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TCM Qigong & Self-Healing in Cancer Recovery

中医气功激发生物能和自愈力在癌症康复中的作用

Kevin W Chen, Ph.D. MPHCenter for Integrative Medicine

University of Maryland School of MedicineEmail: kchen@som.umaryland.edu

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What Is Qigong? -- the Term

Pronounced as “Chi Kung.” Qi = vital energy, breath of life. Gong = skill or achievement. Qigong is a general term for various forms of

traditional Chinese mind-body exercises and therapies.

The practice has a history of 3,000+ years Had many other names in the history

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Other Names of Qigong Tu-na (吐纳 ) - exhalation and inhalation, Dao-yin (导引 ) - guiding and conducting exercise An-qiao (按蹻 ) - massaging/stepping on the body Xiu-lian (修炼 ) - cultivating and refining Jing-zuo (静坐 ) - tranquil sitting, sit meditation Yang-sheng (养生 ) – life nurturing Cun-si (存思 ) - mind-visualization Guan-xiang (观想 ) - observing-imagination Xing-qi (行气 ) - circulating Qi

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Example Relics of Qigong

Right: A jade pendant describes special technique of qi meditation & possible reactions (around 600 B.C.)

• Left: a painted pottery jar with a sculpture in human shape on a standing meditation post, and gulping Qi… (around 3000 B.C.)

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Concept of Qi in TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) posits the

existence of a subtle energy (Qi) circulating throughout human body.

Good health is result of a free-flow, well-balanced qi system, while sickness or pain is the result of qi blockage or unbalanced qi.

All TCM therapies, herb, cupping, acupuncture, massage & Qigong, based on this perspective.

The same concept can be found in other cultures: Ki (Japan), Prana (India), Mana (Hawaii & Philippines), and OD (German).

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Textbook Definition of Qigong

“ The skill of body-mind exercises that integrate body, breath and mind adjustments into one.”

1. Contents: 3 adjustments2. Purpose: Integrate 3 adjustments

into oneness3. Classification of discipline: It’s

body-mind exercise – both physiology and psychology

4. Category of knowledge: operational skill or technique

Qigong and Healing Qigong practice has health benefits.

o Most people agree. Qigong therapy can heal diseases

o Most skeptic… or don’t know Qigong practice can help cancer recovery!

o Most people not sure…

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Medical Qigong 医疗气功 Emphasize how to use vital energy (qi) to help take

control of illnesses/diseases, and how to prevent them. Influenced by Daoism philosophy but developed

independently mostly by TCM practitioners. Historically, most famous TCM doctors were also

good qigong practitioners (e.g. Hua Tuo; Li Shizhen). Guide medical practitioners to use inner qi for

diagnosing, healing and preventing diseases. Concept qi & qigong techniques--foundation of TCM

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Ancient Medical Qigong Book General Treatise on Etiology and

Symptomology of Various Diseases (诸病源候论 )-- 610 A.D.

The oldest specialized medical text to explore etiology & pathogenesis.

50 volumes cover 67 subjects and 1739 items/entries..

No herbal formula or acupuncture But recorded 213 various ‘Daiyin

movements’ (Qigong) for 110 different symptoms or diseases!

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Variation in Medical Qigong Although Qigong is considered as a self-

healing therapy (see definition), the emission of Qi (or external Qi therapy) has always been part of the medical qigong practice so as to help patients to regain health or qi balance.

Need to distinguish between internal qigong training and external Qi therapy

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Internal Qigong Practice Self practice or cultivation to

achieve mind-body-breathing integration.

Major part of Qigong therapy. Involve guided imagery,

breathing skills, relaxation, inward attention, body posture, mindfulness training through three adjustments.

Three basic forms: dynamic, static, and standing post.

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External Qi Therapy

EQT -- Qigong practitioner direct or emit his Qi energy, intention, or bio-info to help other regain health.

Practiced through use of Qi (vital energy), or Yi (intention or mind) therapy, or a combination of the two.

Most schools of medical Qigong teach both techniques.

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Study of External Qi The physical nature of Qi remains as yet unproven,

there are some intriguing reports suggesting possibility of physical, biophysical or biochemical alterations induced by EQT or “Qi-emission.”

