Disease is a symptom of life out of balance
On February 28, 1995, Lorne Feldman, a Los Angeles–based oncologist, had just returned from a ski vacation in Utah. His twelve-year-old son had lured him on advanced runs and he had fallen a lot. Back at work, when he noticed his urine seemed dark, he assumed, with all the falling, that he had bruised a kidney.
About to exit the men's room, Feldman ran into a urologist friend and mentioned that his urine looked dark. His friend steered him to the E.R., where a urine sample indicated a lot of blood cells in Feldman's urine. The two doctors went to the X-ray department, where a radiologist did an ultrasound of Feld-man's kidneys.
In his mid-forties, Lorne Feldman is impossibly youthful, healthy and relaxed-looking given the story he recounted. “We are good friends,” he said of the doctors who were checking him out that day. “They were joking and asking about my ski trip.” When the radiologist began the ultrasound of Feldman's left side, the room fell silent.“You could cut the tension with a knife. They said they saw a big tumor in my left kidney.”
At three-thirty that afternoon, after seeing patients all day, Dr. Feldman left his office to undergo a CAT scan. The CAT scan showed a tumor twelve centimeters in diameter—the size of an orange—on his left kidney. Prior to seeing the blood in his urine, Feldman had been completely asymptomatic and felt fine. Because cancer tumors are vascular (contain a lot of blood vessels), the bumping and jarring during Feldman's ski trip had caused them to bleed. Kidney cancer is most often deadly because it is discovered too late. Even if the cancerous kidney is surgically removed, cells often have already broken off and metastasized elsewhere in the body. Feldman was well aware that there are currently no chemotherapy drugs to treat kidney cancer. He went home and delivered the painful news to his wife, Sonia.
Forty-eight hours after he first noticed blood in his urine, Feldman underwent a laparotomy and a thoracotomy. An incision was made from his lower back around his ribs to his chest wall, extending down toward his navel. The surgeon inserted a rib spreader into Feldman's chest. The handle of the rib spreader was slowly turned, tearing the ligaments that attach the ribs to the breastplate and spreading his ribs apart. The surgeon worked his way toward Feldman's kidney, tying off the arteries before cutting them along the way to prevent a major loss of blood. The surgeon delicately removed his kidney. The tumor appeared contained there.
After recovering from surgery, Feldman went on a regimen of CAT scan reevaluation and examination every three months. His best hope of survival was to catch any metastasis in the early stages. Two years went by.
In 1997, during one of his three-month evaluations, the CAT scan showed a mass in his chest. Two attempted needle biopsies were inconclusive. As a last resort, Feldman underwent a second thoracotomy, which was the only way doctors could get at the mass. This time he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. As odd as it sounds, Feldman was elated. This diagnosis meant that he had gone from the 2 percent survival rate of metastatic kidney cancer to the 95 percent cure rate with stage one lymphoma.
During a grueling six weeks of aggressive chemotherapy, followed by another six weeks of radiation therapy to his chest, Feldman began to consider the fact that he needed to start making some changes in his life. “After the kidney cancer I thought about what could have caused it and I would make myself promises that I would change things—not to drink diet sodas, and things like that,” he said. “My promises all lasted about six months. My office administrator, Lorene Cangiano, who has always been interested in holistic medical approaches, started feeding me books. I have always had a scientific, clinical way of thinking, but by that point I was more open to reading them and started to be more open to hearing about other ways of doing things.”
Despite this openness, Feldman carried on pretty much the same. One year later, in 1998, a CAT scan revealed a nodule in his left chest. Feldman under went a third thoracotomy. This time the mass taken from his chest was meta static kidney cancer. In all likelihood, cancerous kidney cells had broken off three years earlier during the surgery in which his kidney had been removed. Cancerous cells had traveled through his bloodstream and attached to his lung (the metastasis), but it had taken years for them to grow to a detectable size. It was the death sentence Feldman had feared.
As he recovered from surgery, Feldman was put off by his surgeon's doom-and-gloom attitude. He sought second and third opinions at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York and M. D. Anderson in Houston. “Each time, I was devastated by emotionally bereft oncologists who did not know how to connect with me.” Three years after first being diagnosed with kidney cancer, then going through non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and metastatic kidney cancer and undergoing invasive medical procedures, including having his chest cracked open three times, chemotherapy and radiation, Feldman was physically and emotionally spent. Though the new tumor had been surgically removed, he knew that there were probably more tumors developing, and that they would most likely be lethal.
“I am an oncologist,” Feldman said. “I knew that I would probably be dead within six months.” He resolved to search out his own path to healing and began by learning about a number of nontraditional healing approaches such as nutritional supplements, yoga and meditation. Our focus here is his exploration into Chinese medicine. “A friend of mine asked me if I knew anything about Chinese medicine,” Feldman said. “My only experience had been with a few patients who were having acupuncture, who I thought were weird. To me, acupuncture was always one of those California things.” Now he was willing to learn. His friend gave him a book called The Eight Treasures: Energy Enhancement Exercise, by Maoshing Ni, Lic. Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D. Feldman read the book and then made an appointment to see Dr. Mao, who was a specialist in immunology at the Tao of Wellness Clinic in Los Angeles.
