Research Leading to a Systems/Cellular/Molecular Model for the Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi on Health and Healing

The goal of our research is to apply modern biomedical technologies to develop experimental approaches, protocols, and instrumentation, and use them to quantify physiological and bioenergetic changes associated with the practice of Qigong and Tai Chi. In our studies on dozens of high level practitioners and many control subjects over the last few years, we have shown that Qigong and Tai Chi (a) increase blood flow measured by laser Doppler flowmetry, (b) induce a state of relaxation as indicated by heart rate variability analysis of electroencephalography and brain wave analysis of electroencephalography, and (c) elevate bioenergy emission in the form of heat (infrared thermography), light (single photon counting), electrical charge (gas discharge visualization), and conductance at acupuncture points (pre-polarization measurement with single square voltage). Based these results and previous studies by other investigators, we propose a working model for explaining the many effects of Qigong and Tai Chi on health and healing at the systems, cellular, and molecular levels. We hope that our on-going experiments and this model will stimulate future research that leads to a better understanding of the scientific basis of the these practices and thus accelerate their integration into the global healthcare community.
Keywords: Qigong, Tai Chi, Physiology, Bioenergy, Health and Healing, Systems-Cellular-Molecular Model

full text: http://integralwisdomqigong.com/780/benefits-of-qigong-and-tai-chi-on-health-and-healing/