Chen (2004) “Analytic review of measuring external qi in China” -- presents a lot of studies that applied physical, chemical, biological and life detectors in verifying the existence of external qi.

There is a small but growing body of scientific evidence that suggests the physical existence of Qi, and the healing power of Qigong therapy

Chen (2004), Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 10(4): 38-50

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What is found in external qi?

Studies suggest 3 components in “external qi” healing process:

1. Matter – such as mm micro-wave, VLF electromagnetic field, photon, particle, etc.

2. Energy – Gamma ray, far-infrared,

3. Information – bi-directional effect on bacteria growth

TCM View of Cancer

A slowing or stasis of the Qi-blood flow in the body (deficiency of Zheng Qi)

Sometimes, there may be external toxin, but only working through internal dysfunction or imbalance.

Treatments focus on cultivating Zheng (qi) and dispelling Xie (toxin, evil)

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Qigong and Cancer Recovery Huge literature (many in Chinese). Mostly observational studies on cancer patients before

and after qigong practice Some randomized controlled trials in recent literature Many positive in-vitro and in-vivo studies of external

qi therapies for inhibiting cancer growth Many Qigong schools or clinics do not take patients

with cancer openly due to high mortality rate…. Two Qigong forms specifically target cancer: Guo-Lin

New Qigong and Taiji Five-Element Qigong. Both have reported many successful cases.

Chen & Yueng, 2002, Integrative Cancer Therapy, 1, 345-370 17

Qigong Therapy for Cancer Chen & Yueng (2002) reviewed 50+ research studies of

qigong therapy for cancer in the past 20 years. Group treated with qigong had significant more

improvement or a better survival rate than those treated with conventional method, with less side effects.

The cancer cells used in-vitro and in-vivo include breast cancer, erythroleukemia (K562), leukemia, CNE-2, SGC-7901 gastric adenocarcinoma, spleen cells, lung tumor cells (LA-795), etc.

Most studies demonstrated the inhibitory effect of qigong on the growth of cancer cells in comparison with the control and sham-treated groups.

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EQT on Transplanted Hepatocarcinoma in Mice

30 nude mice injected w/ hepatocarcinoma cells. randomly assigned into 3 groups: control, sham &

external qigong treatment. EQT towards mouse cage (10-15 am away) 10 minutes

every other day, a total of 4 sessions. Mice sacrificed 72 hrs after last EQT. Tumor mass

isolated & weighted. The three repeated trials showed, compared with control

the tumor growth-inhibitory rates of EQT group were 70%, 80%, and 79%, respectively (p < 0.0001).

Chen et al. 1997, Asian Medicine, 11, 36-38

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Fig 1. Inhibitory Effect of EQT on Live Cancer in Mice

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Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

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Sham

Qigong

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Pictures of Electron Microscopy

A (2200x) shows cell shrinkage, some with nuclear condensation; some apoptotic bodies in cells.

B (8000x) shows apoptotic cells, karyorrhexis, nuclear fragments, and cytoplasmic aggregation.

D (6000x) shows apoptosis: cell shrink, pyknosis and cytoplamic aggregation.

E (3900x) shows clustered apoptotic bodies in intercellular space.

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Inhibition of Cell Culture Growth Study of EQT inhibiting

breast cancer cell growth (PPT-I expression).

4 BC cell lines (BC-123; BC-125; BC-HT-20; BC-T47d) were grown in 4 conditions.

All plates were re-incubated for 16 hours. Total RNA was extracted to determine the levels of beta-PPT-I.

Treatment: Qigong (10 Treatment: Qigong (10 min), sham (10 min), min), sham (10 min), incubator control & room incubator control & room temperature control.temperature control.

Chen & Yueng (2002). Integrative Concer Therapies. 1(4):345-370

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Results of Our In-vitro Study Compared to sham-

treated cells, in all 8 trials (4 BC cells in two trials) the Qi-treated cells had slower growth than all sham group (p = .0038 in cumulative binomial probability distribution).

Effects of External Qi on PPT-I Expression on BC-HT-20 Cells

020406080

100120

Control 1 Control 2 Sham QigongTreatment

Cou

nt o

f Mol

ecul

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f to

tal R

NA

Trial 1

Trial 2

Bengston & Krinsley, 2000, Journal of Scientific Exploration, 14: 353-364.

