Pre-Congress WorkshopPre-Congress WorkshopCross Cultural Mental Health ConferenceCross Cultural Mental Health Conference

University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouver, B.C., CanadaVancouver, B.C., Canada

October 20October 20thth, 2009, 2009

Medical Qi Gong:For Mental Health

STEVEN K.H. AUNG, M.D., O.M.D., PhD, F.A.A.F.P., C.M.STEVEN K.H. AUNG, M.D., O.M.D., PhD, F.A.A.F.P., C.M.Associate Clinical Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry,Departments of Medicine and Family Medicine.Adjunct Professor of Extension, Rehabilitation Medicine,Public Health, and Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Associate Clinical Professor, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)

Curriculum of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)

1. Traditional Chinese Nutritional Therapy2. Traditional Chinese Herbology3. Traditional Chinese Medical Acupuncture4. Traditional Chinese Manipulative Therapy5. Traditional Chinese Exercise: Tai Chi Chuan6.6. Medical Qi GongMedical Qi Gong7. Bone Setting8. Blood Letting9. Fung Sui / Environmental Medicine

Philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Health consists of physical, mental, spiritual, social, nutritional, and environmental well-being. All of these components must be in harmony in order to improve quality of life.

The objective of treatment is to balance the energy flow, to keep the vital energetic alignment, to have complete harmonization of the organ systems.

PHILOSOPHY YINYANG

Yin=hypo

Yang=hyper

Balance=healthy

No Yin/Yang= no life

Body Circulation Of Qi

SuperficialIntermediateDeep

PhilosophyQi / Blood / Body / Mind / Spirit

Universe – Macrocosm

Human – Microcosm

BodyMindSpirit

Body, Mind, and Spirit

The Causes Of Mal-alignment

1. External causes:

Trauma

- Accidents

- Sports injuries

- Industrial injuries

- Iatrogenic factors

- Others

The Causes Of Mal-alignment

1. Internal causes:

Trauma

- Emotional

- Spiritual

- Others

Acupuncture Alignment Therapy

Re-alignmentVarious Treatment Modalities

Medical Acupuncture: Vital Energetic (Qi) alignment procedures

Meditation

Yoga

Qi Gong / Tai Chi Chuan

Others

You must smile from the inside and outside.

- Steven K.H. Aung M.D.

Tai-Chi-ChuanTai-Chi-Chuan

Therapeutic Exercises: Yin/Yang Balancing

Tai-Chi KyantTai-Chi Kyant

Therapeutic Exercises: Yin/Yang Empowering

Self-Cultivation - TCM TherapeuticsExercise Approaches

Treat according to the emotions with self

cultivation exercises by feeling and stretching:

- Tai Chi Chuan slow motion meditation exercises – various styles- Tai Chi Kyant- Various martial arts- Walking meditation- Others

Medical Qi Gong

Qi Gong

Qi = Vital EnergyGong – AbilityQi Gong – ability of building up his/her

own vital energyQi Gong is one of the legacies in the

treasure house of Traditional Chinese Medicine and dates back more than 3,000 years

Qi Gong

Qi = Vital EnergyGong = ability, skill, and practice to:

– Build-up– Harmonize– Balance– Realign – Revitalize

The effects of medical Qi Gong

1. Rejeuvenation

2. Relaxation

3. Revitalization

4. Regeneration

5. Realignment

The success of practicing medical Qi Gong is

dependant on:

1. Commitment

2. Discipline

3. Practice, Practice, Practice!

Regulation of Mind, Respiration, and Energy

1. Regulation of Mind

EEG:– Low amplitude– Fast wave slow

wave– Poor frequency

good frequency

Low frequency wave amplitude is 3 times

higher

Improved CNS

Zang Fu organs are regulated

Emotions Influence The Internal Organs

Organs Positive Emotions Negative EmotionsLiver Generosity Anger

Kidney Willpower Fright/fear(s)

Spleen Thoughtfulness Worry

Lung Determination Sadness/grief

Heart Joy Anxiety

Pericardium Grounded Mood Changes/depression

Emotions Effect The Organs

1. Liver and gallbladder are effected negatively by anger.

Generosity effects the liver and gallbladder positively.

2. Kidney and urinary bladder are effected negatively by fear or being frightened.Willpower effects the kidney and urinary bladder positively.

3. The spleen and stomach are effected negatively by worry.

Thoughtfulness has a positive effect on the spleen and stomach.

Emotions Effect The Organs

4. The heart and small intestine are effected negatively by anxiety.

Happiness effects the heart and small intestine positively.

5. The lungs and large intestines are effected negatively by sadness, melancholy, and guilt.

Releasing tension has a positive effect for the lungs and large intestines.

Emotions Effect The Organs

6. The pericardium and Triple Energizer are effected negatively by mood changes and depression.

7. Intuition has a positive effect on pericardium and Triple Energizer.

Emotions and Internal Organs

Slow but continuous (or) abruptly severe emotional stimuli

Body Energy Qi imbalance

Emotions and Internal Organs

• Urinary bladder stores the interior / exterior souls but is united in the gall bladder at GB.41.

