Medical Qigong: A Global Phenomenon

Qigong, once a closely guarded secret passed down from master to disciple, has become a global phenomenon. This practice, particularly medical qigong and qigong for health, is now widely practiced in parks, recreation centers, and clinics by people of all ages.

 

China’s official endorsement of qigong as both a cultural treasure and a national health tool has spurred its rapid global growth, attracting attention from previously skeptical scientists and the medical community. Western medicine, traditionally cautious about healing methods involving qi energy, has shown a noticeable shift in recent years, with some healthcare systems now offering limited coverage for holistic practices like acupuncture, reflexology, and qigong.

Advances in Research and Technology

Advances in sophisticated technology and breakthroughs in quantum physics have opened new avenues for research into bioelectricity and medical qigong. This emerging field, linked to advances in nanotechnology and brain science, provides better tools to study qigong’s effects on the human body.

While most research still originates in China, countries like Canada, the United States, Japan, and Australia are making substantial progress in documenting studies on this relatively new area of medicine. Ongoing studies supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, which succeeded the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), exemplify international research initiatives. The NIH has funded projects focusing on qigong’s health benefits, including its role in cardiovascular health, chronic pain management, and mental health treatment.

Global Collaboration and Scientific Evidence

Despite the lack of unanimous agreement on the existence of qi energy and meridians, there is growing respect for qigong research from China and the extraordinary abilities of qigong masters. This has fostered increased global collaboration and knowledge sharing among scientific and medical communities.

The International Society for Medical Qigong (ISMQ) exemplifies this cooperation, organizing conferences that bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, and qigong practitioners to exchange knowledge and promote qigong’s global application for health. While Western medicine has traditionally been skeptical, the scientific community has gradually recognized qigong’s potential in treating various health conditions. Researchers are focusing on understanding the underlying mechanisms of qigong, particularly its effects on the body’s bioelectric field and its influence on brain function, stress management, and immune system support.

Key Studies on Qigong’s Benefits

Several studies highlight qigong’s benefits:

• Heart Disease and Stress: A 2016 PLOS One study found that qigong improved cardiovascular health by reducing stress and improving heart rate variability, highlighting its role in regulating autonomic nervous function and its potential as a complementary treatment for heart disease.
• Chronic Pain Management: A 2019 meta-analysis in the Journal of Pain Research concluded that qigong positively impacts chronic pain management, especially for conditions like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and back pain, suggesting that regular practice could reduce pain intensity and improve quality of life.
• Cancer Recovery: A 2020 study in Frontiers in Public Health explored qigong’s effects on cancer patients undergoing treatment. Results indicated that qigong significantly reduced fatigue and improved mental well-being, suggesting its potential as a complementary therapy for cancer recovery.
• Mental Health Benefits: A 2021 review in the Journal of Clinical Psychology noted qigong’s effectiveness in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, with practitioners reporting improved mood and emotional regulation.

China’s Role in Qigong’s Growth

Although qigong has been accepted in China for centuries, formal government support for research into its health benefits began only in the last 30 years. In the early 1980s, the Chinese scientific community began investigating qigong’s therapeutic benefits, leading to hundreds of published reports. By 1986, approximately 840 qigong research abstracts had been presented at international conferences, with about half translated into English. As of 2025, international collaboration on qigong research has expanded significantly. Dr. Kenneth Sancier’s international qigong research database remains an important resource.

Qigong’s Integration into Modern Medical Systems

Since the 1970s and 1980s, qigong’s growing popularity has led to the establishment of numerous institutes dedicated to its study as a legitimate therapy in China. Today, Chinese medical students learn both tai chi and medical qigong, preparing them to treat patients and teach others.

Many Chinese hospitals have qigong physicians on staff, and qigong classes are available for staff and patients. Qigong is now fully integrated into China’s official healthcare system. As global interest grows, qigong is increasingly recognized as a complementary therapy supported by scientific evidence. Its ongoing integration into healthcare practices worldwide shows great promise.

Contributions of Modern Qigong Practitioners

Cheng Man Ch’ing (1902-1975)

Cheng was a true Master of Five Excellences, a title reflecting his proficiency in five key areas of traditional Chinese scholarship: Chinese medicine, Tai Chi Chuan (also spelled Taijiquan), calligraphy, painting, and poetry. As a child, Cheng accompanied his mother on walking tours to study medicinal plants, which sparked his lifelong interest in traditional herbal medicine. By the age of nine, he was apprenticed to a renowned artist, and by his teens, he was already able to support himself as an artist.

At just 19, Cheng became the youngest full professor of art in Fuzhou, where he taught poetry and art. However, when he contracted tuberculosis, he turned to Tai Chi Chuan in hopes of speeding his recovery. Simultaneously, he pursued studies in traditional Chinese medicine, eventually graduating with distinction.

In 1928, Cheng met Yang Cheng-fu, the direct descendant of the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan founder. He trained with Yang until 1935. By 1946, Cheng developed a shorter version of the Yang-style Tai Chi, which he began teaching to his students upon moving to Taiwan. Among his many well-known students was Huang Sheng-Hsien, my grandmaster, although I never had the chance to meet him personally.

In 1964, Cheng moved to the United States, becoming one of the first masters to publicly teach Tai Chi Chuan there. This decision sparked controversy among traditional practitioners, as Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan had traditionally been passed down through one-on-one lineage transmission. Cheng, however, chose to teach large groups of students together. He authored numerous books on Tai Chi before his death in 1975, and his Yang-style short form continues to be widely practiced worldwide.