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“Laying On of Hands” on Transplanted Breast Cancer in Mice (U.S.)

Bengston & Krinsley (2000) tried to apprentice “laying on of hands” technique on transplanted breast cancer in mice.

First study: 5 mice on each group. Cancer: mommary adenocarcinoma (H2712). Host strain: C3H/HeJ, which had a predicted

100% fatality in 14 to 27 days. Attempted to observe the prolonged life…

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Laying on Hands for Breast Cancer Bengston treated the mice 1 hour a day for a

month. The tumors developed a “blackened area”,

then ulcerated, imploded, and closed. The treated mice survived 100%! And lived

their normal life cycle. Three replications using skeptical volunteers

in different labs produced an overall cure rate of 87.9% in 33 mice.

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Laying on of hands for BC in mice

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Significant Finding: Resonance effects on control mice… On-site control survival rate was not 0%, but

69% in 2000 report, and 80.5% in 2007 report (tx group at 91.7%).

Replicated in four trials! Off-site control survival rate remained at

0%.

Bengston & Moga, J of Alter & Comp Med, 2007; 13(3): 317-327

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Summary of Remission Patternsfrom Laying-on-hands study

87.9

69.2

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Experiment Control on-site Control off-site

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More Exciting Finding from Laying-on-Hands Study

Re-injections of the same breast cancer into the mice after remission did not take their lives.

It suggests a stimulated immunological response to the bioenergy treatment.

If this immune response is transferable, we have a cure for this type of breast cancer – found out by a sociology professor!

Review of Clinical Studies Oh et al (2013) critical review of RCTs in Medical

Qigong for cancer patients: positive improvement for quality of life, mood and fatigue parameters.

Zeng et al. (2014), a systematic review of health benefits of Qigong for cancer (13 RCTs): Qigong had positive effects on QoL, fatigue, immune function and cortisol level.

Lee et al (2007), a systematic review of controlled trials (9 studies)– poor study quality, related to palliative supportive care, not as a curative treatment. Evidence inconclusive.

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Recent Clinical Studies Chen et al (2013, Cancer), RCT (n=95 BC pts),

Guolin Qigong 6 wks; Qigong group had less depress (p < .05), less fatigue (p < .01) & better QoL (p < .05).

Oh et al. (2010), RCT (n=162), medical qigong for 10 weeks, Qigong improved QoL (p < .05), fatigue (p < .001), and mood disturbance (p = 0.02).

Bower et al. (2015, Cancer), (n=71), Mindfulness meditation, RCT for BC survivors, reduced perceived stress (p < .01), depressive symptom (p = 0.09), & reductions in proinflammatory gene expression (p < .01) & inflammatory signaling (p < .01).

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Successful Case Study Yun Liao – recurrent breast

cancer metastasized to bone (surgery in Aug. & Nov. 1991, metastasized in 1993)

Doctor told no hospital bed for her since the situation was too late to treat….

Age 52 when first coming to Qigong class in 1993

Practiced Five-element Qigong for 8 months…..

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Case Study (Yun Liao)

ECT whole body scan in Nov. 1993 showed significant improvement

ECT in 1995 showed no sign of cancer metastasis….

She is still living and healthy today; volunteer to teach other cancer patients qigong, with 800+ students in Liu Zhou.

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Successful Case Study Manli Liu – Progressive brain cancer,

malignant intracerebral glioma (1994) Age 32 when coming to qigong in 1994 before Gamma ray-therapy (14 sessions),

tumor grew to the size of 4.3x3.6x3.9cm. Started qigong practice in Dec. 1994, Two months later, tumor size 2.5 x 2.2 One and half a year later, her seventh MRI

showed no sign of Glioma…. 33

Successful Case Study

Maoxun SHEN, recurrent liver cancer Initial diagnosis of liver cancer in 1989, underwent

three liver surgeries in 1990, 1991, & 1992… The 4th recurrence of liver cancer found in Sept.

