The increasing
emphasis on the relationship between mind and body has led to a significant body of
research and clinical applications. Evidence of mind/body effects in current medical
science includes the health effects of lifestyle and stress, education, social
interactions, work status, religious practice, the spontaneous remission of cancers, and
the well-documented placebo effect. The developing field of psychoneuromimmunology
reflects progress in the understanding of mind/body interactions. In addition, a growing
body of evidence supports the efficacy of therapies such as Therapeutic Touch, prayer, and
other forms of non-contact healing. Therapeutic Touch has been shown to affect pulse rate,
skin temperature, galvanic skin response and hemoglobin levels.
Experiments on the effect of human intent upon seed germination by the
Spindrift group have shown that directed attention can consistently affect biological
systems. These results indicate that, in certain situations, the possibility of
significant interactions without physical contact must e considered. Non-contact
interaction implies that coupling between mind and environment may play a significant role
in some experimental situations.
Sophisticated studies on human/machine interactions performed at the Princeton
Engineering Anomalies Research Laboratory provide a strong impetus for further research.
Nonlocal effects have been known to modern physics for some time and it has been proposed
that application of quantum mechanical concepts to biological systems could help to
provide a framework for understanding this relatively new perspective.
The terminology and practice of traditional Chinese
medicine is centered around the concept of Qi, or vital force. Qi is thought to be the
substantive element in living systems, an essential energy permeating all of space. An
essential aspect of the notion of Qi in human life involves the interaction with one's
environment. The body is thought to contain a supply of Qi that flows throughout the
acupuncture meridia and is exchanged with the Qi in one's surroundings. From this
perspective, good health involves a balance and unobstructed flow of Qi.
The term Qigong refers to approximately two hundred related disciplines
associated with healing and the martial arts. According to Yan Xin, "Qigong has about
a 3,000 year history, with artifacts dating back as far as 7,000 years. It is a system of
physical, mental, and philosophical training for cultivation of moral and body strength,
exploring the latent ability of humans, prolonging life, and developing human
potential." In China, emphasis is placed on Qigong as a committed daily practice,
involving the development of skills over the course of many years.
A distinction is drawn in the Chinese terminology between internal Qigong
and external Qigong; the former referring to disciplines in which the practitioner
manipulates the Qi to bring about beneficial effects, the latter referring to the practice
of having effects outside the body through the manipulation of Qi. Both types of Qigong
are in widespread clinical use in China and are practiced as a form of health maintenance
by millions of Chinese. The focus of this research is on external Qigong, hereafter simply
referred to as "Qigong."
As evidenced by several hundreds of studies, a sustained interest in Qigong
research exists in China. Research to date outlines many effects and possible mechanisms
for the phenomenon of Qigong. Experiments on animals and humans indicate that Qigong may
accelerate bone healing in rabbits, elevate T-lymphocyte counts and raise chronic low
hemoglobin levels in humans, decrease metastatic tumor formation in mice, and reduce the
size of malignant tumors in mice.
Qigong effects reported on in vitro systems include changes in Laser
Raman spectra of phospholipids, water, saline and glucose solution, changes in the phases
of liquid crystals and lipids, changes in the ultraviolet absorption spectra of nucleic
acids, decrease and increase in the activity of saccharogenic amylase, increases in
respiration rate and synthesis of DNA and proteins in cultured fibroblasts, and increases
and decreases in the growth rates of E. coli bacteria. Studies mentioned above
which report both increases and decreases state that the practitioners used different
methods to emit either "lethal Qi" or "health-promoting Qi."
There have also been attempts to evaluate the physical characteristics of
Qigong. Most of these studies were aimed at the measurement of electromagnetic quantities.
Researchers have reported observing low levels of photon emission, infrared light,
magnetic fields, alterations in the discharge behavior of a Van de Graff generator, and
infrasound emissions. At least one group has put into clinical application an electronic
device that mimics measured electromagnetic emanations of an experienced Qigong master. It
should be noted, however, that many of the above studies have not yet been replicated or
published in peer-review journals.
The reports that Qigong may have electromagnetic components suggested that the
high magnetic sensitivity of the cell-free myosin phosphorylation system developed in this
laboratory might provide a means of measuring Qigong effects. The experiments described
herein were conceived as preliminary trials whose purpose was to assess the potential for
more comprehensive future research directed towards providing in vitro experimental
evidence for the effects of Qigong treatment.
This study involved a collaboration with two Qigong masters, Ronger Shen and Yi
Wu. They were amongst the first in China to learn a Qigong form called Soaring Crane
Qigong and were the first to introduce it in the US. Soaring Crane Qigong was first
introduced to the public in China in the 1980's and quickly became a popular form with
over 20 million followers. Soaring Crane Qigong, according to Ronger Shen and Yi Wu,
"is a combination of physical movements and mental meditations with five routines as
its basis." They indicate that, for the dedicated practitioner, "it can also tap
human potentials."
