The Secrets of Qi Gong

By Dr. Richard Chin

Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to tell how old an Asian man or woman is? Have you ever wondered about their secret to longevity?

Here is a brief explanation of the secret healing arts of Asia;

One of the most coveted secrets of Chinese medicine is the development of qi or life force.  This secret came form the monks of India to the Shoalin Monasteries in China.

Think of all the alternative healing techniques that you’ve experienced or heard about – Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Massage, Acupuncture, Herbology, etc… The secret behind the healing arts is actually quite simple. The secret deals with the concept of energy which is called “QI” in Chinese and “KI” in Japanese. There are actually many names i.e. “Prada” is the Indian word for energy. Students of yoga will often use the term “Prada” and “Chakra” in their exercises. All these words basically refer to the same thing – the energy lines that all humans have in their bodies. The human body is filled with grids which practitioners call meridians. The energy runs through these grids/meridians.

Energy or “Qi” is the secret behind Chinese medicine. Most of us are familiar with the physical human body – muscles, bones, etc… We’re also familiar with the mental body – mind, imagination, etc… What most people don’t associate with the body is a third component – energy. The Chinese therefore categorize the human body into the mind, body and energy. The energy is actually the underlying element that makes our bodies function. In other words, it is “bio energy” or “electrical energy”. This is where the term Ying and Yang comes from. Ying and Yang is the Chinese way of saying Plus and Minus (keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean good or bad energy). Because electricity runs on a plus and minus grid it would only make sense that our body runs on the same grid which we have already established is an energy component. Therefore, the energy flows from a plus polarity to a negative polarity and the key to maintaining a healthy body depends on how we harness and keep the energy flowing through our bodies.

Once the energy stops flowing illness and pain prevails. Pain is a great example of how the body reacts to a discontinuance of energy flow. For instance, when a person has arthritis, there is a blockage in one of their meridians. Think of it this way: the energy is like water and will flow until it hits a block (practitioners call this an energy cyst). The body reacts with pain because of this blockage.

Have you ever felt pain on your elbow or neck and automatically massaged the afflicted area? A massage helps because it breaks down the energy cysts or the Qi blocks. So if you ever go to an acupuncturist or an herbalist, they basically look for a number of things: where the energy is not flowing in the body, energy deficiencies and blockages caused by trauma.

By using ancient Chinese techniques like massage, Qi Gong exercises, acupuncture and herbs, practitioners can help the body regain its flow of energy, reduce inflammation and pain and enhance longevity and health.

Dr. Richard Chin has a long history in Oriental Medicine, Herbology, Qi Gong and Martial Arts. He was among the first group of physicians certified by the National commission for Certification of Oriental Medicine, and has written several books, including The Energy Within: the Science Behind Eastern Healing Techniques, and is co-founder of Prostaderm, Inc. a developer of herbal skin patches for common ailments.

Dr. Richard Chin can be reached at http://www.Prostaderm.com