4. Medical Qigong

predisposed to other organ imbalances. This is somewhat similar to saying that one's genes might set them up for epigenetic changes that can be triggered by certain exposures, lifestyle behaviors, or by prolonged stress or emotional imbalances. Overexertion (such as overworking without adequate rest) and overindulgence in sexual activity deplete the kidney yin and jing [25]. A main etiological dynamic in T2DM is kidney yin deficiency at the root which causes dryness heat symptoms as the branch [20, 25]. The relationship between yin deficiency and dryness heat is a circular mechanism because as dryness heat builds, it further consumes the yin fluids [25]. The hyperactive fire resulting from kidney yin deficiency flares upward, resulting in dryness of the lung and heat in the stomach, which combined with

In addition, chronic kidney yin deficiency can diminish the generation of kidney yang. Combined kidney yin and yang deficiency can in the long run lead to kidney qi failure, making the kidney unable to regulate the exiting of body fluids and manifesting as the need to urinate

In the Chinese medicine theory, the lung is responsible for the descending and distributing of lung Qi and is the upper source of the circulation of water or body fluids [25, 26]. Heat and dryness that consume the yin fluids can injure the lung which then cannot function as well to distribute body fluids and this can present as thirst. Because the lung Qi is responsible for regulating the body's water passages, if lung Qi fails to do this, water and fluid will go directly

The liver also plays a central role in the Chinese medicine view of the pathogenesis of T2DM. It is a fairly recent understanding in biomedicine that emotional stress can trigger the onset of T2DM and it is recognized that stress exacerbates high blood glucose levels in people with T2DM [14, 26, 27]. In Chinese medicine theory, the liver is responsible for regulating the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. Liver Qi stagnation results from stress or excessive emotions and is particularly associated with anger, frustration, irritability, or depression. Constraint and heat from stagnating liver Qi can cause the liver to overact on the middle Jiao which weakens the pancreas Qi and engenders dampness and can also cause too much heat in the stomach, leading to an excessive appetite. Liver Qi stagnation can engender heat in the blood and cause blood stagnation. Blood stagnation impairs fluid distribution and can be accompanied by phlegm stagnation. Heat turns into dryness heat and consumes the yin and can lead to a deficiency of yin in the liver, kidney and stomach [20]. When the yin cannot properly nourish the luo-collaterals, or smaller branches of the body's main meridians, the luocollaterals can be damaged. In addition, spleen Qi deficiency and the accumulation of dampness or phlegm can lead to the stagnation of phlegm and Blood in the collaterals. Damage of the luo-collaterals manifests as diabetic complications such as hypertension, retinopathy, neu-

From a medical Qigong perspective the main causes of T2DM are associated with an imbalanced autonomic nervous system, weakened pancreas energy, low kidney energy and excess energy of the liver. This is based on clinical observation with internal Qi diagnostics, a process in which a trained Qigong practitioner uses medical Qigong techniques to perceive and assess

a person's internal Qi-energy flow through the organs and associated meridians.

kidney yin deficiency, causes diabetes [25].

downward leading to excessive and frequent urination [25, 26].

72 Chinese Medical Therapies for Diabetes, Infertility, Silicosis and the Theoretical Basis

ropathy, nephropathy and cardiovascular disease [20].

directly after drinking [26].

Medical Qigong is defined as the system of authentic Qi (vital energy) practice, which empowers the body to heal itself and to facilitate the healing process of others. It involves appropriate management and regulation of all energetic and informational communications and interactions within and without the body in the process of self-healing and healing others. Medical Qigong is another branch of traditional Chinese medicine.

Medical Qigong consists of two aspects of authentic Qi practices, namely internal medical Qigong and external medical Qigong. Internal medical Qigong refers to self-healing and selfcare Qigong practice, or Qigong exercises practiced by oneself. Internal medical Qigong exercises include unique breathing methods, movements for specific health conditions, meditations with unique mudras and internal observations with specific energetic codes and images for healing health conditions. External medical Qigong refers to when a medical Qigong practitioner is facilitating the healing process of others. In external Qigong, the medical Qigong practitioner works with his or her client by cleansing and clearing unhealthy Qi, removing blockages or Qi stagnation from the client's energy field to promote healthy internal Qi circulation, or by projecting specific healing Qi into the energy field of the client and directing it to specific areas and systems of the body for restoring internal balance and harmony. The medical Qigong practitioner may also transmit universal healing energy and energetic intelligence to his or her client for improving health conditions and restoring well-being.

#### 4.1. The history and development of medical Qigong

The term "medical Qigong" was made popular by Guizhen Liu in the 1950s and became part of Chinese mainstream culture. Mr. Liu was famous for teaching nieyang-gong (innernourishing qigong) and at that time medical Qigong became the standard term for healing and improving health conditions with authentic Qi cultivation, regulation and management.

According to historical documents, Qigong has been practiced and studied for about five thousand years in China. The following statement was recorded in the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, Suwen Chapter one: "If your mind is calm and peaceful and able to reach a state of emptiness and you hold your spirit within and your authentic Qi flows easily and freely, how could illness arise?" (The reign of the Yellow emperor was 2690– 2590 B.C.). An important part of the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine is the Ling Shu–Spiritual Pivot, which contains detailed information about the acupuncture meridians. The acupuncture meridians were discovered by Qigong practitioners in ancient times and can be identified with internal visual and experiential perception.

