The practice of Qigong and Yoga increase oxygen
availability which potentially:
- Supports energy (ATP, AMP, ADP)
generation.
- Generates water as a by product
of energy metabolism which contributes a major portion to
the lymph supply.
- Enhances immune
function.
- Supports the body's ability to
neutralize free radicals.
1. Energy
Generation
It has been well established that the energy necessary for
cell work and body heat regulation is supplied through the
reaction of oxygen and glucose to form high energy phosphate
bonds.(24) There is a direct relationship between oxygen
demand, the impulse to breath and the basal metabolic rate
(BMR, the rate that the cells in the body consume oxygen and
glucose to produce water, carbon dioxide and energy).
Hydrolysis of adenosine triposphate (ATP) is accomanied by
the release of chemical energy for cellular and muscular
activity.
Preliminary research demonstrates that ATP may be an
analog to one aspect of what the Chinese call "Qi" and what
the Oriental Indians call "Prana", the vital force or life
energy. The aspect of the Qi that is the "basic dynamic
force of all vital function" is called Zhen Qi (Genuine
Energy).(25) A study presented at the 1988 World Conference
on the Academic Exchange of Medical Qigong revealed that
blood ATP content increased with exercises which cultivate
the Qi.(26) When the mysterious practice of Qi emission was
performed the subject's ATP was found to have decreased.
The simple methods of Qigong practice, movement,
breath practice moderated with concentration, relaxation and
intention may bring a primary substrate of Qi or Prana
production, namely oxygen, into the body's energy metabolism
cycle. This chain of events is called the "cycle of the
transformation of energy" by the chinese.(27) It is likely,
however, that this is only one of the components of the
broad array of possible energetic mechanisms involved in
acupuncture, Qi Gong and other oriental health
practices.
In the west we generally characterize ancient medicine
as unscientific or even primitive. The Chinese "formula" for
the transformation of Qi seems overly simplified. Gu Qi
(grain qi), the essence or life force of food, mixes with
Kong Qi (28) or Qing Qi(25) (natural air qi), the essence or
life force of air to form Zhen Qi (true qi) or the life
force of the body.(25,28,29)
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Gu Qi
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Kong (Qing) QI
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CONTINUED Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next
 | Roger Jahnke has been in the health field since 1967 beginning with body therapies, herbal medicine, Tai Chi, Yoga and meditation. He turned his attention seriously to Oriental medicine in 1972 with study at the North......more |
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