• Healthy = interior / exterior soul harmonious / balance.

• Gall bladder controls courage and decision making functions.

Major Styles

• Internal• External• Hard• Soft• Fast• Slow

• Lying• Sitting• Standing• Walking

Major Schools of Qi Gong

The methods vary among different sects and schools,1. The Taoist School – strengthening both body

and mind (life and nature)2. The Buddhist School – emphasis on tempering

the mind3. The Confucian School – regulating the mind –

rest, clam and quiet4. The Medical School – to treat diseases –

prevention and prolonging life5. The Boxing School – self protection

Five Precious Animal Movements

The Nature Of Medical Qi Gong Is:Breathing Exercises – to initiate Qi vital energy movement through

the body

1. Concentration Exercises – to direct energy to various parts of the body, organs, and meridians to realign the body, mind, and spirit

2. Movement/Postural Exercises – to stretch the joints thereby unlocking the Qi at the superficial level of energy flow

3. Phonation Exercises – to enhance the Qi vital energy at the specific energy centre, meridians, and organ systems

4. Color Visualization – to specify, enhance/enrich organ meridian systems

The Nature Of Medical Qi Gong Continued:5. Calligraphy and Painting – to express inner feelings and

concentration and also to share the peacefulness and exchange of energy through the environment

6. Tree Hugging – to exchange energy with Mother Nature

7. Mantra – to enhance samadhi crystalline deep concentration and to give positive purified healing energy

8. Mudra – hand position to self-align body, mind, and spirit, and blessing through inner concentration

9. Others

Hand and Foot Positions

Mudra

Qi Gong Positions

Self-Cultivation - TCM TherapeuticsMedical Qi Gong Approach

Treat according to the emotions with selfcultivation exercises:- Breathing- Concentration- Posture/movement- Phonation- Color visualization- Inner smile- Chakras- Others

Proper Qi Gong Breathing Is Slow, Even, and Deep

Abdominal breathing involves:• Expanding the lower abdomen to fill the lower

portion of the lungs with air.• Expanding the chest and shoulders to fill the

middle and upper portions of the lungs with air.• Contracting the abdomen gradually to completely

empty the lungs.

• Holding your breath intensifies the flow of Qi and facilitates its arrival and accumulation at specific points on the meridians.

• Hold your breath for as long as you can without straining.

• The only way to feel and control the flow of Qi is to concentrate on your breathing.

There are 4 fundamental Qi Gong breathing techniques:

• Qihai [CV6] is utilized because it is the acupoint to which Qi most naturally flows.

• CV6 is located on the Ren meridian about 4cm [1.5 body cun] below the navel.

• Touching the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth connects Du and Ren.

• Inhalation=Opening of Yin=Reinforcing Deficient Qi=Movement of Qi

• Exhalation=Closing of Yang=Reducing Excess Qi=Increase of Qi

The opposition of Yin Yang is involved in every single breath you take.

Organ Effected: Heart, Lung, Pericardium

Energizing-Balancing Qi In Organs/Meridians -1

Basic Breathing Exercise 1

Nature: Simple Yin Breathing Exercise:• Organ associations: Lung, Pericardium and Heart• Qi movement: centrifugal• Emotional factors: sadness, depression, anxiety• Color: white, purple, red• Special aspect: spiritual uplift

Organ Effected: Small & Large Intestine, Triple Energizer

Energizing-Balancing Qi In Organs/Meridians-1

Basic Breathing Exercise 2

Nature: Simple Yang Breathing Exercise:• Organ associations: Large Intestine, Small Intestine and Triple Energizer• Qi movement: centripetal• Emotional factors: sadness, depression, anxiety• Color: white, purple, red (brighter than Yin)• Special aspect: physical and mental uplift

Organ Effected: Spleen, Liver, and Kidney

Energizing-Balancing Qi In Organs/Meridians-1 Basic Breathing

Exercise 3

Nature: Yin Reinforcement Breathing Exercise:• Organ associations: Spleen, Liver and Kidney• Qi movement: centripetal• Emotional factors: worry, anger, fear• Color: yellow, green, blue / black• Special aspect: unblocking / realigning Qi flow

Organ Effected:

Stomach, Gallbladder, and Urinary Bladder

Energizing-Balancing Qi In Organs/Meridians-1 Basic Breathing

Exercise 4

Nature: Yang Reinforcement Breathing Exercise:• Organ associations: Stomach, Gallbladder and Urinary Bladder• Qi movement: centrifugal• Emotional factors: worry, anger, fear• Color: yellow, green, blue / black (brighter than Yin)• Special aspect: intensifying the Qi, Inner / Outer spirit reunion, removal of Interior / Exterior factors

Colour Effects The Organ

White colour effects the lung.

Bright white effects the large intestine.

Yellow effects the spleen.

Deep yellow effects the stomach.

Green effects the liver.

Deep green effects the gallbladder.

Blue effects the kidneys.

Deep blue effects the bladder.

Colour Effects The Organ

Purple effects the pericardium.

Deep purple effects the triple energizer.

Concentration Exercises Using Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel Meridians