The Healing Power of Qigong Tai Chi
Qigong Tai Chi works on healing the body in specific ways. The first function of Qigong and Tai Chi practices is to create chemical reactions in the body that promote cell growth and inhibit cellular mutation.
Is it really a wonder why Harvard Health Publications May 2009 issue calls Tai Chi “medication in motion“? That article explained how tai chi, when combined with standard treatment, is helpful for a range of conditions including arthritis, low bone density, breast cancer, heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, sleep problems, and stroke. Wow. What other type of exercise gets that kind of endorsement?
Qigong and Tai Chi play a significant role in boosting the immune system and are easy to practice. The elderly or those already experiencing a disease can quickly boost their immune system with Tai Chi Qigong exercises.
How does it really work? Stress creates chemicals within the body that restrict the immune function. Chemicals like cortisol, GH and norepinephrine are released at periods of high stress.
Other chemicals like melatonin, serotonin and dopamine are all stress reducers. They help the human cells stay healthy. Still other chemicals act as anti mutation chemicals that kill free radicals that damage a cell. These chemicals really help the cell stay healthy by washing or cleaning away the free radicals that can mutate a cell and cause disease.
Qigong and Tai Chi both increase those types of chemicals, particularly SOD (Superoxide Dismutases ).
The Chemicals that help are created and then circulated through the body by Qigong and Tai Chi practice, creating a more efficient functioning body.
Additional studies from researchers found that practicing tai chi leads to reductions in damage to DNA. Simply put, tai chi practitioners have better DNA and cellular function.
The second function of Qigong and Tai Chi practice is the mental function. Thirty college students participated in a 1-hour-long Tai Chi exercise intervention twice a week for 3 months.
The results were that physical measures of pain and general health, and mental measures of vitality and mental health were significantly improved after Tai Chi. Scores on the mental health dimension appeared to be particularly sensitive to change.
- American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 32, 453-9
MENTAL HEALTH. The Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, conducted studies to see how QiGong practice would affect mental health. The result was that a group that had practiced QiGong for over two years had a curative rate on symptoms of psychosomatic disorders about twice as high as a QiGong group practicing less than two years.
MENTAL HOMEOSTASIS: Psychological homeostasis refers to emotional control or tranquility. It has been stated that the biological function of human emotion and repression is primarily homeostatic. Evidence suggests that a feedback relationship exists between forms of homeostasis, and the body-mind type of therapies (including acupuncture and T’ai Chi) thus have a combined physiological, physical, and psychological effect. (American Psychological Association) American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 1981 Spr Vol 9 (1) 1-14
The third function of Qigong Tai Chi practice is emotional. Emotional imbalance is one of the leading causes of sickness. Emotions are linked to the organs and their functions: anger to the liver, sadness to the lungs, fear to the kidneys, joy to the heart and worry and stress to the stomach and pancreas. Anger will cause chemical reactions in the body that affect the liver function in an adverse way. The more prolonged and enraged the feeling, the more serious the effect. An excess of energy will be stored in the liver which will lead to a blockage of energy (an imbalance) in that area. In the practice of Qigong and Tai Chi, the energy is strengthened and balanced, and is then able to flow smoothly through the body’s channels. It is common for students to feel refreshed, energized, calm and mentally clear after their practice. For this reason, Qigong and Tai Chi is highly recommended.
In Qigong Tai Chi practice, the emphasis is on calming the mind, which in turn regulates emotions. Clear thinking leads to a more careful and balanced consideration of the facts and thus, a better outcome in terms of making decisions. If you are constantly controlled by your emotions, you will feel stressed and confused. Through the practice, you become more aware of your emotional energy and are more skillful in directing it. The emotions no longer control you. Many students are surprised at how the practice of Qigong and Tai Chi has a positive effect on their personalities and their outlook on life. For this reason, the ancients refer this kind of internal training as a form of cultivation.
The fourth function of Qigong Tai Chi is of a spiritual nature. Whatever your spiritual belief might be, the practice of these ancient health maintenance techniques increases your connection to what is divine. That sacred source, in which we have a connection with, is enhanced through these practices. Maybe it is a direct result of having a healthier body?
The ancient Chinese said if you want to become a true human being you must cultivate a healthy body. Through this cultivation you will discover your subtle energy. Through an investigation of this energy you will discover you have a part of you that is not connected to your body. That part of you is also a part of the entire universe. Discovering this is the primary purpose for having a human body.