Dear World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Supporters,

An American Indian Shaman's vision of global balance inspired this email.

Through our annual global event and award winning website's ongoing daily
work, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day promotes all schools and all styles of Tai Chi
&
Qigong (Chi Kung), by freely listing all schools and teachers of all styles,
and promoting them through our world renowned Tai Chi & Qigong (Chi Kung)
Teachers Directory, and the massive ongoing global media work we do to promote
it.

#1 most popular on the internet out of 186,000 sites under "Tai Chi & Qigong
(Chi Kung) Teachers Directory"
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/

A native American Indian shaman once explained to me that the original
peoples of the world each had gifts of contact with the four aspects of life. 
He
said that the Medicine Wheel's four quadrants represented this.  The southern
people had the gift of great awareness of the "emotional world," the
western/northern people were "forever curious" of all things, the Indian tribes
gift was
awareness of "harmony with the natural world," and the Eastern people's gift
was . . . a great awareness of the "internal world."

The shaman explained that when all the world's people recognize the gifts the
others offer with the same respect as their own gifts . . . the world will
find balance.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day has exposed millions worldwide to the gifts of the
East, and an awareness of the internal world that results in greater health
and well being for all.  World Tai Chi & Qigong Day's health education efforts
are obvious, but our annual global celebrations in 60 nations on 6 continents
for 24 hours time zone by time zone turning with our precious planet, may be
offering something unseen and powerful in the form of helping usher in a
"balance" much needed in our world.

You can share our work with others by emailing, or posting on your website
some of the hard work we have done to expose the world to the internal art's
health benefits.  Please post the below links on your websites, and your
organizations websites, and post these links on discussion boards and bulletin
boards
on the internet.  Share them with friends and organizations worldwide.

Below is the internet's #1 most popular site for "Tai Chi & Qigong Medical
Research" out of over 1,070,000 sites on the topic
http://worldtaichiday.org/WTCQDHlthBenft.html

Below is the internet's #1 most popular site for "Tai Chi & Parkinson's
Research" out of over 159,000 sites on the topic
http://worldtaichiday.org/LIBRARYArticles/LIBRARYTaiChiPARKINSONS.html

Below is the internet's #1 most popular site for "Tai Chi & Fibromyalgia
Research" out of over 332,000 sites on the topic
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/FIBROMYALGIAGROUP.html

Below is the internet's #4 most popular site for "Tai Chi & Cancer Research"
out of over 647,000 sites on the topic
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/WTCQDHlthBenft.html

Below is the internet's #7 most popular site for "Tai Chi & Heart Disease
Research" out of over 563,000 sites on the topic
http://worldtaichiday.org/LIBRARYArticles/LIBRARYTaiChiHIGHBLOODPRESSURE.html

Below is the internet's #1 most popular site for "Tai Chi & High Blood
Pressure Research" out of over 376,000 sites on the topic
http://worldtaichiday.org/LIBRARYArticles/LIBRARYTaiChiHIGHBLOODPRESSURE.html

Warm regards and happy new year !!  Together we are changing the world . . .

Bill Douglas, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Founder, www.worldtaichiday.org

p.s. Official 2006 World Tai Chi & Qigong Day T-SHIRTS are now available for
pre-viewing and pre-ordering at
http://worldtaichiday.org/T-SHIRTdisplay2006.html

Anyone with an interest in qigong, energy work, shamanism, Chinese
martial arts or any/all of the above will find the new book, "Vital
Breath of the Dao, Chinese Shamanic Tiger qigong" by Master Zhongxian
Wu of great interest! I've done a great deal of reading/research in
the last two years on the world-wide shamanic renaissance and this
book will help me fill in the gaps on the wonderful energy arts I've
practiced and read about for so long...Anyone who reads this first,
please provide a review...Have a good day!
Rick

Dear Yuan:

I am sorry to say  that I can provide very little specific information
about the testing  of Yan  Xin in the East coast. As far as I know, he
was not tested in the San Francisco area. At his request, I provide him
with about 10 AIDS patients for whom he did some sort of healing.
However, he never inquired about the outcome, which as far as I could
tell was insignificant. His disinterest in the outcome was a
disappointment to the patients as well as myself.

Yan Xin has a history of avoiding being tested. The reason I speculate
is that he wanted to avoid an embarrassing situation, such as he
encountered in Hong Kong. But who knows??

His activities at Yale and Princeton are also shrouded in mystery.
Mainly, he avoided being tested, according to my sources. At Princeton,
he may have been involved in the random number project, but I do not
know if he actually did and if so what the outcome was. Beverly Rubic
may know (brubik@...).

I would think that any positive results would become known among those
of us who engaged Yan Xin. Incidentally, I had invited him to come to
San Francisco to present at the World Congress of Qigong. We had a
tacit agreement that he would be involved with research of his
choosing, hence my arrangement for him to work with AIDS patients.
However, he showed no appreciation for the favor nor did he reveal to
me what sort of research he was involved with.

Beyond that he remained, and still remains, elusive.

His bio was written by a man in Canada, whose name escapes me. From my
point of view the bio is not complete; for one thing it does not
mention that he came to the USA at the invitation of Ken Sancier to
participate in the First Congress On Qigong in San Francisco, that he
had agreed to participate in research, and that he was involved in an
AIDS study.

I'm sorry that I can't provide more solid information.

I am happy that someone has taken on the task of challenging "Master"
Yan Xin. If I can be of further help, please let me know, for I too
want to remove the shroud of mystery.

Meanwhile, please tell me something about yourself: such as where you
are located, and what you are doing in the Qigong world.

Cordially,

Ken
Kenneth M. Sancier, PhD
Founder & Chairman of Board, Qigong Institute

Qi Dao
Issue of January 2006

Qi Dao, the E-newsletter of World Institute for Self Healing, Inc.
(WISH.  http://www.wishus.org), promotes philosophy and methods of
human self-healing and mind power, and shares knowledge and
experiences with those who are interested in human self-healing or
mind power and their applications in health and healing.

Read entire Qi Dao online at http://www.wishus.org/newsletter.asp

[Research Updates]
• Deep-breathing exercises reduce atelectasis and improve pulmonary
function after coronary artery bypass surgery. – Westerdahl et al.
reported in Chest (Nov. 2005) that a randomized controlled trial
showed patients performing deep-breathing exercises after bypass
surgery had significantly smaller atelectatic areas and better
pulmonary function compared to a control group.
• Qigong exercise helps reduce the motor and non-motor symptoms of
Parkinson's disease: A randomized controlled pilot study – Schmitz-
Hubsch et al. published their study in a recent issue of Movement
Disorders.
Click here to read abstract
http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_012006_1.asp

[East-West Perspectives]
Prof. Judy Xu opens a dialog on why self-healing practices such as
Qigong may be working in China, but not as well in the US.
	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_012006_2.asp

[From the Master]
Qigong Cultivation-Practice and a Healthy Life ---Master He answers
two questions about their relationships and the relationship between
practice of form and cultivation of virtue.
	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_012006_7.asp

[Ask Dr. Ken]
What direction should one face when doing the qigong meditation?
Why do we need to do closing after qigong practice?
	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_012006_4.asp

[Techniques for Better Meditation]
What to do when your mind wanders: two practical methods on
maintaining peace, concentration and focus while meditating.
	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_012006_3.asp

[A Comedy Moment]
Good humor is a philosophic state of mind; it seems to say to Nature
that we take her no more seriously than she takes us. – some humor
related to meditation, Budhhism and Daoism.
	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_012006_6.asp

[Book Review]
Review of Molecules of Emotion: The Science behind Mind-Body
Medicine by Candace B. Pert, PhD
	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_012006_9.asp

[Food as Medicine]
If you get flu or a cold frequently in the winter you may want to
try these simple but powerful traditional Chinese medicine recipes:
Scallion-Ginger Conge (rice soup), and Walnut-Ginger-Scallion Tea.
	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_012006_11.asp

[Interesting Links]
	 http://www.worldtaichiday.org
	 http://www.nqa.org
	 http://www.qigonginstitute.org

[Citation of the Month]
"A scholar gains everyday; but a Dao-practitioner loses everyday;
lose and lose again, until having nothing to be attached, then,
there is nothing he cannot do."  (From Lao Tzi, Dao De Jing)

[What's New in WISH]  http://www.wishus.org


You are welcome to share Qi Dao with your friends.
To subscribe to Qi Dao, please send an email to Qi_Dao-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
To contribute to Qi Dao or contact us, please email to
WISH_Qidao@....

