Miranda Castro. Mothering. Summer 1996 Issue.

Qigong refers to Chinese practices designed to manipulate natural energies.

Recently this term has spawned some heated debate. Indeed qigong bears rich and multifarious associations. In mainland China, the recent Falun Gong qigong movement had dramatic political and social implications. Some Chinese hospitals treat patients using qigong exercises and have created departments for the practice and instruction of qigong. There is some history of charlatans using mock qigong to con the gullible. Exceptionally early risers in China can almost always observe the hordes of the elder shaking, twisting, prancing, shuddering, or simply standing in inexorable poses to obtain the riches of health and longevity they are told qigong offers. Even in the West, qigong has its adherents. Some devote themselves to formal forms of qigong, practices which echo the routines of taijiquan (also t’ai chi), while the more cerebral students tend to be drawn to the possibilities of sitting, meditative styles.

Qigong is, at any rate, an enormously complex subject. Those interested in more information should avail themselves of the ever multiplying sources on the subject. The equally scholarly and practically adept master of qigong, Ken Cohen, is an excellent and readily available resource for information.*

The Secret of the Renowned Acupuncturists of Old

The relevance of qigong to the practice of acupuncture is three-fold. First, there is a school of thought which holds that the practice of qigong is essential to the performance of the art of acupuncture. The venerable modern master of acupuncture, Cheng Dan-an recounted his frustrating experience with needling in his records Acupuncture & Moxibustion Formulas & Treatments. Unable to obtain clinical effectiveness in his practice equal to his father’s, he eventually took the advice of his father and began the diligent practice of qigong. As a result of his qigong regimen, Cheng Dan-an was finally able to cultivate unusual clinical prowess and later became one of the founding fathers of TCM medicine. Qigong ostensibly allows the practitioner to sense, reach, and manipulate the forces of qi within the body more successfully than a person who has no daily menu of qi practice. Given the basics tenets of Chinese medicine, this is a logical conclusion.

Energetic Fringe Benefits During Treatment

Secondly, there is the application of qi directly in treatment. Occasionally referred to as “External Qi Healing” or EQH, this has been used by some people as therapy. Customarily involving the placement of the hands in such a way as to allow the unimpeded flow of energy from one person to another, EQH seemingly shares common ground with the more popular energywork methods of therapeutic touch and reiki. Generally speaking, EQH characterizes a concentrated, pure manipulation of energy alone without the employment of other modalities. Nonetheless, this distinction does not necessarily preclude the possiblity that the bounty of healthful qi in a qigong practitioner engaged in healthcare might not be incidentally advantageous to the client. Thus a third possible manifestation of qigong cultivation in the clinic is the unintentional transfer of qi from the acupuncturist to the person being treated. This concept is similar to but different from the actual role of the practitioner’s qi in the practice of acupuncture. The necessity for differentiation lies in the fact that EQH is consciously directed at a specific area of the client’s body and responds to the expectations of the healer and the object of the healing, while the unconscious transfer of qi during a session is more akin to an osmosis from an area of high qi concentration to an area where qi is wanting and is not consciously disease-specific.

First Steps on the Road to Mastery

Finally, qigong practices can be taught to clients. Many people find this reasserts their control over their own bodies, a sense which may be jeopardized by illness. These practices might be chosen from a lexicon of therapeutic qigong techniques with specific relevance to the presenting disharmony. Alternatively, the acupuncturist may simply advocate the regular practice of a fundamental qigong pose or practice set for its long-term effects on creating well-being and harmony. Some practitioners may even formally teach qigong exercises, ranging from visualizations to sitting qigong to the various styles of tai ji.

Classes explore both Eastern and Western healthcare traditions. The emphasis is on Chinese medicine including the mastery of Chinese medical theory and physiology, the location, usage, and needling of points, the actions and indications of single herbs and formula construction, and the role of adjunctive therapies in clinical practice. Despite the rigorous demands of mastering Chinese theory and practice, biomedicine is certainly not neglected. Anatomy and physiology, pathology, medical terminology, biology, chemistry, and physics are some of the Western classes students are obligated to successfully complete. These Western disciplines supplement the use of Chinese therapies, play a key role in determining when to refer a patient out, and facilitate a fruitful dialogue among practitioners of different modalities.

