The intention control effect of qigong imagery on electrogastric activity in man

Qigong imagery training, that is considered as a wielding and experience course of voluntary attention to some surface parts on intern organs of human body, is one of basic skills of qigong. We had observed that the effect of Daoying Tuna qigong treating with some gastric diseases were relatively satisfactory, and found that this qigong had a bidirectional regulation effect on the electrogastric activity (EGA) in man. The research whether or not qigong imagery has a voluntary and intention influence on EGA at some degree was done in this work.

The subjects were divided into three groups according to the senior qigong masters (above 20 years for qigong, n= 9), primary ones (2 months to 3 years for qigong, n=26) and un-qigong man (n=21). The surface EGA of subjects at 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. was recorded using RM-600 type physiological recorder (made in Japan). The experiment stages are as follows: (1) The subjects on an empty stomach were asked in bed and quiet; (2) Tell ones to enter qigong-state. Instructions: 'concentrate your attention on Zhong Wan acupoint to the best of your ability, imagery your stomach and make it's activity strengthen.' (3) Tell subjects to finish the task crossing some symbols off the scale so as to divert their attention. (4) Recovery to (1) conduction. During the experiment EGA was successively record. That the subjects see EGA recording results was avoid so as to get rid of the influence of biofeedback.

The main results (see table) showed: The frequency and amplitude of EGA in the qigong master group at (2) stage were higher than that at (1) state (p<0.05), and their the amplitude of EGA at (3) stage was lower than that at (2) stage, while the frequency was no change. The frequency and amplitude of EGA in primary qigong group at (2) stage was higher than one at (1) stage. The parameters of EGA in un-qigong group was no change (p>0.1). At the aspect of time character, the duration from the beginning of (2) stage to remarkable changes of EGA wax 2-5 min, and 1-3 min from the end of (2) stage to remarkable low in the parameters of EGA. This suggested that the mechanism of the intention control effect of qigong imagery on EGA is not only nervous, but also relating to hormone. There was a qigong master (above 60 years for qigong) whose amplitude of EGA at (2) stage was 3-4 times as many as that at (1) stage, and lasted a long time.

This work showed that the qigong imagery of some qigong masters could control voluntarily EGA at some degree under the condition of un-biofeedback.