When he went to see Dr. Mao, Feldman did not spend time talking about the trauma of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but stuck to the facts about the three diagnoses and focused primarily on what he was searching for. “He was starting to understand and be curious about the relationships between lifestyle, diet and especially the mind/body connection,” Dr. Mao said. “Prior to his illness he was geared in the Western medical thinking that disease has little to do with outside processes or any connection between mind and body. He assumed the cancer occurred as a result of some genetic predisposition. As a physician, Dr. Feldman was trained to eradicate cancer with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. When the cancer was gone, it would be the end of the treatment. When he came to see me, he was looking hard at his life and realizing that if he didn't make changes, it might be the end.
“Dr. Feldman had built a busy oncology center with four oncologists on staff. The effort involved took a toll on his Kidney Energy. Then his surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and chronic worry had further depleted his Kidney Energy. His Lung Energetic system was also weakened, which manifested in asthma and allergies. His Spleen Energetic system was also deficient.” Dr. Mao focused on boosting Dr. Feldman's Kidney Energy as well as balancing his other Energetic systems through a program of acupuncture, herbs, lifestyle and dietary changes.
“In the past, for me to have confidence in a drug it had to be subjected to randomized, double-blind clinical trials where several trials all show the same result,” Feldman said. “When pharmaceutical representatives come to my office and try to get me to prescribe their products, I'm always cynical. So for me to take a Chinese herb and not even know what it is or what it is supposed to do was a really big leap. But after I saw Dr. Mao, I began taking the herbs willingly and open-mindedly.”
Herbal and acupuncture treatments resulted in an improvement in Feld-man's chronic asthma, allergies and back pain. These positive experiences were encouraging. Still, he felt as if he was making his way across a vast uncharted wilderness. “I was at a loss for what to do. I was in a phase where I had to make some plans—given that my Western medical prognosis only gave me six months to live. But I only felt comfortable making decisions that fell within the ninety-day window between CAT scans.”
Shortly after his first visit to Dr. Mao, Feldman had an epiphany while walking on the beach. “I started praying, ‘God, please help me with all of this. It has gotten to be too much, and I don't know what to do, and I feel paralyzed. ’ I said that I would really appreciate it if He could show me some kind of a sign. ‘If we are communicating, then show me a whale. ’ I was walking along, and at first I thought that I was seeing the waves crashing against the rocks, but then I noticed that the rocks were moving.” Thirty yards out in the kelp beds were two whales, spouting and playing. Feldman picked up a piece of driftwood and wrote in the sand Thank you, God.
“Universal spirituality crosses all boundaries of religion and faith,” Dr. Mao said. “It doesn't matter if you are Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Taoist. Part of a balanced life is establishing a connection with God—to connect with the divine within and understand that you are a divine being. We are spiritual beings on a human path, not human beings on a spiritual path. When I treat an atheist I say,‘You don't have to believe in God. But do you believe that there is a rhythm in the universe that says summer always follows spring, and that after a harsh winter, spring will come? ’ They say yes. This is universal truth. So there is a higher power that they can connect with. They may not believe in a monolithic male sitting on a throne, but everybody relates to the power of the universe. In Chinese medicine, having a spiritual connection is important because it is part of the balance, part of the whole, but also this connection allows you to transcend suffering.”
Feldman pursued his spiritual outlet by turning to prayer and worship in his Jewish faith. He also went on a spiritual sojourn to India and continued daily yoga and meditation and prayer. “These practices lead to a peaceful, serene beginning to each morning,” Feldman said. “This was in stark contrast to my life before cancer, when I tore out of bed and compiled a to-do list several pages long. It also helped me consider the circle of life and the inevitability of death. This understanding and acceptance helped to replace fear with comfort.”
The mind/body connection in Chinese medicine includes nurturing a spiritual outlet. Dr. Mao said, “At the onset of the Cultural Revolution in China in 1966, Chairman Mao Tse-tung forbade religious practice. The Cultural Revolution ended in 1976 with Mao Tse-tung's death, and by the 1980s the communist government loosened its taboo on religious practice. During this time, many schools of Qigong sprang up in China, including the Falungong. (Qigong can be described as a preventative healing system comprised of breathing, movement and visualizations that are designed to master the Vital Energy or Qi that permeates all of nature and humanity.) The practice of Qigong became increasingly popular in China as a spiritual outlet and, for many people, became a substitute for religion. The founder of the Falungong school was a Qigong Master who was said to have extraordinary supernatural power. He and other Qigong teachers proceeded to conduct Qigong forums that drew half a million people. What communist government would allow half a million people to congregate? But Qigong was allowed because it was practiced under the pretense of health. In other words, as long as the Falungong congregated to practice Qigong and did not become politically active, the communist government could live with it.”6 The inception and growth of the Falungong is a testimony to the fact that people have a drive to find a spiritual outlet.