1992, CT show 2.5 x 2.5 cm tumor in right lobe… Age 60 when fist coming to qigong class in 1992 Practice TFQ intensively for a few months, the

tumor became smaller; by Jan 27th, 1993, Ultrasonic scan found no sign of tumor in liver…

Lived a healthy retirement life. 34

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Case Study of Qigong Healing Mr. T, a NJ psychologist, had suffered from

hypertension, cardiac problem, hay fever, allergy, asthma and some permanent injuries caused by car accident for long, plus elevated PSA (12)….

Took 8 medications daily before qigong therapy Attending a 20-day intensive qigong training and

Bigu (fasting), Felt confident enough to stop taking all medications.

Soon after, his PSA index back to normal; Blood pressure dropped from 220/120 with medicine to 120/80; asthma & allege gone, all other symptoms disappeared.

Pain caused by auto accident also disappeared.Chen & Turner, 2004, Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 10. 159-162

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How Qigong Works for Cancer?-- A long way to go….

Qigong helps reducing stress hormones (cortisol) Qigong practice can improve immune functions –

confirmed by in-vitro, in-vivo and human studies Qigong practice may increase micro-circulation

functions (more efficient metabolism) Qi energy may direct turn off the cancer cells and

produce apoptosis effect (in-vivo studies) Qigong meditation can raise the pain threshold –

confirmed by in-vivo and human studies

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Qigong Practice for Stress – Mind Management

Work on relaxing, or relieving your mind – less worry and less attachment….

“No-action” means less attached to things around that stress you…

An attitude change Mindfulness -- through slow breathing and and mind-body exercise Counting breaths method

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Qigong -- an Optimal Method for Stress Management

When breath-mind-body are integrated into “one”, you would breathe at the “resonant-frequency” – optimal state of autonomic nervous system!

TCM believes that “Qi” goes with “Yi” – when meditation with inward attention, one can gain energy, and recover much rapidly than other relaxation methods.

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Qigong Therapy for Pain Relief Strong scientific evidence that relaxation and

breathing techniques help relieving pain…. Qigong practice can raise the pain threshold –

confirmed by in-vivo and human studies An effective alternative for pain relief –

either self application or external treatment. E.g. reports on complete cure of arthritis and

degenerated disc disease with qigong therapy. Lee et al. (2007) reviewed 5 RCTs. The

results not conclusive but very encouraging...Lee et al. Journal of Pain. 2007; 8(11):827-31

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More on Mechanisms

Stress Response/Effect Qigong Effects Heart rate to supply more blood quickly

heart rate, HRV balanced blood supply (Ng & Tsang. 2009)

Immune system, WBC count

NK activity, WBC count, lymphocytes, antibody (Ng & Tsang. 2009; Yang et al. 2008)

Blood pressure to supply blood efficiently

Blood pressure with adjusted autonomic nervous system (Paul-Labrodor et al. 2006)

Respiratory rate to get more oxygen

Respiratory rate -- calm down the entire body (Ng & Tsang. 2009)

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Explore Mechanisms (con’t)

Stress Response/Effect Qigong Effects Adrenaline and cortisol (hormone response)

cortisol, melatonin (Lee et al. 2001; Guo 1996)

Deficient production of insulin, risk of obesity

Insulin resistance (Paul-Labrodor 2006) total cholesterol (Ng & Tsang. 2009)

Interleukin (IL-6) indicator of Inflammation

Interleukin (IL-6) (Pace et al. 2009)

Negative mood/affect Anxiety and depression (Ng & Tsang. 2009; Li et al. 2002)

Clinical Application of TCM Qigong Skills & Principles

in Cancer Recovery

OUTLINEQigong Self Healing Retreat for Cancer

Patients & Their Family

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Basic Rational Current tx focus on cancer itself, but hardly on the

environment that cultivated cancer growth in the first place high relapse and failures

All therapies work with patients’ immune & self-recovery system;

Real health is not simple absence of disease/tumor, but a full mental and social balance & health.

Cancer-phobia is the leading cause of death among cancer patients, but no effective treatment so far…

We introduce the missed component in cancer therapy – YOU (the patient’s self-care & self-empowerment).

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Search Help Within Most people with cancer tend to search for

help outside – the best doctors, the hospital, effective therapies, innovative drug(s)….

External help won’t work or cure cancer unless you change the internal environment, which offered the place to cultivate cancer growth at the first place…

Everyone is born a healer! We need reveal and activate that healer within!

