Qigong Essentials for Health Promotion

Qigong, an invaluable compnent of traditional Chinese medicine, has its origin in ancient times. Unique to China only, qigong has also become an integral part of the culture. Qigong masters and medical scientists have developed a theory from a wealth of experience accumulated from their clinical

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experience and practice of qigong over many centuries.

Needless to say, qiging exercise can produce a myriad of beneficial effects, of which the most common are preventing and curing diseases, strengthening the constitution, avoiding premature aging, and prolonging life. Lacking sysematization and academic studies , however, qigong as a prophylactic and therapeutic exercise still needs to be re-evaluated in order to further advance its development.

Since the New China was founded in 1949, the government has paid great attention to the practice of qigoing as a medical and health-care program. And yet, mysticism and superstitions have distorted the image of qigong as a branch of science. Charlatans, who remain active in society, have aroused deepened suspicion in society causing great damage to the credibility of qigong.

The purpose of this book is to change the social attitude, eliminate mystification, assert the principle of yin/yang in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and summarize and explain the theory of qigong as well as its practising methods.

Contents

General concepts of qigong
I The significance of qigong
II The origin and prospect of qigong
III Two case histories
IV Qigoing and TCM
V Clinical use of qigong therapy
VI Experimental research on qigong
VII Qigong and gerocomia
VIII Srengthening resistance, dispelling diseases and prevention and treatment
Practsing qigong
I An outline of qigong exercise
II Qigong applicabiity
III Essentials of qigong exercise
IV Qigong effects
V Precautions in qigong exercise
VI Entering the quiescent state
Scientific research on qigong
I The effect of mind and consciousness in qigiong exercise
II Dynamic and quiescent states of qigoing exercise
III Qi and qigong exercise
IV Qigong exercise and internal qi
V Qi transformation, circulation and function and qigong exercise
VI Essence of life, qi, spirit and qigong exercise
VII Congenital and postnatal qi
VIII Respiration, posture and the mind in qigong exercise
IX Illusions during quiescent exercise
Quiescent qigong exercises
I Posture, respiration, and mental activities during quiescent qigoing exercise-Postures; Respiration; Mind focusing methods
II Common methods of quiescent qigong exercise-Relaxing exercises; relaxing quiescent exercises; Breathing exercises; standing qigong
Dynamic qigong exercises
I Postures, respiration, and mental activities during dynamic qigong exercise
II Baduanjing (eight elegant movements) of internal exercise-Baduanjing while sitting; Baduaning while standing
III Thirteen prophylactic exercises
IV Fifteen sets of taiji-qigong exercises
V Hua Tuo's frolics of five animals-My experience with the forlics of five animals; Evolution of the frolics of five animals; Essentials of the frolics; Basic forms of the frolics of the five animals; Free practice of the frolics of the five animals; Walking exrcises in the frolics of the five animals
VI Self-massage while doing internal qigoing exercise-Basic techniques of self-massage; Locations, methods, and effects of massage
A supplement; eye massage
Appendix: A brief Chinese chronology

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