Lao Zi (601–531 B.C.), the founder or "father" of Daoism mentioned authentic Qi cultivation in his classic Dao De Jing (Classic on the Dao of Virtues). He emphasized that the way to obtain health was to "concentrate on authentic Qi cultivation and become more flexible." The famous philosopher Zhuang Zi, in his book Nan Hua Jing (third century B.C.), stated that "the immortals' breathing reaches down to their heels and the normal person's breathing to the throat." He emphasized the importance of breathing in the internal cultivation. Up to now, one of the commonly accepted definitions of Qigong is breathing exercise. Xing Qi refers to "moving the Qi." An early description of this type of Qigong practice, entitled "The Jade Pendant Inscription on Xing Qi" (sixth century B.C.), is shown here in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The Jade Pendant Inscription on Xing Qi (sixth century B.C.) [28].

The Jade Pendant Inscription on Xing Qi could be the earliest monograph on Qigong in Chinese history. It reads as follows:"In moving Qi, one breathes deeply and cultivates the authentic Qi within. If the authentic Qi is stored, it expands. When the authentic Qi expands, it descends down to the Dantian. When the authentic Qi becomes stable in the Dantian, it

will solidify. When the authentic Qi is solidified, it will begin to sprout and move to the root of the Du meridian. After the authentic Qi has moved to the root of the Du meridian it will grow and rise up along the Du meridian. When it rises up to the top of the head, it will flow down along the Ren Meridian to the bottom of the torso. When the authentic Qi rises up to the top of the head, it reaches heaven. Heavenly, Qi functions from above and earthly Qi functions from below. Moving the authentic Qi around the Du and Ren meridians freely leads to vitality and longevity while adverseness to this leads to aging and death." Jing Zuo literally means"quiet sitting"or"sitting in silence"and refers to a meditation practice to achieve a peaceful and tranquil mind for internal observation, cultivation and realization. Medical Qigong has been practiced with documented results in China. For example, 156 different Qigong therapy methods for healing specific illnesses were described in an ancient book, entitled "Treatise on the Causes and Manifestations of Diseases" (610 A.D.) by Yuan-Fang Chao. In this book, Dr. Chao summarized 1729 cases of diseases from clinical experiences and pathologic observations and explained the symptoms of diseases and their causes as they relate to internal subtle energy flow. For treating diseases, the unique method of Yuan-Fang Chao was to give patients specific Qigong exercises for their self-healing and selfcare.

4.1. The history and development of medical Qigong

74 Chinese Medical Therapies for Diabetes, Infertility, Silicosis and the Theoretical Basis

be identified with internal visual and experiential perception.

tion on Xing Qi" (sixth century B.C.), is shown here in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The Jade Pendant Inscription on Xing Qi (sixth century B.C.) [28].

The term "medical Qigong" was made popular by Guizhen Liu in the 1950s and became part of Chinese mainstream culture. Mr. Liu was famous for teaching nieyang-gong (innernourishing qigong) and at that time medical Qigong became the standard term for healing and improving

According to historical documents, Qigong has been practiced and studied for about five thousand years in China. The following statement was recorded in the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, Suwen Chapter one: "If your mind is calm and peaceful and able to reach a state of emptiness and you hold your spirit within and your authentic Qi flows easily and freely, how could illness arise?" (The reign of the Yellow emperor was 2690– 2590 B.C.). An important part of the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine is the Ling Shu–Spiritual Pivot, which contains detailed information about the acupuncture meridians. The acupuncture meridians were discovered by Qigong practitioners in ancient times and can

Lao Zi (601–531 B.C.), the founder or "father" of Daoism mentioned authentic Qi cultivation in his classic Dao De Jing (Classic on the Dao of Virtues). He emphasized that the way to obtain health was to "concentrate on authentic Qi cultivation and become more flexible." The famous philosopher Zhuang Zi, in his book Nan Hua Jing (third century B.C.), stated that "the immortals' breathing reaches down to their heels and the normal person's breathing to the throat." He emphasized the importance of breathing in the internal cultivation. Up to now, one of the commonly accepted definitions of Qigong is breathing exercise. Xing Qi refers to "moving the Qi." An early description of this type of Qigong practice, entitled "The Jade Pendant Inscrip-

The Jade Pendant Inscription on Xing Qi could be the earliest monograph on Qigong in Chinese history. It reads as follows:"In moving Qi, one breathes deeply and cultivates the authentic Qi within. If the authentic Qi is stored, it expands. When the authentic Qi expands, it descends down to the Dantian. When the authentic Qi becomes stable in the Dantian, it

health conditions with authentic Qi cultivation, regulation and management.

It was during the Jin dynasty (265–420 A.D.) and the northern and southern dynasties (420– 589 A.D.) that Qigong developed as a practice to prevent or correct disease through the transmission of healing Qi [29]. A medical Qigong therapist can emit his/her healing Qi to assist another person. This transmitted Qi has healing intelligence that can communicate with another person's Qi for the purpose of addressing specific health conditions [30].
