Qigong Therapies: Are They Helpful?

Qigong is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that falls under the umbrella of complementary and alternative medicine.

According to clinical practice guidelines, practicing qigong can help with increasing physical function, relieving pain, and improving quality of life for those experiencing chronic conditions such as knee osteoarthritis, for example. Qigong therapies may provide a range of health benefits for those who maintain steady practice, including improvements in both mental and physical health. This article will explain what qigong therapies entail and the different benefits they could bring to your life. 

What is qigong?

Qigong practice has two focus areas: dynamic qigong and meditative qigong. Dynamic qigong, which is also called active qigong, is the component of the practice that involves body movement, typically including a person’s whole body. Meditative qigong, also known as passive qigong, focuses more on the breathing techniques associated with the practice and usually involves holding one posture for a long period and meditating without any movement. 

Qigong can be considered an umbrella term for several methods of traditional Chinese medical and healing practices, including:

Medical qigong

Medical qigong combines body movements with meditation and breathwork to potentially realign electromagnetic imbalances in the body. This may result in healthier control of a variety of internal systems, including the immune system and the nervous system.

Tai chi

Tai chi employs qigong principles in martial arts training. It focuses more on the physical elements of qigong exercises but still includes aspects of qigong meditation practices as well. 

External qigong

With external qigong, skilled qigong practitioners focus on transmitting their qi, or “vital energy”, to another person. If you are interested in external qigong, it may be helpful to find qigong instructors who have been certified by the National Qigong Association. 

How qigong therapies can help

Research is still being conducted on the effectiveness of qigong therapies on a range of physical and mental health conditions. Some preliminary research may indicate that qigong therapies can be helpful in addressing certain disorders and illnesses:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): People with COPD who practice qigong and focus specifically on breathing exercises may experience improvements in overall lung functioning. Qigong may also help to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety that can be associated with COPD.
• Parkinson’s disease: Practicing qigong may alleviate some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, potentially improving a patient’s range of motion, balance, and ability to walk.
• Pain: Some forms of chronic and acute pain can be positively affected by qigong. Specifically, qigong therapies may reduce musculoskeletal pain, neck and back pain, and pain associated with long-term immunological or neurological conditions, including fibromyalgia.
• Cancer: Qigong may help cancer patients improve their sleep quality, which can lead to lower levels of fatigue throughout the day. Qigong may also help alleviate some of the mental health impacts of cancer, including depression and anxiety that may accompany a cancer diagnosis or treatment regimen. 
• Chronic heart failure: Practicing qigong and other forms of gentle exercise can help lower high blood pressure, which may decrease the recovery time from potential cardiac events associated with chronic heart failure. 
• COVID-19: Many therapies associated with treating COVID-19, including qigong therapies, are still in the beginning stages of research and require more evidence. One early study of patients who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and practiced qigong during their hospital stay indicated that qigong may have helped with lung functioning and reduced breathing-related symptoms like shortness of breath and cough.
• Mental health conditions: Qigong may help to assuage symptoms of depression and anxiety. It also has potential benefits for addiction and substance use disorders.

Maximizing holistic wellness with qigong

More research needs to be conducted on qigong therapies before medical and mental health professionals can consider the practice an effective form of treatment for physical or mental health conditions. Regardless of the potential medical benefits of qigong, establishing a daily qigong routine can be a powerful self-care practice. Participating in physical movement and breathwork can help you ground yourself in your body. Moreover, taking time each day for yourself may help you to understand yourself more deeply.

Health and well-being may involve balancing what we might think of as complementary medicine such as qigong or meditation, for example, and what we view as contemporary medicine such as going to the doctor. Wellness could mean seeing yourself as a whole person with a variety of physical, mental, and spiritual needs – precisely what the philosophy of qigong teaches. If you are considering beginning a qigong practice, you might want to build on the physical and mental health benefits qigong therapies may provide by continuing to further your mental wellness with a mental health counselor. 

Furthering your wellness journey with online therapy

Between packed schedules, conflicting responsibilities, and trying to find time for yourself to meditate or practice qigong, it can be challenging to find time for a therapy appointment. Online therapy may be a more convenient way to get counseling. With this remote therapy, you don’t have to contend with commute times, which can make treatment more convenient. Online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp can also offer more flexible options when scheduling appointments, including appointments in the evenings and on weekends. Paired with practices like qigong, online therapy could promote wellness and healing in your life and contribute to mental well-being.

The efficacy of online therapy

Research suggests there may be no difference in efficacy between getting therapy online and attending sessions in person. One study found that a course of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, one of the most widely practiced forms of talk therapy, helped to reduce the symptoms of multiple mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mood disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, and more. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an approach that teaches people to identify their unhelpful thoughts and create newer, more positive ways of thinking. If you are hoping to incorporate therapy into your life to complement the wellness practice you are building using qigong therapies, online therapy may be a helpful way to find additional mental health support.