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1. Attitude Adjustment (cognition) Cancer is not your enemy! Everyone may have tumor or carcinoma in the body

during life time… A diagnosed cancer is a warning, alert about your

lifestyle, diet & internal environment! --- You need making changes….

It is the immune system & self-healing power that survive & cure the cancer.

Cancer could become your friend if you treated it in a right way…

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Don’t Blindly-Believe(迷信 ) In What doctors said What science knows What Qigong master can do================================ Believe in yourself, and in your self-healing

potential!

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2. Focus on Reducing & Managing Stress/Anxiety (Mindset)

Practice mindfulness in daily life Become mindful at any time by paying attention to

breathing (RFB, Counting breath) Be mindful of thought/emotion (acceptance,

detachment, non-judgment, positive reframing) Be mindful of body/spirit, mind-body connection,

body used to facilitate stress reduction (mindful movement/exercise)

Build a positive, present and detached mindset 48

3. Qigong Systems Designed for Fighting Cancer

Two evidence-based qigong systemso Chinese Taiji Five-element Qigong (Mostly meditative

forms)o Guolin New Qigong (Anti-cancer Wellness Methods,

walking qigong) Cultivate mindfulness & energy in practice Rapidly rebuild immune & healing system Students learn both forms of Qigong and will leave

with the skills to continue daily Qigong practice once returning home.

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4. Behavioral & Life-Style Reprogramming

Become a benefit-finder instead of fault-finder in daily life (daily gratitude ritual)

On relationship issues (patient, care-givers & other family & friends)

Emotion-soothing therapy A healthier daily routine and schedule Minimize exposure to electromagnetic fields Diet and Nutrition – based on science and

individualization! 50

5. Evidence-Based Self-Healing Techniques

Nutrition therapy Dietary supplements Information water (Daoist healing) Self-acupressure, introduce points to help pain

and other symptoms, Grounding for discharging positive ions and

electron magnetic field, & gaining energy! Energetic fasting as a therapy (turtle breathing

and skin breathing)51

Positive Feedback from Participants “The healing Qigong workshop surpassed my

expectations by a long shot. I came home with a renewed vigor, confidence, feeling of normalcy and hope that I had wanted!”

“I am on a quest for Total Health after stage III cancer, and I felt needing something more than what I was doing --- This is it!”

“Phenomenal! Passionate! True very best! Opened my mind, body & spirit!” “If I had this course 2 years ago, I would have taken less treatment and relied more on this practice.” -- A physician from Maryland.

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Selected References Chen K, & Yeung R, 2002. "Exploratory studies of qigong

therapy for cancer in China." Integrative Cancer Therapies. 1(4):345-370.

Chen K, 2004, “Analytic review of studies measuring external qi in China.’ Alter Therapies in Health & Medicine, 10(4): 38-50.

Chen K, “Qigong therapy for stress management.” Pp. 428-48 in Lehrer et al. (eds.) Principals & Practice of Stress Management, 3rd Ed. New York: Guilford Publications. 2007.

Chen KW, 2008. “Inhibitory effects of bio-energy therapies on cancer growth—An overview of recent laboratory studies in the U.S. and its implications in cancer treatment.” World Sciences and Technologies –Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Materia Medica; 10(4):144-152

Lee MS, Chen KW, Earnst E. 2010. Supportive Cancer Care with Qigong. Pp. 77-94 in W.C.S. Cho (ed.) Supportive Cancer Care with Chinese Medicine, London: Springer Science.

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More References Zeng YC. et al. (2014). “Health benefits of qigong or tai chi for

cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 22, 173-186.

Oh B. et al. (2012). “A critical review of the effects of medical qigong on quality of life, immune function, and survival in cancer patients.” Integrative Cancer Therapies. 11(2), 101-110.

Chen Z. et al. (2013). “Qigong improves quality of life in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer: Results of a randomized controlled trial.” Cancer, 119(9): 1690-8.

Bower et al. (2015). Mindfulness meditation for younger breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Cancer, 121: 1231-40.

Oh B. et al. (2010). Impact of medical qigong on quality of life, fatigue, mood and inflammation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Oncology, 21(3), 608-14.