Chinese medicine instruction requires a careful mix of didactic and clinical training. Hands on training often begins with point location on classmates. In the latter years of schooling, students practice in a student clinic. This clinical environment is, of course, overseen by licensed, experienced acupuncturists. Nonetheless, senior students are responsible for taking a thorough interview with the four examinations, arriving at a Chinese disease diagnosis and a pattern differentiation, choosing appropriate treatment principles and treatment methods, selecting the necessary modality of treatment, and administering the treatment. This is a chance for students to discover how the various tools of the Chinese practitioner–acupuncture, moxibustion, tuina massage, TDP far infrared lamp therapy, and herbalism–are wielded in a clinical setting.

Three decades later, acupuncture has spread across the globe and is already beginning to accrue regional characteristics outside of its homeland. In the United States, acupuncture is now a familiar modality in most states. From its infancy in the 1970’s–dominated by Chinatown clinics and a few intrepid Westerners determined to go against the grain–acupuncture has matured into a fully regulated healthcare option with ever more stringent guidelines for practitioners. Commonly, practitioners complete an intial intensive three to four year program of training at the graduate level. The major exception to this route of training are the acupuncturists who immigrate from mainland China. These Chinese-trained individuals typically have a number of years of clinical experience in China but are responsible for the same licensing requirements expected of American-trained acupuncturists.

Formulation begins with a governing formula. Different sources and practitioners differ in their opinion on these, but here let us illustrate a basic, well-regarded choice for our hypothetical case described in the page on diagnosis, bu fei tang Lung Supplementing Decoction. This ancient formula contains six herbs: ren shen ginseng, huang qi astragalus, shu di huang cooked rehmania, wu wei zi schisandra, zi wan aster, and sang bai pi mulberry root bark. In the case that only prepared pills, or patents, are available, it might be necessary to use the formula unmodified. Chinese masters of the art rarely use a formula without modification unless it is a supplemental addition to a primary prescription. In fact one of the great strengths of Chinese herbal formulas is the ability to custom formulate each course for the individual client. Unlike the mainland Chinese practitioners who routinely dispense formulas of 15 to 20 herbs, we will maintain a streamlined, didactic approach with only a handful of modifications.

For example, a hypothetical client is in desperate need of the strong supplementation of renshen ginseng, but his tendencies towards agitated sleeplessness, occasional nighttime sweating, and preference for cold food and drinks suggest a subtle vacuity heat* condition. It is decided that renshen ginseng is too warming for him. Huang qi astragalus is a formidable tonic, but we wish to replace the deleted renshen ginseng with another deeply nourishing tonic agent. Xi yang shen American ginseng is an ideal replacement: a profound tonic, xi yang shen American ginseng is notable for its cool energetics and its utility in treating Lung disharmonies. We also choose to add kuan dong hua tussilago flower for its abilities to moisten the Lung and precipitate qi, transform phlegm and suppress cough.

The quantity of each herb would be adjusted to suit the case particulars.

Finally, the herbal supplement is assembled either in raw herb, powdered, or granular form. The raw herbs are given to the client to decoct with water according to special instructions. Powdered herbs, albeit unusual, might be prepared and dispensed in gelatin capsules. Herb granules are either blended from single herbs in instant granular form or an herbal distributor professionally prepares a formula and then uses an advanced form of freeze-drying to produce an instant decoction. These granules dissolve in a cup of hot water like instant coffee.

The herbalist determines the amount to be initially dispensed and draws up a prospective course of treatment. It is common for the practitioner to alter the formula from time to time–or even with every visit–to accomodate the evolution of the client’s condition and to prevent the development of tolerance for the formulation.

*A condition of deficiency wherein a deficit of moist, thick, viscuous yin resources results in an apparent excess of heat. In fact, it is the relative scarcity of yin–the aspect of the body which balances the active, hot, yang energies–which creates the appearance of a surplus of heat. Like everything in Chinese medicine, this is a situation beyond absolutes wherein rules of relativity must be applied.