Medical Qigong is another branch of traditional Chinese medicine emerging as a cornerstone of many Eastern-influenced alternative medicine practices. Pronounced “chee-kung,” the phrase, literally translated means “energy of life.”
Qigong has been long been practiced in China as a means of regulating personal health by people of all ages and skill levels, much like yoga is practiced in America as a physical discipline or therapeutic activity.
However, Medical Qigong goes beyond self-cultivation, enlisting the assistance of a highly-trained and disciplined practitioner. Medical Qigong practitioners study and train for years, not only learning about the human physical and energetic anatomy and physiology, but cultivating their own energy through Qigong practice.
For patients, Medical Qigong can be used to address many common ailments or health concerns, including mental, physical or emotional stressors, physical pain, high blood pressure, headaches, anxiety or depression, and effective for those going through chemo/radiation cancer treatments. Relief may happen quickly for some or can occur slowly over time – every patient’s experience is unique.
Medical Qigong can be beneficial for everyone – young or old, healthy or sick. Gain a better understanding of Medical Qigong with these answers to commonly asked questions about the discipline:
What is a Medical Qigong session like?
An initial consultation and first treatment can last around one and a half hours, depending on the patient’s medical history and comfort discussing their health concerns. Follow-up sessions are one hour in length and most general treatment plans begin with weekly visits. As the patient progresses in his or her treatment, the frequency of visits changes accordingly.
After discussing health concerns, the patient lies down on a massage table, fully clothed, and is instructed to relax and breathe normally.
The practitioner will observe and scan the body – moving their hands across both the patient’s physical and energetic body, feeling for temperature differences, the quality of any sensations that may be present, and any images or information that comes from the patient’s energy field.
Once this is complete, the practitioner begins energizing the chakras, meridian systems or energy pathways of the body by facilitating free energy flow. This process moves along the same meridians as in acupuncture treatments, however involves no needles.
Why does Medical Qigong work?
Medical Qigong is a system of energetic medicine that, through natural processes, allows the body to balance itself for optimal health. The body rids itself of unwanted imbalances to efficiently function in harmony.
The results vary from person to person, as with any treatment, but the more you put into the discipline, the more you will get out of it. Daily practice of qigong self-exercise between the treatments with a practitioner will help deliver long term, lasting results.
Where can you experience Medical Qigong?
Medical Qigong is a growing field for many alternative medicine practitioners and there are practitioners across the United States. Be certain to look for a practitioner that has pursued education and training in the Medical Qigong discipline (not just physical exercise but clinical table-work) and completed their required clinical hours as well. Most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with the practitioner. Medical Qigong is a practice that delves not only into the physical, but the emotional as well. Your practitioner should be someone that resonates positively with you.
Can I learn Medical Qigong for myself and/or to become a Practitioner?
Yes, Zen teaches the Medical Qigong Certification Program for beginners and beyond. The beginning MQP Program is open to anyone wanting to know more in-depth about energy anatomy, whether for personal cultivation or to incorporate into existing healing practice…or just for fun, opening up their psychic skills.
This program is not just a mental learning that is applied in only one dimension—many will experience life-changing insights and gain the tools needed to effective get through life situations and healing for self and others. This is truly a transforming experience, learning to master the life force all around us.
- Medical Qigong Practitioner (MQP): 200hrs
- Medical Qigong Therapist (MQT): 500hrs
- Masters in Medical Qigong (MMQ): 1000hrs
- Doctor of Medical Qigong (DMQ): 2000hrs