The author has systematically observed the short-term effects and follow-up cases of patients suffering from hypertension stage II treated by qigong exercises. The data are listed as follows:
1. Subjects under observations:
125 cases of primary hypertension stage II patients were chosen. They were characterized by long course of disease with frequent attacks and no satisfactory results had ever been seen after various drugs given.
In this experiment, the patients were divided into 2 groups the qigong exercise group (self-adjustment qigong therapy group) and the medicinal control group, as shown in the following table:
Qigong exercise Medicinal control Item group group
____________ ____________________ _________________
No. of cases 64 61
Sex male/female (person) 43/21 40/21
Average age (year) 57.6 56.6
Average course of disease(year) 11.6 12.8
Blood pressure(mm Hg)
Systolic(average) 175.84 168.68
Diastolic(average) 99.75 101.79
The qigong exercise group performed mainly the 'relaxation qigong' and 'depressurizing qigong', which were done one hour collectively and one hour individually every day.
Patients in the medicinal control group took cow-bezoar bolus to reduce blood pressure, one bolus each time, two times a day.
2. Observations on curative effects after the experiment started for 2 months:
Results of the depressurizing effects showed the overall effective rate of blood pressure depression in the 64 cases in the qigong exercise group was 85.94 %, of which symptoms ameliorated totaled up to 95.8%. In the 61 cases of the medicinal control group, the overall effective rate of blood pressure depression was 36.62%, of which symptoms ameliorated totaled 60.05% . The depressurizing range in the qigong exercise group showed the average descent of systolic pressure was 23.14 mmHg and that of the diastolic pressure 14.08 mmHg (P value <0.01). The difference was obvious.
Variations of blood-fat before and after treatment In the qigong exercise group, there were slight increases with TC, HDL-C and LDL-C, but TG decreased. In the medicinal control group, all TC,TA and LDL-C decreased but HDL-C increased slightly.
Results of much outstanding significance were found by examining the immune globulin for all the cases in the two groups. They showed that in the qigong exercise group IgG decreased obviously and T-lymphocytoesterase increased evidently in all the patients after they had practised the self-adjustment qigong exercise for two months.
3. Long-term investigation:
The author has carried out a follow-up study at a regular interval on the blood pressure status of 30 patients practising the self-adjustment qigong exercise for 3 years. The patients' average systolic pressure maintained constantly around 130.18 mm Hg, while the diastolic pressure 84.14 mm Hg; the IgG was 15.28, IgA 1.78 and IgM 1.04; the T lymphocytoesterase was 60.6 and together with blood-fat were all maintained within the normal value of that of Tianjin Municipality. Besides, symptoms of hypertension were basically diminished. It was found from the data recorded during the long-term visit for 3 years that 66.6% among the cases did not have any of the following symptoms such as aching, distending, dizziness in the head, tightness and stiffness in the neck, feeling top heavy and thin-stemmed, being irritable and fidgety, or suffering from insomnia and amnesia. Occasionally, some of the above symptoms might occur in 33.4% of the patients due to an emotional fluctuation or climatic variations, nevertheless, none of the reappeared symptoms lasted over 2 weeks.
4. Analysis and discussion:
The author holds that the factual results of the qigong depressurizing effect is prompt with an evident bodily amelioration for quite a long time and with recurrence only on rare occasions. It is not obtained from external passive factors such as drugs, mainly because the practitioners have mastered a complete set of qigong exercises. which mobilizes their own potentiality, implements the path for self-adjustment and self regulation to reduce blood pressure and eliminate symptoms, therefore the efficacy is stabilized. Otherwise, the blood pressure will rise again when the practice is given up half way.
The next point is about the method of the qigong practice. It is advisable for hypertension patients to choose a set of exercise which is, in principle, performed with fully relaxation of the body, high tranquility in mind. As a matter of fact, the more the relaxation, the deeper the quietness getting into, and the better the effect achieved. Moreover, the qigong depressurizing function performs obvious economic and social benefits. and will also get rid of medicinal by-effects and drug-resisting problems.
The self-adjustment therapy, in addition, is also advantageous to the alternations of medical patterns, in other words, the transformation of biomedical models to psychological, social and biomedical models, which will mobilize and bring the initiative of both doctors and patients into full play, gives free rein to the function of the patients internal causes, promoting their mental and psychological health and finally overcomes the obstinate chronic diseases. Therefore, viewing from the significance of the self-adjustment and natural therapy, it is not simply a question of social benefit but an aim of further importance, that is, during the course of qigong practise, patients can mold their temperament. cultivate their morality and calm the seven emotions in attaining the state of beaming and buoyant in spirit, which will nearly prevent any occurrence of diseases.
