry out the therapy of qigong needling, I give full consideration to the entirety of the human body with respect to the mental and physical state, just as to the current principle of 'holistic therapy', which has been highly valued internationally.
For years, I have been in charge of a Sino-Japanese therapeutic clinic engaging mainly in acupuncture treatment and a Sino Japanese Institute of qigong engaging mainly in qigong treatment in Japan. Since 1981, I have innovated a method of treatment which integrates acupuncture and qigong and carried out the clinical observation in this respect. My paper 'The Integrated Application of Qigong and Acupuncture' was published in 1983 in a Japanese medical journal (Journal of All Japan Acupuncture Society) and met with attention and enthusiasm. As I have practiced qigong, especially the qigong mimicking a wild goose and shadow boxing for ten years, my patient will have a sense of comfort whenever my hand keeps close to the diseased part of his body. In 1986, I began to treat 66 patients with the method of qigong needling (during treatment the needle was held in the hand of the performer but not inserted into the body of the patient and sometimes two fingers were used instead of a needle to release qi externally). 60 of the 66 patients experienced the receiving of qi. Among them, 12 experienced a heat sensation, 10 a mobile sensation, 8 an electric current sensation, 6 a heavily pressed sensation, 4 alleviation of pain and distress and 20 other sensations such as needle pain or pulsation of blood vessels.
In order to obtain some scientific data, thermography was performed simultaneously during the treatment. The results are shown in the figures. During the qigong needling (the needle was held but not inserted) and finger needling - the middle finger was used instead of a needle and directed at a distance towards the acupuncture points Laogong (P 8), Hegu (LI 4), etc. The skin temperature of the treated part was elevated to varying degrees. In general, the skin temperature rose one to two degrees. It is thus shown that qigong needling or finger needling has definitely produced effect.
It is not necessary to demand the patients to have experience of practicing qigong in order to be treated with the qigong needling. However, if the patient has this kind of experience and has confidence in the performer, the therapeutic effect would be better. A more important fact is that through my experience with the qigong needling and finger needling, I have perceived that the space between the performer and the patient was full of an invisible but effect producing substance. The exchange of qi and idea is, in fact, a kind of medical art carried out by the performer and the patient as well.
However, there are still some problems such as the therapeutic indications of the qigong needling and finger needling, the physical and mental state of the patient, the patient's experience of practicing qigong, the effect of psychic suggestion etc. awaiting for further observation and investigation.