I took the energy survey at http://www.nqa.org/accessenergy.html and
came up with the following scores:

WATER 20
EARTH 19
METAL 15
FIRE 7
WOOD -12

What does this mean?

Hi - I am new to the group and very happy to find you!  I wrote an article about
my Sifu:
Grandmaster Share K. Lew, http://www.jadedragon.com/archives/martarts/lew.html.
and I use Qi in my healing practice as a SHEN Therapist.

Ayleyaell (pronounced "Ayley L.")
www.shentherapy.shen.com

Research Update:

In order to estimate the number of people who are using various
complementary and alternative medicine therapies in the United States, the
2002 National Health Interview Survey (an annual household health survey by
CDC) included a special Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (CAM) supplement to the Sample Adult Core component, and the
Family Core component.  The supplemental questionnaire included questions
of 27 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the U.S., and Qigong is one
of them.  A total of 31,044 adults age 18 years and over were interviewed
with this CAM supplement, representing a sample adult response rate of
74.3%.  According to the recent report based on this survey, about 950,000
American adults have ever practiced qigong in their life (about 0.5%), and
527,000 (0.3%) practiced qigong in the past 12 months.  As you can see in
Table 1, the next category close to qigong is Tai chi (the movement form of
qigong), about 5 millions Americans (2.5%) ever practiced Tai Chi, and half
of them did so in the past 12 months.

Table 1. Frequencies and percents of adults 18 years and over who used
complementary and alternative medicine by type of therapy: United States, 2002

Qigong is really a broad Chinese term that covers a variety of energy
therapies and mind-body exercises.  All the meditations and mind-body
integrative energy exercises could be called qigong in China.  For example,
Reiki was originated from one of Chinese medical qigong traditions, and Zen
is one of the major Buddhism qigong traditions.  Yoga could be called
Indian qigong or Buddhism qigong in China….  In the broad sense, we may
include Reiki, Yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercise all into this
category of mind-body energy exercise, which will yield a much larger
proportion of users or practitioners in the U.S., about 15 to 20% of the
population practices one form or other in the past year (Note: these
categories are not exclusive to each other, and many people practiced more
than one form).

Given the data were collected almost 4 years ago, the numbers are most
likely out of date already in 2006.  According to a comparison study
between the 2002 NHIS and the 1997 national survey of CAM use, the
proportion of use Yoga was among the fastest growing group, increased by
40%.   Therefore, we have good reason to believe that the actual numbers of
people who practice mind-body energy exercises today are much higher than
the numbers estimated in the 2002 NHIS in Table 1.

Who were those people who practiced the mind-body energy exercises?  Table
2 presents the demographic characteristics of those who used selected
mind-body therapies.

Table 2. Age-adjusted percents of adults 18 years and over who used
selected complementary and alternative medicine categories during the past
12 months, by selected characteristics: United States, 2002.


Basically, females were more likely to use CAM energy therapies than males;
people in middle age (age 30 to 60) were more likely to use energy
therapies than young or older groups; education and family income are both
positive correlated with probability of use mind-body energy therapies.

(Summarized by K. Chen)


REFERENCES:

Barnes PM, et al.  Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Adults:
United States, 2002. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National
Center for Health Statistics. Advance Data,  No.343,  May 27, 2004.

Tindle HA, Davis RB, Phillips RS, Eisenberg DM, Trends in use of
complementary and alternative medicine by US adults:
1997-2002.  Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.  2005; 11(1): 42-49.

Hello,
I am a newbie to your group.  My interest is subtle energy and my
research began in 1993.  My formative years were filled with
information involving mind control, mass hysteria, and placebo effect
from my father who studied Western and Eastern approach using the
power of suggestion (hypnosis in the beginning) and the power of
positive thinking.  There's much more to than the quick synopsis I
present here but it cuts to the chase.:)

My research has given me a path that involves multitudes of layers of
energy that lead up to physical effect (the manifest result).  My in
site to how Qigong, Raeki, shakras, Yoga and etc have the effect of
energy stimulation and balance to the physical body are much easier
for me to accept (now I understand we and everything in the universe
are energies within energies "related" from the beginning).

Treating the energy anatomy is the future in my opinion.  Education
about where disease and illness began to increase should be included
(also my opinion).  Technology we live with is the cause for decades
of changes within the energy anatomy.  Dr Robert O Becker has several
books on this subject and I recommend "The Body Electric" and "Body
Currents" for insight to this known cause of disease. I refer to the
Technological Monster being loosed on the population of the planet.

We also have the knowledge to correct these results.  The same
technology we used to create our lifestyles is the same ability to
correct "energy" damage. Without healthy energy frequencies, the body
looses the ability to live.

When we stimulate or align energy, we have a physical result.  My
quest is to combine natural approach with a subtle energy approach
that corrects dysfunctional frequency that will reverse physical
result.  It is happening to animals and babies faster and more
complete than with adults.  (This should rule out the naysayers who
think placebo effect.)

This is a new approach and not too many people grasp the energy
anatomy in terms of physical support and result.  My experience has
made me a skeptic of traditional care and a true believer in the
body’s ability to heal itself.

I welcome any conversation on this topic.  I have several links to
Dr. William Tiller in regards to this approach if you are interested?
Cheers,
Ammie

Meditation found to increase brain size


                    Mental calisthenics bulk up some layers

Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
have found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical
structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that experienced
meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with
attention and processing sensory input.

In one area of gray matter, the thickening turns out to be more pronounced
in older than in younger people. That's intriguing because those sections
of the human cortex, or thinking cap, normally get thinner as we age.

"Our data suggest that meditation practice can promote cortical plasticity
in adults in areas important for cognitive and emotional processing and
well-being," says Sara Lazar, leader of the study and a psychologist at
Harvard Medical School. "These findings are consistent with other studies
that demonstrated increased thickness of music areas in the brains of
musicians, and visual and motor areas in the brains of jugglers. In other
words, the structure of an adult brain can change in response to repeated
practice."

Read more in web site below

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/02.02/11-meditate.html

National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIH has
published a summary web site on Meditation for Health Purpose.  It is will
helpful for us to understand where we stand on scientific research of
qigong and meditation:

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/meditation/

Qi Dao
February-March 2006

Qi Dao, the E-newsletter of World Institute for Self Healing, Inc. (WISH),
promotes philosophy and methods of human self-healing and mind power, and
shares knowledge and experiences with those who are interested in human
self-healing and mind power and their applications in health and
healing.  All contributions are welcome.

Read entire Qi Dao online at
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter.asp

[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_1.asp>Research Update]
How Many People Are Practicing Qigong and Mind-Body Exercises in the U.S.?
Take a look at the statistics. You are not alone.

Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the MIT have found the first evidence
that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains.
     
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_1.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_1.asp



[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_2.asp>From the Master]
"False teaching offers thousands of books, but true teaching offers one key
sentence"­Master shares his perspective on importance of having a
knowledgeable and competent teacher in Qigong cultivation.
      
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_2.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_2.asp


[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_3.asp>Ask Dr. Ken]
Questions and answers from Dr. Ken Andes: this month includes topics on
losing weight, qigong and depression and qigong practice commitment during
illness.
      
