Physiological Effects of Respiration Method of Inner Qigong – MACHI and Liu
(Japan)
Qigong has a long history in China and has been used to maintain health and
treat diseases since ancient time. Nowadays, fast development of western
medicine and other healthcare methods provide effective ways to maintain heath
and treat diseases. However, people are still seeking a way to be healthy and
long-life without adding load to body. Qigong, as the essence of Chinese
traditional medicine, attracts people all over the world. In Japan, Qigong has
become a subject of national research and practice as a part of the combined
medicine (western medicine and traditional medicine).
For the Japanese, herbs and acupuncture are relatively easy to understand
because they are somewhat similar to methods of western medicine. However, they
are confused about why and how Qigong may maintain health and what effects
Qigong may produce. We have carried out research on Qigong on the stance of
scientific concept. The number of researchers on Qigong in Japan is increasing
and people's understanding of Qigong is deepening. We will describe one of the
most importance concepts of Qigong here - The Three Adjustment (i.e. Adjustment
of Posture, Adjustment of Respiration and Adjustment of Mental Activities). Our
focus of discussion will be Adjustment of Respiration. And we will report some
physiologic effects of Qigong produced by 2 to 3 Inner Qigong on the basis of
physiology.
Standing Posture Qigong:
Standing Posture Qigong is a complex method of Qigong based on multiple
methods. Fig.1 shows data of brainwaves, brain terrain chart and physical data
besides body infrared data. The abdominal that conducts Adjustment of
Respiration is very attractive. Its respiration activity is totally different
from that before the practice of Qigong. For the still time before the practice
of Qigong, there are 15-16 shallow respiration activities a minute. When
Standing Posture Qigong is started, numbers of respiration activities are
significantly increasing and vibration amplitude of abdominal is also
increasing. Abdominal pressure meter shows an abdomen pressure of 3kPa. This
status keeps repeated in the practice of Standing Posture Qigong. When staying
still, carbon dioxide density of nasal respiration is 4%, wile the number
increases to 6% in practice of Standing Posture Qigong, representing that inner
movements of the body are increasing. At the same, due to the status change of
abdominal respiration, electric potential on R point of cardiogram is
influenced by abdominal respiration. For normal respiration, this influence is
not evident. For proper practice of Standing Posture Qigong, the change of
electric potential on R point is synchronized with abdominal respiration. See
Fig.1. Analysis shows that the peak value for 0.05-0.15Hz is LF and the peak
value for 0.15-0. 30Hz is HF. LF/HF is the dynamic representation parameter of
autonomic nervous system. The result show that activities of sympathetic nerve
increase in practice of Standing Posture Qigong. The ration of LF/HF of Qigong
masters is 10 times higher than common persons, representing that Standing
Posture Qigong is an effective method to regulate autonomic nervous system.
Fig.2 shows increasing of blood flowing through neck artery and glabella in
practice of Standing Posture Qigong. Increase of blood flowing through brains
may prevent aging of brains for aged people. The figure also shows that oxygen
density of blood declines in practice of Qigong. Decline of oxygen density
means increase of oxygen consumption. Inhaling fresh oxygen may produce overall
positive effects for body. The figure does not give a chart on blood pressure.
However, blood pressure may increase when autonomic nervous system is active.
For aged people, too strong nerve stimulation may produce cerebrovascular
damages. Therefore, Standing Posture Qigong must be practiced properly.
Six-Word-Practice:
See Fig.4 and Fig.5 for physical examination results for Six-Word-Practice.
Six-Word-Practice is a unique method of Qigong as people make sounds in the
practice. Compared with Standing Posture Qigong, the number of heartbeats will
increase when making sounds. The figures show shat making sounds are closely
related with abdominal respiration. Potential value of R point in cardiogram
has not apparent changes when people keep still. However, the value increases
significantly with sounds in practice of Six-Work-Practice. See Fig.6. Blood
flow through neck artery increase with making sound. The flow of flood is not
corresponding to the strength of sound. Increase of blood flow is not very
significant for "He". The third word "Hu" is not stronger than "He", but the
increase of blood flow is much higher. For "Chui", both the sound and the
increase of blood flow are high.
Additionally, the maximum blood pressure in practice of Six-Word-Practice is
over 160 mmHg, higher than that of Standing Posture Qigong. Although the
maximum blood pressure is higher than that of Standing Posture Qigong, the
duration of increase of blood pressure in shorter, which will not bring
addition load for aged people. The examination of Six-Word-Practice shows shat
oxygen density in blood of end blood vessels keeps decreasing. The decreasing
happens in practice of "Chui" and "Xi", showing that the load is much higher in
the short time. Cycle change of respiration is synchronized with cycle change
of oxygen density in blood of end blood vessels, meaning that level of practice
may reflect the coordination level of inner respiration and outer respiration.
Fig. 6 shows data similarity of Standing Posture Qigong, Six-Word-Practice,
ZhanZhuang without making sounds, Six-Word-Practice with making sounds,
abdominal respiration, heartbeats and cardiogram.
Nei-Yang GONG:
This method of Qigong is created by Liu Guizhen of Bei Dai He on the basis of
absorbing some folk Qigong methods. NEY YANG GONG includes two respiration
methods: soft (1) respiration and hard (2) respiration. See Fig.7 for physical
data. Soft respiration is a process of inhaling-exhaling-stopping. See the
figure for the maximum value of blood pressure. As soft respiration delays
inhaling, the increase of blood pressure is delayed. Therefore, through
repeated practice of soft respiration, blood pressure may be decreased. Hard
respiration is a process of inhaling-stopping-exhaling. Different locations of
stooping respiration may prevent blood pressure decreasing, so as to increase
blood pressure. Fig.8 shows the results for a rather long time examination. The
maximum value (the upper limit) represents maximum blood pressure, while the
lower limit represents the minimum blood pressure. The figures shows that soft
breaking increase maximum blood pressure value while hare respiration decrease
maximum blood pressure value. The figure also shows that number of heartbeats
is not varied from number of abdominal respiration. But for nasal respiration,
the different is obvious. The temperature change of nasal respiration in
practice of soft respiration shows that the inner body temperature has limited
increase, while the temperature change of nasal respiration in practice of
hared respiration shows that the inner body temperature has significant
increase, meaning the increase of inner activities.
Fig. 9 shows LF/HF status of autonomic nervous system for NEY YANG GONG. The
average value of LF/HF for soft respiration is 2.5, while that for hard
respiration is 3. Activity density of sympathetic nerve in practice of hard
respiration is higher than that of soft respiration.
Nei-Yang Gong present effects on adjustment of hypertension and hypotension. It
may solve some blood pressure problems especially for patients who need to take
medicine for long time.
Conclusion:
The report describes physical effects of some traditional practice methods of
Qigong. May Japanese people believe that taking medicine is the most effective
method for recovering from diseases. The healthcare effects of Qigong still
need to be illuminated on the basis of scientific data. Introducing Qigong
widely is helpful. People shall choose to take medicines or practice Qigong
according to their actual conditions.
Through long time of observing on people practicing Qigong, we have concluded
an evaluation standard of practice. The standard may be helpful for those who
want to learn Qigong. We will continue to provide reliable technical theory for
practice of Qigong through conducting physical examination.