Dr. Mao also worked with Dr. Feldman to help him learn to express his emotions, which would give him some relief from the pressure cooker of fear
6. In 1999, after it became apparent that the Falungong was politically active, China's government banned the Falungong as an “evil cult” and passed laws making such groups illegal. China's government fears Falungong's organizational abilities, as it has been estimated to have up to a hundred million followers in the country.
and apprehension that had gripped him for three years. “There is Energy behind each emotion. Because he had controlled his emotions during this trying time, his Liver Energetic system was somewhat hardened and stagnant. He needed to learn to express his emotions. At the same time, it is important to maintain some control and calmness. In Western culture it is more acceptable to be expressive and even melodramatic to make a point or to get what you want. Since our cells are suggestible, we need to remain peaceful and calm. Five thousand years ago Chinese physicians understood the importance of keeping emotions calm and peaceful. The Yellow Emperor's Classic Book of Internal Medicine says that when you remain peaceful within, then your Wei Qi—which is your defense Energy, in this case your immune system—will remain strong and healthy, therefore preventing illness from developing.” In addition to his daily meditation and prayer, Feldman allowed himself more relaxation and pleasure time, even taking up the saxophone and starting dance lessons.
Feldman's personal experiences began to influence the way he practiced medicine. “I knew that there had to be better ways to care for patients. I had learned that when you are told that there is nothing more that can be done, it just means that there isn't anything more that Western medicine can do for you. We physicians look at a person with a sickness and say that they have a disease, and we treat that body dysfunction. Chinese medicine treats the person with an illness—not just a symptom, but all of the different parts of the body and aspects of that person's life that have influence. When I was sick I did not want to be kidney cancer. Kidney cancer was my disease, not me. My illness was the sum total of all of the influences and occurrences of the forty-six years that I had lived to that point that had led to kidney cancer and lymphoma. Treating the kidney cancer by surgically removing it didn't change whatever genetically or environmentally, emotionally, spiritually had led to the occurrence of the kidney cancer. It took me three tough kicks in the rear to take a look at that.”
Feldman successfully beat metastatic kidney cancer for more than six years by integrating alternative complementary methods of healing with traditional medicine. His own journey redefined his approach to treating cancer. He and his office administrator developed BIOS—B'shert Integrative Oncology Ser vices. B'shert, a Hebrew word, means “the path,” “God's way” or “destiny.” BIOS integrates Western medicine with complementary medicines. BIOS has on staff doctors of Chinese medicine who work with patients with acupuncture, guided imagery, polarity and herbs. BIOS also has on staff a nutritionist; a therapist who works with patients using techniques such as biofeedback, counseling, massage and healing touch; and group support such as journaling, a reading club and life issues discussions. The Odyssey program, an ongoing experiential program, offers workshops throughout the year in many modalities including arts and crafts, scrapbooking and cooking. Feldman gives patients a preliminary plan that involves the standard traditional approach with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. He presents their information at a group meeting that includes the entire faculty of BIOS. “All of us talk together,” he said. “BIOS breaks down all of the formalities of the way that oncology care had been delivered. I never dreamed medicine could be this rewarding.
“Fifteen years ago, if you would have come to me as a patient and said that God would work through my hands, I would roll my eyes. It was something that did not resonate well with me. All I wanted was to get the patient to accept that they had an incurable disease and they needed to take chemotherapy and just forget about all that other stuff. I now look at this experience as God directing me to make changes so that I can maybe show other people and other physicians a different way that medicine can be practiced, particularly oncology.”
Your spiritual connection is highly personal. Cultivating a spiritual life is part of the balance that is fundamental to Chinese medicine, in which mind, body and spirit are one.
In the fall of 2001, Dr. Feldman underwent a fourth thoracotomy to remove a kidney metastasis from his lung. He is currently in remission.
The human body is made up of energy. In physics, energy is the ability to do work. It can be found in two forms: potential (at rest) and kinetic (in motion). From a Chinese medicine point of view, Energy is the Life Force (Qi). Your human body is more than a shell that houses organs, tissues and bones. Your body is a circulating Energy system that links every part within you to every part of the environment, thus creating a whole. The goal of healing is to promote and support this Energy system's innate tendency to strive for balance.
Healing is to restore balance. Combined practices of breathing and meditation such as Qigong, Tai Chi and yoga are ways to connect and tap into the healing power of your inner Qi. These practices build and store more Qi than the actual physical exercises use up. The first step in realizing the potential of this Energy is to recognize and harness the power of your own breath.
In this stressful world, it is common to actually hold your breath when tense. Qigong, meditation, yoga and Tai Chi are all practices that teach controlled breathing. However, outside of these practices, regular deep breathing can be cultivated so that it becomes an unconscious habit. Rather than holding your breath, you can find yourself shifting into deep breathing in response to stress.