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_3.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_3.asp


[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_4.asp>How to...]
How to apply qigong therapy for cancer treatment --- Dr. Chen answers a
reader's question about her father's cancer and discuss how to use medical
qigong in cancer treatment.

Dr. Daniel Ko looks at the literature and interviews Qigong masters to
discover what is happening in the use of medical Qigong for cancer treatment.
      
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_4.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_4.asp



[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_5.asp>Case Studies]
Ken Andes reports his use of medical qigong to help patients. This month he
tells us about a case of Anxiety Induced Breathlessness and a case of
Severe Itchiness with Skin Rash.
      
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_5.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_5.asp


[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_6.asp>Techniques for Better
Meditation]
Lighting the Fire --- Kathy Chan compares the lighting of the Olympic torch
with the lighting of the furnace (lower dantien) in the Taiji Five Element
Classical meditation.
       
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_6.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_6.asp


[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_7.asp>Illuminating the Dao]
Dr. Chen shares what he has come to know as “the Dao”, the law behind
everything in the universe that integrates the unnamed (our intuition) and
the named (our reasoning) together, and introduces a web site with 29
English translations of Dao De Jing.
      
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_7.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_7.asp


Stuart shares an interesting article on "Early Quanzhen Daoist Views on the
Causes of Disease and Death" -- While not exactly what we practice, I found
reading this article fascinating, both for the ability to bring my
experience with qigong to the issues discussed, as well as to learn
something of the history which preceded the form we practice in.
<http://nacrp.cicsfu.ca/nacrp/articles/stevedisease/diseasetext.html>http://nacr\
p.cicsfu.ca/nacrp/articles/stevedisease/diseasetext.html



[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_8.asp>Methods of Self-Healing]
Laughter Therapy --- What happens to us when we laugh? Does laughter have
an effect on the body or the mind? Learn about the physical, physiological
and psychological changes a good laugh can produce.
      
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_8.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_8.asp


[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_9.asp>Book Review]
Biology of Belief by Bruce Upton gives us a different look at DNA and the
role that our cells play in keeping us healthy and happy.
       
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_9.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_\
032006_9.asp


[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_10.asp>A Comedy Moment]
If a Daoist had composed the error messages that appear on a computer
screen....

       
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_10.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter\
_032006_10.asp

[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_11.asp>Power of the Mind]
This month we take a look at the power of the imagination and some practice
hints from Remez Sasson.
       
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_032006_11.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter\
_032006_11.asp



[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_food.asp>Food as Medicine]
"Let thy medicine be thy food." Hippocrates, the father of medicine, must
have had the tomato in mind when he made this statement thousands of years
ago. Now, in a world where drugs and supplements dominate, it appears that
conventional medicine has forgotten the healing power of food. Modern
science knows that food provides vitamins, minerals and calories for
energy, but does it believe that food offers any real medical treatments?
With the discovery of bioactive compounds in whole foods, science is
beginning to understand the wisdom of Hippocrates. In no other food is this
trend truer than the tomato.
<http://www.townsendletter.com/Jan2006/tomato0106.htm>http://www.townsendletter.\
com/Jan2006/tomato0106.htm



[<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_links.asp>Interesting Links]
<http://www.qigong-alliance.org>http://www.qigong-alliance.org
http://www.feeltheqi.com
<http://www.wayist.org/ttc%20compared/index.htm>http://www.wayist.org/ttc%20comp\
ared/index.htm

[Citation of the Month]
"To sense and comprehend after action is not worthy of being called
comprehension; to accomplish after striving is not worthy of being called
accomplishment; to know after seeing is not worthy of being called
knowing."      From The Book of Balance and Harmony

Read entire Qi Dao online at
<http://www.wishus.org/newsletter.asp>http://www.wishus.org/newsletter.asp

Posted on the QI Message Board by Dr Dennis Alexander
http://pub21.ezboard.com/fqigonginstitutefrm3
Send replies to qiresearch@yahoogroups.com
========================================================
Parkinsons exercise form please
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Please tell me what the exercise form is that is used
with Parkinson patients. Thank you so very much Dr.
Dennis Alexander Qigong Practitioner



Qigong exercise reduces symptoms of Parkinson’s
disease
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Schmitz-Hubsch et al. of Germany published their study
in a recent issue of
Movement Disorders:  Qigong exercise helps reducing
the motor and non-motor
symptoms of Parkinson's disease: A randomized
controlled pilot study.

ABSTRACT:  Irrespective of limited evidence, not only
traditional
physiotherapy, but also a wide array of complementary
methods are applied
by patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We
evaluated the immediate and
sustained effects of Qigong on motor and nonmotor
symptoms of PD, using an
add-on design. Fifty-six patients with different
levels of disease severity
(mean age/standard deviation [SD], 63.8/7.5 years;
disease duration 5.8/4.2
years; 43 men [76%]) were recruited from the
outpatient movement disorder
clinic of the Department of Neurology, University of
Bonn. We compared the
progression of motor symptoms assessed by Unified
Parkinson's Disease
Rating Scale motor part (UPDRS-III) in the Qigong
treatment group (n = 32)
and a control group receiving no additional
intervention (n = 24). Qigong
exercises were applied as 90-minute weekly group
instructions for 2 months,
followed by a 2 months pause and a second 2-month
treatment period.
Assessments were carried out at baseline, 3, 6, and 12
months. More
patients improved in the Qigong group than in the
control group at 3 and 6
months (P = 0.0080 at 3 months and P = 0.0503 at 6
months; Fisher's exact
test). At 12 months, there was a sustained difference
between groups only
when changes in UPDRS-III were related to baseline.
Depression scores
decreased in both groups, whereas the incidence of
several nonmotor
symptoms decreased in the treatment group only.
(Movement Disorders, 2005
Oct 14).
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/112117934/HTMLSTART>http://w\
ww3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/112117934/HTMLSTART




http://www.qigonginstitute.org/

http://pub21.ezboard.com/bqigonginstitute

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

I wonder if it matters a great deal.  Because my wife, daughter and I have
observed those with Parkinson's regaining much motor control during tai chi
practice as well.  My instincts tell me that most qigong and tai chi exercises
would likely show results as they integrate left brain, right brain, mind/body
communication, etc.

Your opinions?

Bill, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day

<< Qigong exercise reduces symptoms of Parkinson’s
  disease

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Schmitz-Hubsch et al. of Germany published their study
  in a recent issue of
  Movement Disorders:  Qigong exercise helps reducing
  the motor and non-motor
  symptoms of Parkinson's disease: A randomized
  controlled pilot study.

  ABSTRACT:  Irrespective of limited evidence, not only
  traditional
  physiotherapy, but also a wide array of complementary
  methods are applied
  by patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We
  evaluated the immediate and
  sustained effects of Qigong on motor and nonmotor
  symptoms of PD, using an
  add-on design. Fifty-six patients with different
  levels of disease severity
  (mean age/standard deviation [SD], 63.8/7.5 years;
  disease duration 5.8/4.2
  years; 43 men [76%]) were recruited from the
  outpatient movement disorder
  clinic of the Department of Neurology, University of
  Bonn. We compared the
  progression of motor symptoms assessed by Unified
  Parkinson's Disease
  Rating Scale motor part (UPDRS-III) in the Qigong
  treatment group (n = 32)
  and a control group receiving no additional
  intervention (n = 24). Qigong
  exercises were applied as 90-minute weekly group
  instructions for 2 months,
  followed by a 2 months pause and a second 2-month
  treatment period.
  Assessments were carried out at baseline, 3, 6, and 12
  months. More
  patients improved in the Qigong group than in the
  control group at 3 and 6
  months (P = 0.0080 at 3 months and P = 0.0503 at 6
  months; Fisher's exact
  test). At 12 months, there was a sustained difference
  between groups only
  when changes in UPDRS-III were related to baseline.
  Depression scores
  decreased in both groups, whereas the incidence of
  several nonmotor
  symptoms decreased in the treatment group only.
  (Movement Disorders, 2005
  Oct 14).

