"Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it."
- Lao Tzu
Medical Qigong
Medical Qigong is one of the four main branches of Chinese medicine along with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and medical massage. It encompasses the study of the energetic blueprint of the body based on traditional Chinese Medicine dating back thousands of years.
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​Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete system of medicine that recognizes the root causes of symptoms or disease, and treats the client as a whole. The ancient Chinese doctors and practitioners were masters at disease prevention, fully embracing the concepts of a holistic medical approach which addresses the body and the emotions, including mind and spirit.
Yin and Yang
​Qi, the universal life force, moves through our body in very complex but measurable ways in the form of Yin (negative charge) and Yang (positive charge). These are the two electromagnetic energies that are in a constant state of flux, Yang flowing into Yin, Yin flowing back into Yang. This process takes place throughout our body, within our tissues, organs, cells, and fluids—day and night.
Balancing Emotions in Qigong
In Medical Qigong, addressing and balancing the emotions is seen as a key factor in keeping a healthy immune system and reversing the onset and progress of a disease (dis-ease).
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After observing where in the body the emotions are "pooling", such as sadness in the lungs, heaviness caused by depression or shock in the heart, anger and irritation in the liver, worry in the spleen etc, the practitioner will choose a protocol appropriate for the client's age and physical condition. This can include guiding the client with visualizations, breathing exercises, meditation, and gentle movements to help clear the meridians, allowing the release of physical tension, and deep-seated emotions. Importantly, it also includes helping the client with creating loving and nourishing energy fields to help shift the old unwanted energies and imprinting new positive life-affirming emotions.
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Healing is achieved when energy flows freely, without restraint or stagnation, naturally circulating through the body's channels and organs. This results in a natural vibrancy that radiates from the inside out.
Energy Balancing Session
Medical Qigong practitioners are trained by certified schools and work in collaboration with western-trained health care practitioners and doctors. ​​Treatments are gentle and always address the client's issues with a holistic approach in mind and with paying special attention to the client's age and physical abilities.
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​During a session, a practitioner may guide and manipulate the flow of Qi around the client, who may experience sensations such as tingling, warmth, mild chills, or twitching. At times emotions are being released through a sigh or tears. The session always ends with a gentle protocol meant to relax, balance and harmonize the client's overall energies—mind, body, spirit.
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Often specific Qigong exercises are prescribed for the client to practice at home.
5 Elements in Qigong
In Chinese philosophy, energy is always moving. The Tao produces Wuji (Infinite Space) and Wuji produces Yin and Yang.
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Each internal Yin organ is paired with a Yang organ. The relationship between the Yin and Yang paired organs represent an energetic interconnectivity in both structure and function. The goal of TCM is to keep the Qi flowing naturally among the 5 elements.
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The five elements are: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. They represent a quality of the energy of these natural forces that are mirrored in our energetic body. The idea is to learn from the 5 elements in order to cultivate their positive qualities within us.
Naturally, we are not going to create fire in the same form as the flame of a burning candle. However, we can still experience the fire’s positive manifestation in human form, which is related to the warm glow of love and kindness, as an example.
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5 Elements and Their Relationship to Organs and Emotions
The relationships between the organs and the emotions in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on the balance of Yin and Yang energy flow to the organ and inside the organ tissues. Excess or deficient Yin and Yang energy potentials can manifest in the organ itself and the emotions that tend to pool around that organ.
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Out of balance, i.e. excess Qi or deficient Qi in the organ can produce certain emotions, such as:
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Fire/Heart: Anxiety, Over-joy (manic)
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Earth/Spleen: Worry, Mistrust, Obsession
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Metal/Lungs: Grief, Sorrow, Shame, Remorse
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Water/Kidneys: Fear, Loneliness, Separation
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Wood/Liver: Anger, Rage, Resentment
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And in return, emotional trauma can affect the corresponding Yin and Yang organs.
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Overall, balanced organ energies are referred to as "original virtues", and have a tendency to exhibit the following qualities:
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Fire/Heart: Order/Quiet Joy /Compassion
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Earth/Spleen: Trust/Faith
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Metal/Lungs: Integrity/Inspiration
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Water/Kidneys: Wisdom, Security
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Wood/Liver: Kindness/Positive Action
Balancing Qi Exercises
A Qigong balancing exercise to help with stress and fatigue, for example, would address moving the extra cortisol energy from the adrenals/lower back area out with an exhale combined with the sound "tschooo". Then balancing the Fire element (heart) and Water element (Kidney) with a gentle inhale to the chest and exhale down to the abdomen, visualizing the excess energy of stress flowing out the palms of the hands and out the soles of the feet into the earth.
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Then adding regulating exercises again with breath and movement with a focus on enhancing the healthy flow of Qi between heart and kidneys.
5 Animals in Qigong
There are several forms of Qigong practices that include the symbolic energies of animals. The Five Animal Frolics is one of these often used modalities to stretch the tendons, muscles, open up meridians while bringing a special form of visualization to make the exercise more meaningful and, yes, fun!
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The animal Qigong exercises are in many ways similar to the Five Elements, bringing harmony and healthy Qi flow to the organs, muscles and tendons, and balancing the emotions.
The five animals in these exercises are the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird.
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Tiger: Liver (Yin) & Gall Bladder (Yang), emotions related to anger
Deer: Kidneys (Yin) & Bladder (Yang), emotions related to fear
Bear: Spleen (Yin) & Stomach (Yang), emotions related to worry
Monkey: Heart (Yin) & Small Intestine (Yang), emotions related to joy
Bird: Lungs (Yin) & Large Intestine (Yang) - emotions related to sadness
Get an idea of what a 5 animal Qigong routine might look like by watching this short video:
Five Animal Qi Gong [Wu Qin Xi]
Strengthen your Qi & Internal Organs + Transform Your Emotions
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPHzKS8SMoQ
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Important disclaimer
Qigong and Medical Qigong are not intended to replace orthodox medicine, but rather to complement it. All material published on the website is for informational and inspirational purposes only. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. We ask you to keep working with your regular physician and professional healthcare team for all your medical needs.
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Daniele Nance is not a medical doctor and does not practice medicine. Daniele Nance does not diagnose conditions, cure, prescribe medications or provide medical treatment or medical advice of any kind while teaching classes or giving energy balancing Qigong sessions.
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