From a Western scientific point of view, every time you breathe, oxygen floods your lungs, filters into your bloodstream and is pumped into your arteries and capillaries to reach every part of your body. Cells utilize this oxygen and create the waste product carbon dioxide (CO2). In cellular metabolic processes, the oxygen in your blood is exchanged for CO2, which is carried in your bloodstream back through your veins to your heart and lungs, where it is expelled each time you exhale.
When you are tense and breathe shallowly or hold your breath, your blood is not being properly purified or oxygenated. CO2 is kept in circulation in your system, creating an acid environment. This acid environment encourages your autonomic nervous system to remain in a sympathetic state. (Please see pages 141–143 for an explanation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic states.) Remaining in an acidic state of sympathetic dominance contributes to the progression of chronic illnesses and eventually degenerative disease.
Getting into the habit of deep breathing is a way to help your body move from the uptight sympathetic mode to the calming parasympathetic mode. By breathing deeply you signal your brain that you are not in danger. Simply experimenting with deep breathing the next time you face a stressful situation will convince you of the benefits of deep breathing.
Infants and children breathe into their bellies. As we mature into adults, the tendency is to breathe shallowly into our upper chests. Practice abdominal breathing by breathing deeply and slowly, allowing your abdomen to inflate on the inhale and deflate on the exhale.
Historically, it has been firmly fixed in the collective mind of the Western medical establishment that the mind and body are two separate entities. The mind is thought to intentionally control such functions as the musculoskeletal R system, allowing us to flex our muscles and move our arms at will. Other processes of the body, such as our heartbeat, blood pressure, the secretion of hormones, the regulation of antibodies by our immune system and so on are viewed as completely out of our control. These processes are controlled by various mechanisms such as the autonomic nervous system, the neuroendocrine system and the immune system. It is believed that we cannot cross the conceptual and physiological chasm between these two aspects of the body. For example, it has been conventionally believed that our conscious mind cannot influence our immune system.
In the past three decades the Western medical establishment has come to understand that, when the body and mind are in harmony through practices that combine breathing and meditation, the mind can control physiological processes. The secret tool for self-healing and Energy balancing that lies within each of us is our breath. Maybe we underestimate our breath because it is so obvious.
Linking your breath with meditation or with gentle synchronized movements, such as Qigong, Tai Chi and yoga, has been shown to have an effect that can be seen on the electroencephalogram (EEG), a common measurement device found in every hospital. There are four types of brain waves: beta (fast)—highly focused, for problem solving and learning; alpha (medium)— tranquil, creative and most relaxed; theta (slow)—unfocused, daydreaming/early dream state; and delta (slowest)—deep sleep. Practices that combine breathing, meditation and gentle movement bring one into alpha state. As your practice deepens, you enter a combination alpha and theta state wherein your body heals most effectively.
The practices of meditation, Qigong, Tai Chi and yoga have also been shown to lower blood pressure and pulse rate and to improve endocrine and immune system function, among other benefits.
Meditation has been practiced all over the world for thousands of years. In China, meditation was defined by Taoism as a way to cultivate mental discipline in which the devotee attempted to channel every thought to Tao, the oneness of the universe, which includes all gods, deities, divine beings, spirits and souls. Taoist master Hua-Ching Ni has devoted his life to continuing his family lineage of spiritual masters dating back seventy-four generations to the Han dynasty (206 B.C.–220 B.C.). He is an acknowledged master of all aspects of Taoist arts and philosophy, including Chinese medicine. In his book Entering the Tao, he describes the effect of Taoist meditation thus: “Serenity unfolds itself as a calm inner happiness, and it is enduring and completely independent of external conditions.”
In the 1960s meditation was introduced to the Western mainstream when hippies started making spiritual pilgrimages to India. Transcendental meditation (TM) captured the attention of the press.At that time researcher and clinical cardiologist Herbert Benson, M.D., became interested and began studying the then highly unorthodox theory that stress had something to do with hypertension. In 1969, at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Benson and his mentor A. Clifford Barger, M.D., published a study in the American Journal of Physiology in which they were able to train monkeys to control their blood pressure with light cues. After the study was published, several TM devotees asked Benson to study them, claiming that they could decrease their blood pressure through meditation.
During stress, your body—in a sympathetic dominant state—releases stress hormones to ignite heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, increase metabolic rate and blood flow to your muscles as immediate preparation for fight or flight. Benson's studies concluded meditation could mediate the effects of stress by shifting your body into a relaxed parasympathetic state—the exact opposite of the fight-or-flight response. Heart and breathing rate decrease, blood pressure drops (if high to begin with), and body temperature and metabolism rates also fall.