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/112117934/HTMLSTART>http://w\
ww3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/112117934/HTMLSTART




  http://www.qigonginstitute.org/

  http://pub21.ezboard.com/bqigonginstitute
   >>

World Academic Society of Medical Qigong (WASMQ) is going to hold the
Fifth World Conference of Medical Qigong in Beijing, June 26-28,
2006.  Dr. Kevin Chen at UMDNJ is authorized by the WASMQ to organize
a delegate of Qigong practitioners and researchers from North America
to attend the Conference with a discounted registration fee.  Those
who register for the conference through Dr. Chen would pay US$350,
instead of US$400 for the three-day conference, which includes the
conference registration, a reception, qigong teaching in the morning
and evening during the conference, airport transportation (pick up
and see off) and one-day tour to the Great Wall & Ming Tombs (on May
28th).  Please email Dr. Chen at
<mailto:chenke@...>chenke@... for more detailed
information on this if you are interested in attending this
international conference.

Other costs of the conference:  Hotel room $60/night for two ($30
each), Meal: $25/day (buffet style, three meals a day in excellent quality)

The official languages of the conference include Chinese, English and
Japanese.  There is no web site yet for this conference.

Kevin

A recent study by Chan et al in Chinese University of Hong Kong
(2006) reported that fMRI study of study brain activations associated
with external stimulation of the lower Elixir Field (Dan Tian)
suggested that stimulation of the Elixir Field is not only associated
with activation of the sensory motor cortex but also with cortical
regions that mediate planning, attention, and memory. Here is the
abstract of the study

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&itool=pubmed\
_Abstract&term=%22Chan+AS%22%5BAuthor%5D>Chan
AS,
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&itool=pubmed\
_Abstract&term=%22Cheung+MC%22%5BAuthor%5D>Cheung
MC,
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&itool=pubmed\
_Abstract&term=%22Chan+YL%22%5BAuthor%5D>Chan
YL,
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&itool=pubmed\
_Abstract&term=%22Yeung+DK%22%5BAuthor%5D>Yeung
DK,
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&itool=pubmed\
_Abstract&term=%22Lam+W%22%5BAuthor%5D>Lam
W.  "Bilateral Frontal Activation Associated with Cutaneous
Stimulation of Elixir Field: An fMRI Study." The American Journal of
Chinese Medicine [An International Journal of Comparative Medicine
East and West], Vol. 34, No. 2 (2006) 207-216.

ABSTRACT: Elixir Field, or Dan Tian, is the area where energy is
stored and nourished in the body according to traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM). Although Dan Tian stimulation is a major concept in
Qigong healing and has been practiced for thousands of years, and
while there are some recent empirical evidence of its effect, its
neurophysiological basis remains unknown. We used functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) to study brain activations associated with
external stimulation of the lower Elixir Field in ten normal
subjects, and compared the results with the stimulation of their
right hands. While right-hand stimulation resulted in left
postcentral gyrus activation, stimulation of the lower Elixir Field
resulted in bilateral activations including the medial and superior
frontal gyrus, middle and superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, insula,
and cingulate gyrus. These findings suggest that stimulation of the
Elixir Field is not only associated with activation of the sensory
motor cortex but also with cortical regions that mediate planning,
attention, and memory.

(Click the following link to the full article)
    
<http://www.worldscinet.com/174/34/preserved-docs/3402/S0192415X06003771.pdf>htt\
p://www.worldscinet.com/174/34/preserved-docs/3402/S0192415X06003771.pdf

The April 2006 issue of the Journal of Nonlocality and Remote Mental
Interactions is now available online at
http://www.emergentmind.org/jnlrmiiv1.htm


If you wish to be unsubscribed from this notification list or think that
you are on it by mistake, please send an e-mail to lian@...
and your address will be promptly removed (write "JNL Unsubscribe" in the
Subject line) We apologize for any inconvenience.


Lian Sidorov

I am Marsha.  I am a energy healer--hands on. I am not attuned for
Reikki or anything like that  but am always interested in learning new
things. thanks Marsha

NCCAM has produced a new fact sheet on Reiki, an energy medicine
practice that originated in Japan. This Backgrounder provides a general
overview of Reiki and suggests some resources you can use to learn more
about this practice.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/reiki/

Greetings Qigong Forum Members,

One of the best ways to understand a method is to experience it first
hand. That is why I am writing, to invite anyone who may be
interested to attend the exciting programs offered this summer in
Winchester Virginia at A Taste of China.

I have been honored by being invited to teach with a panel of
internal arts instructors including, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, Master
Liang, Shou-Yu, Master Liu, Xiao-ling, Master Yang, Yang, Master Li,
De-yin and others. We will be presenting a series of three hour
workshops over a span of four days.

This is a great opportunity to meet and study with some fine
instructors of the internal health and martial arts. You can get full
information on all the programs on the ATOC website
www.atoctaijiquan.com

Here is information on the program I will be offering. The three
Bagua-Qigong programs are especially interesting and quite powerful.
I hope you will come join me and share in the knowledge and fun at A
Taste of China.

Thank you for your attention.

A Taste of China
Winchester Virginia
Daoist Bagua Health & Longevity Qigong
June 28-July 2
On Line Registration www.atoctaijiquan.com


Psycho-Soma Integration
Xin-Quan �SŒ�   mind - intention Boxing
Everybody is standing but nobody is going anywhere. With the advent
of Yiquan becoming an accepted martial art Zhan Zhuang or post
standing has become a buzz word in Chinese internal martial arts over
the last few years. Many people are doing standing exercises but do
not really understand why or how these exercises are supposed to work
or how they can be used in health or martial applications. Dr. John
Painter has devoted 28 years to researching the methods of Li, Long-
dao�fs Xin-Quan �SŒ�   mind; intention Boxing believed to have been
derived from master Wang, Xian-Jai�fs Yiquan teachings. This is the Li
family version of Yiquan updated through the latest physiological and
psychological research. Dr. Painter will show you exactly how to
produce whole body power through standing and special moving
exercises. You will learn how to understand correct structure for
whole body power and to use the breath to create Fa-jin (pulsing
force) and then how to move this skill into your martial arts
practice. Many often confusing terms and principles from the internal
classics will be explained in clear concise understandable language.
This is program #3 on the ATOC web site. 3 hour program June 28th

The Ba Gua Wu Xian "ª ŒT •`�å
Eight diagram dance of the immortals Programs of The Li family
The Goal of this special Daoist exercise created by master Li, Zhang
Lai of Sichuan Province is to attain longevity and health by
stimulating the natural production of Jing, Qi and Shen, refining
these energies in the various centers and then leading the three
essences to the upper Qi cauldron to create the immortal essence of
longevity. This program is based on Daoist yoga circle walking
methods. No previous experience is necessary. Part of the beauty of
these nine powerful programs is that that can stand alone as health
exercises or be used together to develop Xian Qi (the immortal
vitality) 3 hour program

Lucky number Energy Skill - Ji-Haoma Qigong ‹gåjáùŸ† Œ÷
Human energy wind water power direction Daoist masters devised a
method of calculating the most powerful compass direction to face
while meditating practicing Daoist Yoga, performing standing practice
Qigong or Bagua circle walking. Dr. John Painter will teach you how
to calculate your human Feng Shui lucky number from which you can
determine the most powerful directions to face during your training.
Also included will be a specific Bagua circle walking form based on a
posture derived from the Yi-jing and your personal Lucky Number. This
workshop is part of Li family, Nine Dragon Qigong a method of
personal Feng Shui to orient the body and harmonize the mind with the
cycles of change in nature for best absorption of Qi energy. No
experience necessary. This is a very calming and powerful experience
for all to enjoy. Illustrated manuals will also be available for a
small fee. Program # 7 on the ATOC website 3 hour program June 29th

