Developing tendency of Chinese medical qigong in contemorary times

In recent years, we have investigated into the cause of the side-effect in qigong exercises and the pathogenesis, and the clinical application of medical qigong. Since 1987, we have admitted 200 cases of side-effect in qigong exercises. It is found there are many factors causing the side-effect, but the misunderstanding of 'mental and qi harmonization' is the common problem.

The process of qigong exercise is in fact a transition from 'shi shen' to 'yuan shen', from 'turbid qi” to “genuine qi”. This kind of transition may have its orderly process, known as 'foundation laying'. When the 'turbid qi' is not removed, the qi concentrated at the Dantian area or other parts is a kind of turbid qi, which is unstabilized in the body. It may bring about disturbance when the exerciser encounters some unfavorable external factors, such as frightening, anger, 'too much mind concentration', etc. Sometimes, family or individual psychotic history causes the disturbance. When the turbid qi travels along the Du Meridian to the head, psychosis occurs in severe cases, or there has a feeling of heavy pressure on the head in mild cases. If the turbid qi escapes from meridians, there may be a distending and numb feeling of the body. How to avoid such side-effect? We have developed a new medical qigong system according to the ancestors' experience. Here is a brief account.

Positive health depends relative equilibrium between the five zang organs. No matter what qigong school it is, the chief task of medical qigong is to regulate the five zang organs, dredge meridians and cultivate 'essence, qi and mentality'. To guarantee the process going smoothly, it is necessary to have a foundation laying process.