“The mind must be peaceful for quality of life,” Dr. Mao said.“You must get to a point when you can focus on the present moment. Anxiety comes from either being in the past or being in the future and not being in the present moment. If you are present you can focus and can deal with life's issues. It is the uncontrollable that makes us anxious. Taking twenty minutes a day for meditation will empty your mind. When you become very still it is like water in a pond—you can see very clearly. Otherwise there are too many rocks being thrown in there and the water is muddied and you can't see anything. Stillness brings clarity, which brings better decisions in life, which means fewer regrets and fewer worries. We make mistakes when we are not clear.”
As a meditator sits and his or her mind quiets, alpha brain waves are in creased. People commonly experience a feeling of well-being. Meditation can be a valuable part of any therapy for illness. It is also a way to connect with the aspect of yourself that is steady and unchanging. This aspect is referred to as mindfulness of your Shen in Qigong, the Self or Atman in the yogic scriptures of India, the Buddha-mind in Buddhist philosophy, the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Christian belief, the presence of God in Judaism, among others.
Spending time in meditation on a regular basis eventually leads to feeling a divine connection throughout the day, not just when meditating. Practicing meditation begins to have profound effects on the way you interact with other people and the way you feel about yourself. Old traumas are forgiven; old neurotic patterns of behavior can be more easily dropped; you will feel more love and joy in life.
Beginning a meditation practice is like beginning any discipline, from playing a musical instrument to training for a marathon. It is called practice for a reason. The payoff for perseverance can be enormous. There are many styles and techniques of meditation. The following is a basic practice:
Sit in a steady posture, in a quiet, darkened room. Find a position that is comfortable for you. It is important that your spine be relatively straight and that you are somewhat grounded—either by sitting on cushions on the floor or, if seated in a chair, by having your feet firmly planted on the floor. Find a position that is comfortable enough that you will not be distracted by tension or pain in your joints or muscles.
Turn your attention within. Some traditions advise keeping the eyes partly open, some closing the eyes completely. Experiment and decide what is best for you.
Focus your mind on the incoming and outgoing of your breath. Allow your belly to inflate. Follow the flow of your breath from its innermost place in your chest or abdomen to the full extent of your exhalation.
Or you can focus on a mantra—one or more sacred words. Lists of mantras can be found in many meditation texts. There are no hard-and-fast rules for choosing a mantra. You are free to choose any word or words that resonate with you.
Some traditions advise visualizing a specific deity or memorizing a prayer or passage of scripture. There are many variations on the meditation practice, and it is important to find the one that suits your own individual personality, needs and beliefs.
Allow the normal busy activity of your mind to slow. If your mind remains active, do not worry. Continue to return your attention to your breath or to your mantra. It is not possible to stop the activity of the mind by force of will. But as you continue to turn your attention away from thoughts that arise, and guide your attention back to your breath or to your mantra, your mind will eventually quiet.
When your mind comes to a complete rest, a state of pure awareness or pure absorption arises. This is often described as a sense of blissful emptiness or of union with the divine.
When first starting a meditation practice, sit for short periods—say fifteen minutes—until you feel physically comfortable sitting for longer. As you practice you will go into a meditative state more easily. Meditate at the same time each day if possible—early morning and twilight are considered best. Meditating for a short period during a busy day is better than not meditating at all because you missed your chosen time.
Qigong is a system of deep breathing, with or without slow movements combined with mental focus to control one's Vital Energy (Qi), which brings the body, mind and spirit into alignment and balance. Qigong is said to have been originated by mountain hermits in ancient China and can be traced to inscriptions on tortoise shells dating back to 2,500 B.C. and to silk drawings found in tombs four thousand years old.
Chinese philosophy considers living beings and the environment part of the same whole. The Qi force continually fluctuates in an attempt to harmonize the Yin and Yang Energies of this whole. Air connects the body and the environment. The air you draw into your body will be converted into Qi. The air that becomes the body's internal Qi is the same Qi of the environment. In fact, in the Chinese language “air” and “Vital Energy” are the same word: Qi. Air and Vital Energy are merely a different concept of Qi. One is inside and the other outside the body. Breathing joins the environmental Qi with the internal Qi.
Qi is constantly circulating in Meridians throughout the body. This circulation of Qi weaves every component and function of the body into a harmonized whole. Practicing Qigong taps into this Energy flow, engages and invigorates Qi, to dissolve stagnation and break through blockages. In Qigong, movement and stillness are cultivated to create an awareness that guides you through the process of achieving calmness and harmony of your Qi. A calm mind and spirit lead to higher levels of skill and self-knowledge.
Practicing Qigong will loosen your joints, increase flexibility and supple ness and strengthen your sinews and tendons. Qigong has been shown to improve the function of the internal organs, delay aging and prolong life. Kenneth Cohen is an internationally renowned author, lecturer, health educator, China scholar and master of Qigong healing. Cohen began Qigong training in 1968 and apprenticed with Taoist priests from China's sacred mountains. Cohen divides Qigong into three main categories:
Healing Qigong teaches how to cleanse, gather and circulate healing Energy. Qigong for healing promotes general vitality and well-being and teaches techniques to treat specific problems. In addition to practicing healing Qigong for your own benefit, healing Qigong can be practiced as therapeutic touch. You can learn to project healing Qi through your hands into another person to restore his or her balance.