Dragon Wind Water - Long Feng-Shui—´•—�…
Long Feng Shui Qigong (Dragon of Wind and Water) is a method of
personal Feng Shui to orient the body and harmonize the mind with the
cycles of change occurring in the Year, month, week, day and hours
for best absorption of Qi energy. This is done through a series of
practices. The art begins with seated meditation, proceed to standing
meditations to center the body and flows into walking the circle
holding postures that are designed to harmonize the body with the
Electromagnetic energy of the earth, gravity to draw natural energy
from the sun and moon light that affects our hormonal and chemical
balance. The goal is to enhance the energy we draw from the earth and
sky. Some of this knowledge is based on common sense and on ancient
philosophy found in Daoism and the Yijing as well as the lunar
calendar. It also has a sound basis in science, psychology and
physiology while using the ancient Yijing to harmonize oneself with
the cycles of time. When performed regularly Long Feng Shui promotes
physical and mental relaxation. Improves circulation of blood and
lymphatic fluids and assists digestion. This unique form of Qigong
aids in fortifying the body against disease promotes healing and also
increases flexibility and power to the internal and external muscles.
We will learn the seven daily postures for developing Qi vitality
during this program. Program#24 3 hour program July 1st

Flying Dragon Qigong - Feixing Long Qigong "ò�s—´Ÿ† Œ÷
Flying Dragon Qigong is designed to increase life-force energy levels
allowing Qi energy to circulate naturally and freely through the body
and between the body and the environment. Its primary purpose is to
attain longevity and health by stimulating the natural production of
Jing (essence), Qi (vitality) and Shen (spirit), refining these
energies in the various centers and then leading the three essences
to the proper Qi cauldrons to assist in creating the immortal essence
of longevity. Based on Daoist circle walking methods students will
hold specific positions with the arms and upper torso while walking
in a circle. Combined with visualizations these methods stimulate
both internal organs and the internal acupuncture meridian systems to
facilitate a greater flow of Qi energy. Each of the simple forms is
associated with images from the ancient Yijing and will calm the mind
and induce a state of tranquility we will learn three powerful
exercises, Awaken The Cauldrons, Turning The Wheel of Life and Dragon
Swimming Among The Clouds. No previous experience is necessary
Program #32 a 3 hour program July 2nd

For More Information on all the other masters and programs
  Visit ATOC Website
On Line Registration www.atoctaijiquan.com

Qi Dao
April  2006

Qi Dao, the monthly E-newsletter of World Institute for Self
Healing, Inc. (WISH), promotes philosophy and methods of human self-
healing and mind power, and shares knowledge and experiences with
those who are interested in human self-healing and mind power and
their applications in health and healing.  All contributions are
welcome.

Read entire Qi Dao online at http://www.wishus.org/newsletter.asp

[Research Updates]
> Bilateral frontal activation associated with cutaneous stimulation
of elixir field (Dan Tian)
> Chan-chuang qigong (Standing Pole Qigong) improves symptoms and
psychological distress in chemotherapy patients
> Pharmaceutical companies are inventing diseases to sell more drugs
http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_042006_1.asp

[From the Master]
       A look at what it costs to gain and lose (Master Benhui He)
       http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_042006_2.asp

[Ask Dr. Ken]
> Breathing from the Lower Abdomen (Dan Tian)
> Movement Based Qigong
> Summary of the Practice of Qigong
        http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_042006_3.asp

[East-West Perspective]
	 "Cultural Differences in Self-Healing Practice and
Attitudes" Judy Xu discusses whether one's cultural background makes
a difference in the effects of Qigong
	 Editorial on the East-West Perspective -- the editor of the
Qi Dao expressed different perspective on this issue after feeling
offended by this article?
    	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_042006_4.asp

[Illuminating the Dao]
The Rules to Be Happy
	 http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_042006_5.asp

[Book Review]
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael
Pollan.
What should we have for dinner? Should we eat a fast-food hamburger?
Something organic? Or perhaps something we hunt, gather, or grow
ourselves? The omnivore's dilemma has returned with a vengeance...
http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_042006_6.asp
[Power of the Mind]
Dreamwork by Peter Reznik, CSW, PhD
An unattended dream is like an unopened envelope.
http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_042006_7.asp

[Food as Medicine]
Support your endurance with a bowl of beans, peas or lentils.
Because these legumes are a tonic food for your kidneys and help
stabilize blood sugar, they provide you oomph!
http://www.wishus.org/newsletter_042006_8.asp

[Citation of the Month]
"Great knowledge sees all in one.  Small knowledge breaks down into
the many." ¨C Zhuang Zi

[A Comedy Moment]

[What¡¯s New at WISH]

Read entire Qi Dao online at http://www.wishus.org/newsletter.asp

¡¤ You are welcome to share Qi Dao with your friends.
¡¤ To subscribe to Qi Dao, send an email to Qi_Dao-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
¡¤ To contribute to Qi Dao or contact us, please email to
WISH_Qidao@....

Hi everybody,

we are currently planning an intervention study with patients
suffering from congestive heart failure. I would like to convince my
colleagues to take up qigong as one of the interventions. In order to
achive that I am searching for peer reviewed papers which show one of
the following:

Effects of Qigong and/or Taiji on
- health outcomes in heart patients (may also be coronary arterie
disease or other forms)
- effects of cardiovascular functioning in general (heart rate, blood
pressure, heart rate variability, etc.)
- effects on diabetis, cholesterol, obeseity and hypertension
- any other effects that you think might be interesting in that context.

Papers about other forms, like mindfulness meditation, etc. would also
be welcome.

I am glad abot any hints you can possibly provide.

this is my email adress: andreas.cordes@...

