Influence on the vegetative function and its mechanism by breathing harmonization

It is well known that qigong is the effective methods of non-medicine. which may delay the aging process and treat chronic diseases. but its mechanism is needed to study further. In the present study, 64 qigong exercisers and 12 rabbits were investigated with the modern electrophysiological method, so as to explore the influence on the respiratory rate, heart rate, finger sphygmogram and small intestinal movement by breathing harmonization.

1. Influence of qigong exercise on respiration, finger sphygmogram and bowel sound:

For the 64 qigong exercisers. the change of their respiratory rates. finger sphygmograms and bowel sounds were measured before. during and after qigong exercises. Before qigong exercise, the respiratory rate was 17.1±0.4 times/min (X±SE), the amplitude of finger sphygmograms 8.2±0.88 mm (X±SE) and bowel sounds 12.0±1.1 times/min (X±SE). During qigong exercise, the respiratory rate was 10.6±0.8 times/min, the amplitude of finger sphygmograms 9.7±0.9 mm and bowel sounds 16.3±1.1 times/min. The differences of the respiratory rate, heart rate, and finger sphygmogram were very significant between the periods before qigong exercise and during qigong exercise.

2. Influence of different respiratory mode of qigong exercise on finger sphygmogram and bowel sound:

When qigong exerciser's inhaling was longer than exhaling, the amplitude of finger sphygmogram and bowel sound reduced. When the exhaling was longer than the inhaling, the amplitude of finger sphygmogam and bowel sound increased. The differences of the indexes mentioned above were very significant between these two respiratory modes.

3. Influence of respiratory stop on bowel sound during qigong exercise:

When the respiration stopped for 20 seconds at the end of inhaling the bowel sound increased considerably. When the respiration stopped for 20 seconds at the end of exhaling, the bowel sound reduced significantly.

4. Influence of lung dilation or lung atrophia on blood pressure, heart rate and intestinal movement:

In order to further explore the mechanism of effect of respiratory process on the capacity of finger blood vessel and bowel sound. experiment was performed on 12 rabbits.
(1) When the lung was further dilated at the end of inhaling. blood pressure reduced, heart rate decreased and intestinal movement increased. After an injection of Atropine. the effects of lung dilation on blood pressure. heart rate and intestinal movement were not significant.
(2) When the lung was shrunk further at the end of exhaling, blood pressure elevated and heart rate and intestinal movement reduced. After an intravenous injection of Atropine, the effects of the lung atrophia on the heart rate and intestinal movement were not significant, but blood
pressure was still elevated indicating that the effects of the lung atrophia were associated with M receptor activity.