Spiritual Qigong emphasizes meditation to cultivate self-awareness, awareness of your place in nature and your surroundings.
Sports Qigong uses dynamic exercises to improve strength, endurance, balance and flexibility.
If you engage your breath, every activity can be a way for you to strive for balance and harmony. Overwork depletes Qi and Blood. A sedentary lifestyle stagnates the movement of Qi and Blood. Physical activity helps to promote the flow of Qi and Blood and helps your body develop and/or keep its vitality.
Qigong can be as simple as taking a few purposeful breaths every day, or it can be extremely complex and involving. The beauty of Qigong is that you can conform your practice to suit your needs and desires. While the subject of Qigong fills entire books, the focus here is to simply make the philosophy of Qigong a part of your daily life as a way to help you maintain good health or to heal.
Making the philosophy of Qigong part of your everyday life
“One of the greatest benefits of learning Qi healing is that you awaken your own hidden potentials and learn more about who you are,” Kenneth Cohen said. “As you tap into the well of universal Qi, you increase your sense of be-longing—of being at home in the world. Qi, like breath, is the foundation of life. We use it every day but are seldom aware of it. It is the most ordinary thing in the universe, yet it is the source of the most extraordinary insight and energy.”
Just as you can cultivate the simple habit of deep breathing, you can learn to breathe, focus your thoughts and emotions, relax and get in touch with your internal Qi by practicing Qigong in an unstructured manner. In other words, it is not necessary to become a master at Qigong to experience its healing and preventative health effects. You can begin by taking your deep breathing practice one step further by visualizing Qi flowing through your body as you breathe. Become aware of yourself and your behaviors. For example, when you walk, become consciously aware of the steps that you are taking. Link deep breathing to your walk. Perform each step—or any other action—deliberately. This deliberateness will bring you to a deeper connection with the present moment and with your inner Energy (Qi). This awareness will help restore balance.
Qigong breathing
Qigong practice teaches deep abdominal breathing, which expands your lung capacity, promotes circulation of oxygen in the blood, massages your internal abdominal organs and aids in digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
As you reach the top of each inhalation and/or the bottom of each exhalation, hold your breath for several seconds, and then continue breathing. This will help you to focus your mind on your breathing. While practicing Qigong, respiration rate naturally decreases and the duration of each breath increases.
Maintain smooth, deep, silent respirations, and, at the same time, “listen” to your respirations. Continue your focus until you do not hear, see or connect with any extraneous thought that comes into your mind.
As you practice awareness of the tendency to hold your breath when you are fearful, worried or otherwise stressed, you can take this awareness to another level. When you are in a stressful situation, breathe deeply and evenly in through your nose, allowing the breath to distend your stomach rather than breathing into your chest, then imagine healing Qi flowing through your body. This is Qigong breathing. You may exhale out of your nose or mouth.
You can practice Qigong breathing while sitting or lying down. It has been shown that Qigong practice lowers the body's consumption of oxygen by about 30 percent and the metabolic rate drops by 20 percent—accompanied by a drop in the respiration rate. This state of lowered metabolism aids in reducing your body's consumption of Energy, allowing the gradual accumulation of Energy, which promotes your body's strength to heal.
A simple Qigong breathing practice for sitting, standing or lying down
Francesco Garri Garripoli, author and lecturer, left a full scholarship in premed at the University of Colorado to study Eastern healing in the mid-seventies. He has practiced and taught Qigong and other Eastern healing techniques for over twenty years. “Qigong can be done sitting, standing or lying down,” said Garripoli. “The beauty of this system is that it is as flexible as you wish to make it.” If you are pressed for time, are trapped at work, or if you are simply a bit tired but are not ready to fall asleep, try the following Qigong technique.
Visualize that you are holding a small ball between your hands. Bring your complete focus and attention to this ball.
Feel its roundness and breathe into the ball, giving it shape and substance. The more you are able to do this, the more you are engaging your mind into a game of releasing itself from other duties, and in doing so releasing much stress.
Slowly expand the size of this ball as you inhale. As you inhale through your nostrils, focus your breathing on your diaphragm, pushing your belly outwards, minimizing the use of any other muscles, to make this an efficient, minimal-effort process.
When you have reached the full extent of your inhale—and along with it, the full expansion of your imaginary ball—slowly begin to exhale through your mouth to fully empty your lungs.
As you exhale, gently shrink the ball back down to its starting size and position it in front of your belly.
Combining Qigong breath and meditation
When you feel you have mastered the focus on your breath, begin to practice centering your mind. As in many other forms of meditation, you can select a word to repeat and focus on as you continue to focus your mind. Continued practice will allow you to reach a state in which you are conscious yet not conscious, aware yet not aware.
