Exploratory Studies of Qigong Therapy for Cancer in China

                  Exploratory Studies of 

                      Qigong Therapy 
                           for Cancer 

                             in China

Kevin Chen, PhD, MPH, and Raphael Yeung, BA

Qigong is a general term for a large variety of traditional Chinese energy exercises and therapies. There is no consistent definition for qigong in the academic field due to its broad coverage. Generally, qigong is considered to be the self-training method or process through qi (vital energy) and yi (consciousness or intention) cultivation to achieve the optimal state of both body and mind.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) posits the existence of a subtle energy (qi)  irculating throughout the entire human body. When strengthened or balanced, it can improve health and ward off or slow the progress of disease. TCM considers sickness or pain a result of qi blockage or unbalanced qi energy in the body. All TCM therapies—herbs, acupuncture, massage, diet, and qigong—are based on this philosophy and perspective on human health.

It is generally known that qigong practice is beneficial to human health and can prevent disease.

However, it is less known, even in China, that qigong may be an effective way to treat various diseases, including cancer. 

The authors reviewed more than 50 studies of qigong therapy for cancer in China, in 3 categories: clinical studies on cancer patients, in vitro studies on laboratory-prepared cancer cells, and in vivo studies on cancer-infected animals.

Most of the clinical studies involved observation of cancer patients’ self-practice of qigong. Although no doubleblind clinical trials were found among patient studies, many had acontrol. 

The qigong groups showed more improvement or had a better survival rate than conventional methods alone.

In vitro studies report the inhibitory effect of qi emission on cancer growth, and in vivo studies find that qigong-treated groups have significantly reduced tumor growth or longer survival among cancer-infected animals. 

However, there is much room for improvement in these studies, and some require replication to verify the findings.

Chinese scientists are not alone in proving the therapeutic effect of human subtle energy in cancer treatment. Fahrion and Norris, Bengston and Krinsleyin the United States, and Sherstnev and Gruden in Russia have all independently verified the inhibitory effect of human subtle energy on tumor growth.

Hopefully, more scientists around the world will follow their steps and put their efforts together in this challenging area.

Qigong therapy is an area that is often neglected by mainstream medicine and research, but our review strongly suggests that qigong deserves further study as a supplement to conventional cancer treatment.

Our review suggests that this therapy be seriously examined and be considered as an important supplement to the conventional treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases.

http://www.wishus.org/researchpapers/reviewqg4cancer.pdf

NOTE: According to WHO (2010) only the U.S. spent $ 124 billion on cancer treatments.

Worldwide, about 30 countries, including 15 in sub-Saharan Africa, do not have a single radiotherapy machine.