Thanks in advance,
Andreas

> Hi Andreas and everybody,
>
> I forwarded to the group this message previously
> sent
> to Andreas. This article is a good sarting point to
> other ones via its entensive references.
>
> --- Claude Fournier <foucla01@...> a écrit :
>
> > Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 14:09:54 -0400 (EDT)
> > De: Claude Fournier <foucla01@...>
> > Objet: taijiquan vs cardiology
> > À: andreas.cordes@...
> >
> > Hi Andreas,
> >
> > In response to your request concerning
> > qigong/taijiquan vs cardiology, this is an
> excellent
> > article.
> >
> > Taylor-Piliae RE, Froelicher ES. Effectiveness of
> > Tai
> > Chi exercise in improving aerobic capacity: a
> > meta-analysis. J Cardiovasc Nurs 2003;19(1):48-57.
>
> >
> > Claude


~~~~~~~.o0o.~~~~~~~
Claude Fournier, md.
Service de médecine intégrée
CSSS de Beauce
Site CLSC de St-Georges
12523, 25e Avenue, Ville St-Georges, Québec, G5Y 5N6
Tél. (418)228-2244 #308   Fax: (418)222-6735
http://www.yangsheng.info   http://www.amibes.info

BBC News - Saturday, 9 October, 2004, 23:22 GMT 00:22 UK
Tai Chi 'can treat heart failure'
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/WTCQDHlthBenft.html#anchor36
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3728174.stm

for more on tai chi as therapy for a myriad of conditions:
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/WTCQDHlthBenft.html

<< > Hi Andreas and everybody,
  >
  > I forwarded to the group this message previously
  > sent
  > to Andreas. This article is a good sarting point to
  > other ones via its entensive references.
  >
  > --- Claude Fournier <foucla01@...> a écrit :
  >
  > > Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 14:09:54 -0400 (EDT)
  > > De: Claude Fournier <foucla01@...>
  > > Objet: taijiquan vs cardiology
  > > À: andreas.cordes@...
  > >
  > > Hi Andreas,
  > >
  > > In response to your request concerning
  > > qigong/taijiquan vs cardiology, this is an
  > excellent
  > > article.
  > >
  > > Taylor-Piliae RE, Froelicher ES. Effectiveness of
  > > Tai
  > > Chi exercise in improving aerobic capacity: a
  > > meta-analysis. J Cardiovasc Nurs 2003;19(1):48-57.
  >
  > >
  > > Claude
   >>

Several papers discussing new experimental evidence and the possible
role of  local and global bioelectromagnetic effects in genetic
control mechanisms are now available online in the April 2006 issue of
JNLRMI at  http://www.emergentmind.org/jnlrmiiv1.htm  If anyone is
interested in replicating some of these studies or in other forms of
future collaboration, please contact me.

Thanks.

Lian Sidorov
lian@...

The Relationship of Qi and Hypnosis
By: Dr. John P. Painter Ph.D. ND.
International Copyright IAM Co. 1999

Why do some Chinese Daoist teachers, Tibetan Lamas and East Indian
sages in countries where the average age is 49 live active productive
lives twice that long without illness and are still as active
physically, mentally and sexually at 85 as they were at 35." The
Chinese Daoist, the people who wrote the book on longevity and
disease free living say it is the mind that generates most illness
especially in adolescents and adults.

Pathogenic factors only serve to create illness when the body itself
is not in harmony with the mind. The way we learn to use the mind to
organize our patterns of body energies is the difference between
health and disease.  An ancient Chinese medical text "The Yellow
Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine" published two thousand years
ago contains a chapter entitled "Natural Truth in Ancient Times" it
appears that the subject of Qi is mentioned in this rhetorical
question from that text.

"When one is completely free of wishes or ambition, he will really
get the genuine vital energy. When one concentrates his mind
internally, how can disease attack him?"

This idea seems to illustrate my point that "all is mind" (Quantum
Physics) and that all illness and also all healing begin and end with
the direction and amplitude of the thoughts we generate. This is the
foundation of Dr. John Painter's Psycho-Soma Mobius Principle that
states simply that the mind / spirit, which is housed in the body,
creates the body itself. The two are so inextricably linked so as to
be almost indistinguishable from each other. What happens in the body
affects the mind and what happens in the mind affects the body. So
long as we are alive the two flow in an endless loop.

As the Daoist sage Lao Zi said, "So long as we possess a physical
body there will be misfortune."

The process of Qi-gong is more than just performing a series of
movements. The mind must also be involved and there must be a certain
level of positive expectations as to the outcome or the results of
the exercises for the methods to function correctly.

For Qi-gong to be truly effective one must learn to use the mind to
elicit what Harvard's Dr. Herbert Benson has called a relaxation
response. This process can be thought of as a type of meditation
training in which the following criteria have to be achieved to begin
creating a "healing response".

1. Relax the external muscles.
2. Calm the mind of distracting thoughts.
3. Begin to relax inwardly the internal muscles and organs

One thing that is also clear from psychological studies of meditators
suffering from emotional disorders is that straight mediation does
not always solve emotional problems. It can often drive them deeper
by making the mind stronger so it is numbed to the pain.


Chinese Daoist concepts seem to deal with this by transforming the
energy from emotions that they believe are stored in specific organs
into positive energy and using this to increase the overall Qi level
of the body. This is most often accomplished by specific
visualization exercise in which the mind (Yi) is used to guide the Qi
energy to a specific point or lead it along a certain pathway.

The reason that standard quite sitting meditation does not do this is
that it is not bringing forth a modality for the discharge of
negative emotional energy stored in various tissues and organs of the
body in a compete form. It is merely allowing the mind to become
still and quiet. Thus meditation is only the first step. The mind's
distracting static can be dampened in mediation but no long stored
emotional energies are discharged from their collection points.

For this we must engage the use of specialized mental exercises
involving in some cases physical movements but in all cases the use
of visualizations and imagination to produced subtle internal
feelings and changes in the internal systems.

Enter Self-Hypnosis
Once we start talking about using the imagination or the mind to
visualize or create specific responses we are entering the realm of
mesmerism / hypnosis / autosuggestion / self-hypnosis / self-talk or
any of a number of other names. Those who still hold to the misguided
idea that hypnosis is some type of trance where one person controls
another would do well to read more modern literature on neuro-science
and the workings of the brain and mind.

You are hypnotized daily by radio, television commercials, news
commentators or your peers. Anytime you listen to someone who
purports and idea and you buy into and believe that idea you are
working with hypnosis. You buy a special brand of soap, diet food,
natural foods etc based on something you read, saw or heard and you
bought into the idea that it was good for you. This happened because
you choose to believe this thing, person or product was beneficial to
you in some way. Your mind recorded it as a truth and you moved to
make it happen.

Just in the same way you can get a cold or the flu by thinking, "I
get sick every year." That thought turns the brain on to lower your
immune system and allow the bacteria or virus to invade your system.
Of course it is a bit more complex than this simple explanation but
it is the basis of how and why you get ill, succeed or fail in many
endeavors in life or have certain belief systems.

Today science is learning more and more about the mind and its
mysterious influence over the body. We are learning more each year.
Science is slow to make progress in these areas. Western science must
see everything in concrete terms and be able to examine a process in
minute detail.

In the East where the traditions of mental healing began, no such
approach is taken. If a method works it is accepted as valid because
of the outcome not the process. Practitioners of a method will strive
to improve the method until it is more powerful and effective but
they seldom question why something works.

After over thirty years of observing, studying and researching
various Qi-gong methods and systems Dr. Painter says he is more
convinced that ever that it is what and how we think or rather how
and what we imagine that has the greatest influence on our health or
lack thereof.

Because many people have a problem with the word "hypnosis" he
chooses to use the term guided imagery when discussing concepts of
Vitapathic healing (Qi-gong) as this term seems to fit the processes
used in Chinese and Tibetan methodology. Guided imagery is a simple
process in which we can train ourselves to use pictures in our mind
to turn on and increase your bodies' natural healing potential and
maintain it at peak efficiency.

It is very clear to see is we make comparative studies of eastern
cultures and their healing methods that guided imagery is at the
heart of all the healing traditions of the East and early shamanistic
health systems. It is safe and very powerful if used correctly.

In one of the earliest know texts on Qigong theory written by Master
Wei, Boyang, titled Can Tong Qi (Akinness of the Three) around 142 AD
the master of Daoist energy development says, "In the end whatever
you call it, it is not more than the mind (Yi and Xin), intention and
attitude and the breath being together as one. It is simply the Yin
and the Yang influenced internally with their spirit and energy
entwined."

Even earlier the founder or Daoist thought, Lao, Zi author of the
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), is reputed to have authored a previous work
which was burned and later banned in China (today it is available
again and in wide circulation). This was The Treatise of the Exalted
One, On Response and Retribution written some possibly around 549
B.C. in this work the opening lines are: `The exalted One says:
Curses and blessings do not come through the gates, but man himself
invites their arrival. Good and evil is like shadow following object…"

Both of these passages would seem to imply that what we think
and "invite in" to the mind becomes the progenitors of our success or
failure, happiness or success. This message is not new it is repeated
over and over again in culture after culture. Yet in the pursuit of
Qigong somehow the message has gotten lost in the forest of
numberless exercises, breathing practices and ritualized dances all
attempting to get the Qi flowing in the right way at the right time.

What seems to be lost in all of this is the fact that the mind rules
the body and the body houses the Qi which seems to be exactly what
master Wei and master Lao Zi  were trying to tell us. The best way to
activate this powerful mechanism of the mind to take dominion over
the body and the Qi is through visualization training and that can
also be called guided imagery. As Shakespeare said, "What's in a
name, a rose by any other would still smell as sweet."

The goal of guided imagery healing exercises is to create a response
felt throughout our body. In some instances we feel a very subtle
feeling of things changing in others we experience heat building up
and in some there is a response that manifests as a feeling of
tingling as if a light electrical current were moving internally.
This "feeling" is often identified as the moving of the Qi. In
reality it may be due to relaxation of muscles producing greater
blood flow or increased innervation as compressed areas of the
neurological system are released.

No matter what the sensations that occur in the individual what is
similar in all cases is a letting go of fear and tension and the
ability to use the mind to direct these feelings. As Qi is not a noun
but a word used to describe an unseen energy it is possible to take
the position that Qi is not a thing but a result of a specific type
or though process that may activate at any one time the neurological
system, the muscular system, the endocrine system or any other
process of the body. All of this occurs as a result of a desire or
thought process. So this could be called the Qi-gong process
activated by the guided imagery we choose to use. Through learning to
relax with meditation and or guided imagery exercises this produces
the letting go idea that will allow the subject to bring his or her
attention to the physical body in a way not possible during normal
activity.

Practicing a Qi-gong routine that uses guided imagery allows the
scattered thoughts in the mind to come to rest and the subjects' mind
become centered of focused on a specific task. By the reduction of
mental static the mind then has a chance to turn inward toward its
innate natural ability activating you bodies healing response
mechanisms.

Remember all forms of Qi-gong training whether static (non-movement)
or active (moving forms) contains a specific goal to be achieved by
the practitioner. Even without consciously directing Qi to move or
specific visualizations it should be noted that the positive
expectancy concerning attaining this goal is a vital part of the
concepts of guided imagery. We have undertaken this exercise for a
reason and thus we see in our mind's eye the desired result which in
turn triggers basic response mechanisms in the unconscious capable of
directing our natural systems toward a favorable response.

Guided imagery will not always work for everyone. Some individuals
who seem to have a desire to overcome physical illness at a conscious
level may in fact have a very different agenda guiding the
unconscious control mechanisms of the mind. As Dr. O Carl Simonson a
famous pioneer of guided imagery for cancer patience said in his
landmark work "Getting Well Again". "Some people have an unconscious
will to live and other a will to die. If they choose the latter in
the unconscious then the prognosis is very grave indeed."

This explains why some people seem to not be helped by guided imagery
or any form of natural healing method. At some level the subject has
not accepted or "bought into" the idea that he or she has the right
and the ability to participate in his or her healing process. Wanting
and professing such a belief is of no consequence so long as the
unconscious programming has a contrary point of view.

Dr. Painter states that in his personal experience with hundreds of
clients that some people with a predilection to this unconscious
negative personality trait can change his or her unconscious negative
programming and use guided imagery with great success. But, unless
certain adjustments are made in the individuals internal belief
structures all the Qi-gong and guided imagery or even modern western
medical methods will be of little benefit for healing.

Programming the Human Bio-Computer with Qi-gong

A fascinating fact about this human bio- computer (mind) is that the
unconscious does not see anything as good, bad, right or wrong. It
just stores information, which we feed into it. When we encounter an
idea or new experience we first take it into what is know as short
term memory. Little importance is given to the event unless it is
repeated or it is a singularly profound experience like burning you
hands on the stove or a great emotional shock.

If, however the experience is profound or occurs over again we tend
to absorb it and accept it as a fact. Ideas that are repeated
consistently by a peer roll model or parent or thoughts and
sensations that are pleasing or frightening to us will eventually be
stored in the long-term memory circuits. Your unconscious bio-
computer accepts these ideas as facts. This process of how thought
and images change us and guide or lives gets kind of complicated and
for this paper the basics of what we need to know are:

1. The unconscious stores information it does not judge the
information as good or bad it merely stores it for future use.

2. The unconscious helps our conscious recognize the world around us.

3. The unconscious controls the internal biological responses of our
bodies, heart beat, respiration, immune system response, digestion
and neurological functions.

4. If the unconscious is programmed for health we are healthy if it
is programmed for illness we get sick. Unconscious programming for
health or illness is not always apparent in the conscious mind's
awareness of self.

  5. Seeing, touching or hearing things can trigger information
retrieval. The things we hear, see, feel, and think influence the way
our unconscious mind releases its programming controls that affect
the other systems of our body.

So we can say that thought creates changes in the body. In other
words we are guided toward health or illness by what we choose to
see, feel, think and do. We can say that our perception or
imagination of how the world is actually creates the reality we feel,
hear and see.

Changing Reality With Non-Reality
Here is a simple experiment that you can do right now to show you how
the imagination creates reality. As you listen to this close your
eyes and picture a large juicy lemon. It is a big thick, fat lemon,
swollen with tart lemon juice. The fruit is very yellow and ripe. Now
you can see yourself holding a knife, a sharp knife. You carefully
cut into the lemon skin and slice around the lemon rind. The juice of
this lemon starts to drip down the knife onto your hand. It is cool
and sticky. You put down the knife and peel open the lemon exposing
the yellow pulp. As you squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl it smells
tart and sweet.

Take note now of how your mouth is reacting. Do you have saliva
flowing freely, is your mouth puckering up. Can you smell the scent
of the lemon. If so you have a good ability to visualize and to
imagine. When the imaginary lemon created these sensations you were
experiencing guided imagery. Your physical body reacted to imaginary
stimuli, the lemon, which did not really exist except as a thought
image by producing digestive enzymes in your mouth. Your body in
other words was getting ready to eat a lemon and digest it.

Your mind created a change in your bodies' chemical structure and
began producing enzymes in your mouth and throat designed to digest
an imaginary lemon. In other words from a state of non-reality you
produced a state of reality. If you fully understand this process it
is not hard to expand the idea into learning to use thought and image
to change many of the ways your body produces healing chemicals and
rids it's self of toxic chemicals and emotions.

The primary use and benefit of guided imagery in Qi-gong is in
preventive maintenance.  A good practitioner will seek out the little
nagging problems, knots, areas of tension and misalignments, to
eliminate them, thus showing you what your body should feel like all
the time.  Each time you practice Qi-gong with guided imagery, your
body is given an opportunity to relax and align itself a little more,
if only for a short time at first.  This alignment is not only in a
physical sense, such as alignment of muscle and bone and properly
working systems, but mental and spiritual alignment may be achieved
as well.

So no matter what the method or exercises we must buy into the
process and create a marriage of mind, imagery and focused attention
with body. All things working in synergy to produce the desired
results. Dr. Painter has been able to successfully apply the
principles mentioned here both in the healing Qigong practice of his
Daoqiquan arts and in the martial training of "power standing" for
developing internal power or Jin energy skill. As he says< "One
treatment may seem like a "drop in the bucket" . . .
drop...drop...drop...drop. . . they keep building up until the bucket
overflows with good health and internal power."

END

Excerpted from:
Qi-gong The Li Family Methods
By: Dr. John P. Painter ND.

NOTE:
It should be understood that, as a beginner, you should never try to
cure your own disease without proper guidance, and you should always
consult a competent medical doctor first if you suspect yourself or a
friend to be seriously ill.


WANT TO KNOW MORE FROM HANDS ON EXPERIENCE?:

Shifu Robert Castaldo of the Gompa in Arlington Texas will be
teaching a workshop at the Zhan San Feng Festival Titled

  Qi and Beyond Through Guided Imagery With Shifu Castaldo
All forms of internal martial art, meditation, standing practice and
Qi-gong training contains specific goals to be visualized and
achieved by the practitioner. Science is now discovering that the
positive expectancy which often involves some form or "self talk",
visualizations or guided imagery is a vital part of the concepts of
Qigong and internal martial art practice. Understanding how Guided
Imagery functions and how you can employ it in your training can help
you make serious breakthrough in your internal arts training. Shifu
Robert Castaldo, an instructor of Chinese internal martial arts has
also worked as a Hypnotherapist with the Life Sciences Institute. He
will show you how to use guided imagery (self-hypnosis) to enhance
your meditation, martial arts and Qigong practice. 90 minutes


GUIDED IMAGERY FOR INTERNAL POWER AND JIN IN MARTIAL ARTS

Dr. Painter will be teaching a special program at the week long
festival Gathering of the Circle workshop following the Zhan San Feng
Festival titled , The Truth about Mind Body Jin and Qi This program
will feature Dr. John Painter's breakthrough concepts of Psycho-Soma-
Integration to take your practice of Zhan Zhuang standing directly
into your Baguazhang practice in a way that will ramp up your
internal power to a totally new level. This is a master key and is
the bedrock foundation of physical, mental and internal power
development. It will all be presented to you in one crystal clear
package.

Online Registration at   -
http://www.americansocietyofinternalarts.org/
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------

ALSO A FULL WEEK OF QIGONG IN VIRGINIA

AT A Taste of China IN Winchester Virginia June 28-July 2 Featuring
Dr. Painter's four incredible internal power programs of Daoist Bagua
Health & Longevity Qigong.

Each of these programs can be used alone or together for developing
longevity, health and stress reduction.

1. Xin-Quan mind - intention Boxing
2. Ji-Haoma Qigong / Luck Number Bagua Qigong
3. Long Feng-Shui - Dragon Wind Water Bagua Qigong
4. Feixing Long Qigong - Flying Dragon Qigong

   Come learn from some of the top internal arts teachers in the
country  at A Taste Of China

For More Information on all the other masters and programs
Visit ATOC Website
On Line Registration www.atoctaijiquan.com

Professor Timothy Liu from the Beijing University
of Chinese Medicine is coming to New Jersey to
speak at both UMDNJ and Rutgers University on
medical qigong and its effects on human
health.  He is internationally known for his
research and instruction in Qigong and is the
Secretary General of China’s National Qigong
Education & Study Association. Professor Liu has
taught Qigong in Beijing University of Chinese
Medicine for 20 years and is editor-in-chief of
the textbook “Qigong Study in Chinese Medicine”,
the only official Qigong textbook in China’s
universities and colleges.  Although he has
traveled to many countries in Asia and Europe
speaking on this subject, this is his first time in the United States.

Date:  Saturday, June 3, 2006
Time:  10:00 am – 12 noon
Place:  Asian American Cultural Center, Rutgers University
              49 Joyce Kilmer Ave, Livingston Campus, Piscataway, New Jersey
Limited Seating:  Please RSVP by June 1 to
<mailto:bosacchi@...>bosacchi@... or call 732-445-8043.
Co-sponsored by: Rutgers Asian American Cultural
Center and the World Institute for Self-Healing, Piscataway, NJ
__________________________________________________________________________
Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
Place: Department of Family Medicine, Research Division, UMDNJ
              1 World’s Fair Drive
              Somerset, NJ 08873
For more information contact: Cynthia
Duncan-Robinson (<mailto:robinsce@...>robinsce@...) 732-743-3222.

Symposium on Methodological Challenges
in the Study of Mind-Body Therapies and Energy Medicine

(Part of the 2006 North American Conference on
Complementary and Integrative Medicine,
May 24-27, 2006, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

Chair: Kevin W Chen, Ph.D. MPH

ABSTRACT

*  The Study of Energy Medicine's Effects on Cells
--- Gloria A. Gronowicz, Ph.D.  Professor at
Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine
University of Connecticut Health Center (Farmington, CT 06030 USA)
              Energy medicine studies with
patients have effects due to energy transference
from practitioner to patient, and due to the
mind-body connection in the patient. The study of
the effect of energy medicine on cells may be
able to reveal directly the target and the nature
of the energy field or “biofield”. However to
accomplish these goals, study design and
methodology must be developed scientifically to
demonstrate with appropriate statistical
analysis, the effects of the biofield on cells.
To begin this scientific journey, we will be
discussing the following topics and data that may
elucidate the path to reach our goals. The choice
of a model system for the study of energy
medicine is critical to its success. The types of
cells and assays to be performed, along with the
variables, such as placebo controls and the site
where the study is being performed, must be
considered in any well-designed study.  How we
report the data is also important. The
practitioners’ well-being and training along with
the researcher’s relationship with the
practitioners will impact the study. Treating
cells is different from treating patients, and
the practitioner needs to understand the cells
and to realize that they were once in a human’s
body or in the case of bacteria that they have
their own entity, are still living and retain a
“memory” of where they have been. The need for
well-designed cell studies is great and will help
to increase our understanding of the biofield and energy medicine.

* Systematic Negative Controls in Biofield Healing Research
     -- Garret Yount, Ph.D. Research Scientist at
California Pacific Medicine Center
         Indirect measurement of the influence of
biofield healing treatments in the laboratory
allows for careful control of the parameters that
might influence outcomes. The strict control of
experimental conditions permitted by in vitro
models is especially useful for testing
mechanistic theories and demonstrating proof of
principle. However, the issue of variability in
the apparent effects of biofield treatments found
using in vitro models presents an important
challenge in the field. Beyond the variability
introduced by human operators, logistics often
prevent control of some parameters of the
biological target system. The variability of the
model must yield to the laws of probability,
however, as long as there are sufficient numbers
of experiments, careful randomization, and strict
blinding to eliminate artifact and bias. The
incorporation of systematic negative controls
provide an additional level of confidence in this
regard by balancing experiments involving
biofield treatments with an equal number of
control experiments involving all the
manipulations of the target cells except the
biofield treatment. Systematic negative controls
were helpful when considering the significance of
outliers in the data from experiments in our
laboratory. While outliers in the data from
experiments with Qigong and Johrei practitioners
could have easily been interpreted as exceptional
performances by a particular practitioner in a
particular experiment, evidence of intrinsic
variability of the system of similar magnitude
did not support this speculation. Thus, the
conduct of experiments without continual
assessment of potential variability within the
model system may sway the results into spurious significance.

*  Problems of repeatability in clinical or
pre-clinical studies of energy medicine and the
possible solutions -- Kevin W Chen, Ph.D. MPH,
Associate Professor in Department of Psychiatry,
UMDNJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
               Although mind-body integrative
therapies and energy medicine have gained
increased attention and popularity, little
scientific documentation can be found in the
western literature about their efficacy.  Among
the few studies in this area, researchers are
confronted with serious problems in producing
results or replicating previous findings based on
conventional research methods.  Based on both
personal experiences with energy healers, and
documented studies in the field, this
presentation will briefly explore the following issues:
1)      How repeatable it is for an energy healer
to produce in clinical or laboratory studies
2)      What are the major factors that may
affect repeatability of a positive result
3)      Effective methods for future studies to
achieve a better repeatability of positive result.

* Exploration of effective methodology in laboratory study of Qigong
-- Tianjun Liu, OMD, Professor, & Director of
Laboratory of Qigong Study, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, China
            Qigong is a traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM) therapy based mostly on empirical
experience and physical and psychological
sensations, while modern research methods in
western medicine are mostly evidence-based
techniques with a perspective of reductionism and
positivism. Is it possible to apply the modern
research methods and technique in the study of
qigong therapy?  To what degree can modern
techniques help us understand the empirical
healing art like qigong?  Our laboratory of
qigong study at BUCM conducted a series of
experiments to explore the possibility of
applying modern medical equipments and methods to
examine or verify the therapeutic effects of
qigong therapy through adjustment of body
postures, adjustment of breathing, and adjustment
of mind state.  The key lessens, results and the
major challenges in these studies will be briefly discussed.

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