Qigong meditation lessens the intrusion of the emotional ups and downs, allowing your body to reach a state of high physiological and biochemical efficiency through greater relaxation and concentration. In this state of mind, Qigong enables the cerebral cortex to prepare to meet any urgent need and reduces the consumption of Energy, thus providing optimal conditions for healing.
Simple exercises derived from ancient Qigong forms
Once you feel comfortable with the combined Qigong breathing and meditation, you may wish to add gentle, synchronized movements. A few fundamentals are important.
Preparation for Qigong Postures
Relax your mind and let go of worried thoughts. Practice keeping your body and mind relaxed and peaceful. The practice of Qigong, unlike many other forms of exercise, is intended to be without expectations or demands.
Get comfortable. Wear comfortable, loose clothing and remove anything that is restrictive. Remove jewelry and eyeglasses.
Practice in a peaceful place. Find a warm and comfortable spot away from traffic or other noises, preferably with natural light.
Align your posture. Stand with your back straight and your body erect but not stiff, arms hanging down naturally. Your whole body will be relaxed, though not limp, so that your mind and body are comfortable and aligned.
Unite your breath and your mind: There are three Dan Tian regions, or Energy centers, upon which to focus the mind or consciousness in Qigong. The Lower Dan Tian is located below the navel about two cun (cun is described on page 56) above the pubic bone, which is the central gathering point of Qi; the Middle Dan Tian is located behind the navel, which is another important gathering point of Qi; and the Upper Dan Tian is located between your eyebrows and is thought to aid in gathering Shen Qi and reinforcing your connection with the universe. Unite your mind and breath by concentrating your mind on the Lower Dan Tian. By focusing on your Lower Dan Tian, you will reach a state in which your breathing is led by your mind, deep and controlled.
Develop your skills gradually. Practice according to your physical ability and strength, allowing your practice to develop and progress naturally. Do not force your practice or be anxious for quick results.
Choose the practice that is right for you. There are many variations of Qigong. Respect your individual state of health or state of illness when choosing a form of Qigong.
Practice regularly. Qigong skill must be developed. The longer you persevere, the more profound your results.
Give up habits that prevent you from achieving results. Smoking, the use of stimulants, and excessive work and play exhaust the body and are not conducive to a balanced life.
The following exercise, provided by Garripoli, is a simple movement that can be easily mastered. You can get up from your chair at work and engage in a quick stress-relieving practice. It takes very little time and the benefits last throughout your day.
The Swimming Dragon: The Swimming Dragon is in the family of Qigong moves that can be thought of as a whole-body workout in a single move. Rather than isolating any single body/Energy region, the Swimming Dragon is designed to help promote Qi flow throughout the whole body, effectively minimizing stagnation that leads to stress and disease. Begin by standing with knees unlocked and slightly bent.
As you engage in the following movements, inhale when a hand moves toward the Lower Dan Tian and exhale when that hand moves away. As you move through the exercise, imagine a dragon swimming through a field of Qi. This field is thick and viscous, infinite in size and density, and Qi is ever-present and in limitless supply.
Begin by reaching outward with your right hand, sweeping to the right, then forward in an arc. Keep your palm facing slightly upward during this phase, focusing on gathering Yang Qi, the masculine, active, light, formless Energy, from the heavens.
Pull your palm in toward your belly region, toward the Lower Dan Tian, keeping your palm facing slightly downward. This downward-facing as pect is to enhance the gathering of Yin Qi, the feminine, nurturing, dark, solid energy, from the Earth. Your hand should pass by your abdomen without touching it, continuing on its trajectory directly behind you.
Your hand reaches straight behind you, palm facing upward to heaven. Lock your gaze onto your palm as it moves to its outstretched position. This will help ensure that you are getting a good stretch in your neck and spine, one of the important features of this move. This twisting action of your neck and spine is critical to good health as it helps promote good flow of the cerebrospinal fluid and Qi, of course, which is carried in all bodily Fluids. Imagine that this spinal twist is akin to wringing out a wet rag— moving stagnant energy and liquids from their pockets.
The fourth and last phase brings your palm and outstretched arm from directly behind you and sweeps in around to the right, meeting up with where you started.
To swim in the infinite field of Qi, it is best to use both arms. Once you have mastered this movement with your right hand, add the movement of your left hand. The left arm begins reaching out when the right palm is nearest to your belly in phase two. Your arm movements will mirror each other, just offset in time to create the beautiful balance of this move.
“Watching this form reminds us of the Yin and Yang forces in the universe,” Garripoli said. “When one hand is closest to the body, the other is at its farthest. When one palm is facing upward, the other is facing downward, complementary forces working together to create balance. Each move in this form is a metaphor, a window into the truth of life. Our body is simply a mirror of how Energy flows in the universe.”
Healing others with Qigong
Once you have developed your own Qigong practice, you are ready to learn to project healing Qi through your hands, which was called Bu Qi, “spreading the Qi,” by ancient Chinese healers. Energy healing, or the laying on of hands, dates back to the Yellow Emperor in China and hieroglyphic recordings from Egypt's Third Dynasty. Hippocrates referred to the force from the healer's hands. “Energy healing is part of the common heritage of humanity,” Kenneth Cohen said. “It is still practiced by American Indians, African tribes and Australian aborigines.” Cohen recommends that one practice self-healing Qigong before attempting to heal others.
Qigong healing is effective and simple to learn. Since the 1950s it has traditionally been used by hospitals and clinics throughout China to ease pain and other symptoms and accelerate healing. In addition to performing Qigong healing on another person, Qigong can be practiced by the ill individual. Qigong healers both in China and in the West work with people who are too sick to get out of bed or their wheelchairs, assisting the very ill in performing simple Qigong movements to restore Energy balance. Although easy to learn, healing Qi is beyond the scope of this chapter. Please go to ancientherbsmodern medicine.com for instructional courses by Kenneth Cohen on video that demonstrate how to practice self-healing Qigong to build your own abundant reservoir of Qi—the essential foundation of any successful Qigong healer—as well as every step of administering healing Qi energy to others.
Dr. Mao and his brother Dr. Dao (see chapter 17 for more on Dr. Dao) are part of a close-knit family who trace their lineage in the Chinese medical healing arts back thirty-eight generations and their family tradition of spiritual masters back seventy-four generations to the Han dynasty (206 B.C.–220 B.C.). Their father, Hua-Ching Ni, was chosen as a youth to spend years living with and learning from Taoist masters in the high mountains of mainland China. He devoted his life to continuing the family's spiritual tradition and is internationally recognized as a master of all aspects of Taoist science and metaphysics. Master Ni passed this tradition on to his sons, Drs. Mao and Dao, who were trained in all aspects of Chinese healing arts, including Tai Chi.
“The most memorable images of China in the media often include the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and people doing Tai Chi in parks,” Dr. Mao said. “Tai Chi is as integral to many Chinese people's way of life as rice is to their daily diet. Increasingly, the tradition of Tai Chi has spread outside of mainland China and today people can be seen practicing Tai Chi in parks everywhere around the world.
“Why are so many people mesmerized by Tai Chi's graceful, dancelike movements? What is Tai Chi? Tai Chi was originally conceived by ancient Taoist hermits in China and was first mentioned in the ancient philosophical text I Ching as the source and union of Yin and Yang. Ancient masters studied and observed the natural laws, which they called Tao, and created a series of fluid, circular movements to express the polar and yet complementary Energies of Yin and Yang, and to experience these Energetic patterns and cycles. In modern times, Tai Chi is practiced as a fitness exercise for its healthful benefits, but up until the end of the nineteenth century it was also practiced for its potent self-defense, martial-art application.
“As an expression of natural laws, Tai Chi teaches the principles of harmony, balance and regeneration in one's life. So, in a way, practicing Tai Chi is not merely a fitness exercise, but a spiritual quest as well.
“As a popular fitness exercise, Tai Chi is practiced by an estimated hundred million people worldwide. Its health benefits have been studied and confirmed widely in China, which include promoting the healthy function of one's immune system, metabolism, hormonal system and nervous system. Consistent practice can help normalize blood pressure and blood sugar, increase energy and stamina and reduce stress. It also has been shown to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system without the strain on the joints.
“The practice of Tai Chi allows one to profoundly experience the planetary movements of the infinite universe within your personal miniuniverse. As a tool for spiritual cultivation, Tai Chi is a meditation that elevates one's spirit above the mundane and unites one with the divine. As a tool for healing, Tai Chi is a therapeutic modality within Chinese medicine that restores balance of functions. As a tool for life, Tai Chi is a living philosophy that helps people achieve happiness, harmony and inner peace.
“Like Qigong, practicing Tai Chi replenishes your inner Qi by harmonizing Yin and Yang, improving the quality of your inner Qi and ensuring that your inner Qi flows freely and is not blocked. Also like Qigong, Tai Chi is practiced with flowing, rhythmic, deliberate movements in carefully prescribed postures combined with breathing and mental focus.
“Qigong is quicker and easier to learn and is more specific in its effects,” Dr. Mao said. “For example, someone might choose to practice the Swimming Dragon Qigong to strengthen the Middle Warmer, which includes the digestive system, and increase metabolism, whereas Tai Chi is a more complex choreographed set of movements that is considered a generalized practice for the benefit of the whole body. I suggest that beginners start with any simple Qigong form and graduate into Tai Chi as their interest and understanding grows.
“There are several styles of Tai Chi. Among the Yang, Chen and Wu styles, the most popular is the Yang Style. In our family tradition, at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Los Angeles, we teach the Style of Harmony, or Trinity Style, which synthesizes the Yang, Chen and Wu styles.”
If you are interested in learning Tai Chi, many recreation or parks departments or community centers offer Tai Chi classes. You can find more information on Qigong and Tai Chi at ancientherbsmodernmedicine.com.