Qigong, an internal Chinese martial art that emphasis breathing exercises and formal movements, can provide benefits for cancer patients:
THE meditative practice of qigong can help cancer patients live longer and give them a better quality of life, Chinese and American researchers said after releasing the results of a joint study in Shanghai yesterday.
With funding from the United States-based National Cancer Institute, experts from University of Illinois and Shanghai University of Sport studied 80 members of Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club.
The researchers found those who regularly practice qigong are in better physical and mental health and have a lower rate of cancer reoccurrence than those who don’t. They did not provide numbers.
The 80 people, who have all survived cancer for more than 10 years, were divided into two groups of 40. One group was composed of qigong practitioners while the other group’s members did not do qigong. The two groups were of similar ages and had survived cancer for similar lengths of time.
Qigong uses slow movements and controlled breathing to promote the circulation of qi, or energy, inside the body to improve a practitioner’s overall health.
Related posts:
