Overview

Qi gong is a martial art-like exercise from traditional Chinese medicine that attempts to regulate mind, body, and breath.

In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that disease is caused by a blockage or imbalance of energy flow in the body. Qi gong is thought to help unblock or balance energy flow and help the body heal.

People use Qi gong for high blood pressure, back pain, asthma, cancer, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and many other conditions, but there's no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.

Don't confuse Qi gong with Kampo medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, or tai chi. These are not the same.



Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

  • Tiredness in people with cancer. Practicing Qi gong might reduce feelings of tiredness in people with cancer.
  • A lung disease that makes it harder to breathe (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD). Practicing Qi gong might help people with COPD walk farther. It might also help to improve their breathing and quality of life.
  • High blood pressure. Practicing Qi gong might help to lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

There is interest in using Qi gong for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects



Special Precautions and Warnings



Qi gong is likely safe when practiced for up to 1 year. There are no known safety concerns. Like any exercise, Qi gong might cause muscle pain and tenderness.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Qi gong is safe when pregnant or breast-feeding. If you are pregnant, check with your healthcare provider before starting Qi gong or any other exercise program.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Qi Gong overview.

Dosing

The main principles of Qi gong include breathing, intentional movement, relaxation, stance, visualization, and awareness. There are many different types of Qi gong. Some forms of Qi gong have been specially developed for certain conditions.

Qi gong sessions may last for anywhere from 20-90 minutes and can be performed as often as daily or as little as once per week. Talk to your physician or other healthcare professional to learn more about how Qi gong is used for specific conditions.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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