Jiang Wei-Qiao (1873-1958)

Jiang was a pioneering educator and one of the first to introduce Qigong as a health practice to the Chinese public. He is also the author of the influential book Yinshizi Jingzuofa (Yinshizi’s Meditation Technique).

Suffering from a weak constitution since childhood, Jiang nearly died from pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 28. After practicing Taoist-style Qigong four times a day for 85 days, he recovered from his illness.He continued practicing for several years before switching to Buddhist Qigong exercises.

During his studies in Japan, Jiang was impressed by the scientific approach the Japanese applied to meditation and the growing popularity of the practice. This inspired him to make Qigong more accessible to the public. In 1914, he published Yinshizi Jingzuofa, which became widely known in China.

Four years later, Jiang published a second book that combined Taoist meditation techniques with Tibetan Buddhist Tiantai practices. He continued promoting Qigong for health while supervising a Qigong clinic in Shanghai, writing articles, and giving lectures on the topic until his death in 1958.

Liu Gui-Zhen (1920-1983)

Before the term Qigong became widely used, this practice was known by many other names, such as Daoyin, Xingqi, Liandan, Xuangong, Jinggong, Tiaoqiand Fuqi. In 1953, Liu Gui-Zhen published an article titled Practice on Qigong Therapy, where he defined Qigong as a practice of breathing and energy circulation techniques aimed at improving health and strengthening the mind, body, and spirit. This definition remains in use worldwide today.

Liu was active in the communist movement until 1948, when declining health forced him to retire to his rural hometown in Hebei Province. There, he began learning Nei Yang Gong—a form of medical Qigong practiced through lineage transmission. Fortunately, Liu’s uncle, the fifth successor of this tradition, was able to teach him. Liu recovered after just 100 days of practicing Qigong and returned to work in full health.

By 1949, Liu began teaching Qigong to patients in state-run clinics. His success led to the establishment of the first medical Qigong clinic in Tangshan city in 1954. A year later, he published two books on Nei Yang Gong and its applications for treating illnesses. Although political upheaval during the Cultural Revolution halted his work in 1964, Liu resumed teaching in 1980 before passing away in 1983.

Yan Xin (1950-Present)

Born in Sichuan Province, Dr. Yan Xin is a physician, professor, scientist, and Qigong expert who has written extensively on the subject. From a young age, he trained in Qigong and traditional Chinese medicine under many distinguished practitioners.

Dr. Yan Xin’s research focuses on medical Qigong, particularly its use in treating various ailments. He developed his own set of Qigong techniques called Yan Xin Qigong. Since the 1980s, he has collaborated with researchers in both China and the United States to study the effects of Qi emissions on various mediums, presenting his findings at international conferences.

His primary mission has been to bridge Eastern and Western scientific approaches, advancing the understanding of medical Qigong through rigorous research.

Some Concluding Observations

Today, it is estimated that more than two million people practice some form of Qigong in China alone, whether in parks, hospital clinics, or government-sanctioned organizations. Since the 1980s, numerous new medical Qigong groups have emerged, including Dayan Gong (Wild Goose Qigong), Guo Lin New Qigong, Hexiang Zhuang, Crane Qigong, and the controversial Falun Gong.

However, Qigong—especially medical Qigong—was not always welcomed by the Communist regime. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Communist government in the 1940s, anything resembling religion was viewed with suspicion. Many practitioners kept a low profile, with one recalling, “At that time, Qigong was considered witchcraft, so I chanted Maoist slogans like everyone else.” During this period, Maoism was the dominant ideology, and its influence was pervasive.

By the time the Cultural Revolution ended, China’s government recognized the practical benefits of Qigong for health and well-being, leading to its promotion as a preventative and therapeutic practice. This shift allowed Qigong to make a full resurgence, and practitioners began openly sharing their knowledge once again.

With its numerous benefits, it’s easy to see why Qigong has continued to thrive. The practice is no longer limited to China, and it has gained a significant following worldwide. Even the scientific and medical communities have begun to explore the therapeutic potential of Qigong, confirming that this ancient practice is here to stay.

__________________________________________

Chen, K. (1998). Qigong: A comprehensive textbook. China Science Publishing House.

International Society for Medical Qigong. (2023). Medical qigong: An academic exchange of research and clinical practice. ISMQ. https://www.ismq.org

Jahnke, R. O. (1996). History of qigong. Healthy.net. http://www.healthy.net/scr/Article.asp?Id=259&xcntr=4

Liu, W., Zhang, H., & Yang, Z. (2022). Medical qigong: A historical perspective and current research. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 28(10), 871-879. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3795-0

Lowenthal, W. (1991). There are no secrets: Professor Cheng Man Ch’ing and his Tai Chi Chuan. North Atlantic Books.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2023). Qigong and Tai Chi: An overview. National Institutes of Health. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/qigong

Niu, L., Zhang, Y., & Li, S. (2022). Qigong and bioelectricity: Bridging ancient wisdom and modern science. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 28(4), 220-230. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2021.0393

PLOS One. (2016). Effects of qigong on cardiovascular health: A systematic review. PLOS One, 11(6), e0156733.

Sancier, K. (2020). Qigong research database. http://www.qigongresearch.com

Yan, X. (1987). Secrets and benefits of internal qigong cultivation. Amber Leaf Press.

Zhang, X., & Liu, Y. (2021). Exploring the bioelectric mechanisms of qigong: Insights from quantum physics and nanotechnology. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 19(5), 312-318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joim.2021.07.006