Archive for category Qigong

Arthritis Relief – Chinese Qigong for Healing and Prevention by Dr Yang, Jwing-Ming

Posted by admin in Qigong on September 27, 2011

“Arthritis Relief: Chinese Qigong for Healing and Prevention” by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming is one of many texts on Qigong from Dr. Yang, one of the most prolific writers on Chinese martial and healing arts and an incredible source of knowledge. I for one am very grateful that Dr. Yang shares so much through his books and DVDs. In this volume, the focus is on Qigong for prevention and healing of arthritis, but much of the information is beneficial to anyone wanting to study this Chinese practice.

Chapter one is about Chinese Qigong and contains over sixty pages of general information on Qigong that is very interesting. There are definitions of Qi and Qigong, history of the practice, schools of Qigong practice, discussions on training theory and different concepts such as yin, yang, kan, li, Jing, and Shen. There is also a short note at the end of the chapter on how to use this book. I really liked this chapter and found it very interesting. However, some of this information can also be found in some of Dr. Yang’s other works.

Chapter two explores the question, “What is Arthritis?” Dr. Yang presents viewpoints from Western medicine and from Chinese medicine. This chapter provides a basic understanding of what arthritis is and how it affects the body.

The third chapter focuses on how the Chinese treat arthritis. This includes a description of general Chinese treatments such as massage, acupuncture, herbal treatments, cavity press, and Qigong exercises. It then goes into differences between prevention and healing, and how Qigong can benefit the person suffering from arthritis. Read the rest of this entry »

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Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Distinctive Way Of Thinking About Health

Posted by admin in Qigong on September 27, 2011

Qigong is one primary healing practice used as a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The other primary healing methods are herbology, Tuina massage, acupuncture, and bone setting. There are many other subcatagories of TCM, but these are the primary ones. Loosely defined, “Qi” (sometimes spelled Chi) stands for energy or the vital life force of the body. Although sometimes people in the states will attach metaphysical concepts to Qi, most Chinese masters agree that Qi can be completely explained in physical or biological terms. “Gong” means “work” or “effort” so the phrase “Qigong” can be translated “energy work.”

Unlike western medicine, TCM uses Yin and Yang theory. Yin and Yang are opposing concepts that, at least in part, are defined by one another. For example, Yang is hot while Yin is cold. Yang is hard, dry, active and light while Yin is soft, wet, inactive and dark. If there is an imbalance in Yin and Yang, illness results. If the body is too hot or too cold, the individual will become sick. If the body is too stiff or to loose, it cannot be healthy. Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnoses and redresses imbalances in the body in order to help the individual be healthy.

Sometimes westerners have problems with Yin and Yang theory because they are looking for fixed ideas whereas Yin and Yang theory are variable. For example, earth is Yang whereas water is Yin. Yet at the same time both earth and water can be more Yin or more Yang as a result of their temperature. Hot water is more yang than cold water. Another more complex example deals with ice. Although ice is colder than water and therefore more Yin, it is also harder than water and therefore more Yang. Read the rest of this entry »

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