Qigong has been a tool in the toolbox of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. Basically,
it consists of a series of exercises that awaken the bio-electromagnetic fields in the human body. These
activated energy fields serve to strengthen the body’s immune system, thus preventing disease, as well as
healing the human body of existing diseases. Qigong exercises can also be used to alleviate or reduce the
side-effects of numerous ailments. They are often used as supplementary treatments in Western medical
practices. The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, the intent is to introduce both medical professionals
and nonprofessionals to qigong in a nontechnical way, with emphasis on how it is being incorporated as a
supplementary therapy in Western medical practices, and second, to illustrate how artificial intelligence can
be used in medical research. Microsoft Copilot was used to generate information about how qigong is being
used in Western medical practice. It provided a brief, nontechnical description that was on point, and also
provided citations to nine sources of additional information.
Keywords: Qigong; Tai Chi; Traditional Chinese Medicine; TCM; Artificial Intelligence; Copilot
Qigong [pronounced chee gong] has been a tool in the toolbox of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. Basically,
it consists of a series of exercises that awaken the bio-electromagnetic
fields in the human body. These activated energy fields serve
to strengthen the body’s immune system, thus preventing disease, as
well as healing the human body of existing diseases. Qigong exercises
can also be used to alleviate or reduce the side-effects of numerous
ailments. They are often used as supplementary treatments in medical
practices. Numerous studies found qigong produced significant
positive effects in patients having a wide variety of ailments. Many
of these studies were done in China and a few other Asian countries.
However, in recent years, similar studies have been conducted in other
parts of the world [1-57]. Medical professionals who want to obtain
detailed information about these studies can find what they need in
the PubMed [58] database. However, the focus of the present study is
different. This paper is intended to provide more of an introduction
to the use of qigong in an easy-to-read format that both professionals
and nonprofessionals can find useful. It also introduces the use of
artificial intelligence (AI) to find useful information on qigong. Artificial
intelligence has become an increasingly useful tool in medical
research in recent years [59-84]. It has many applications in both research
and diagnosis.
There are a number of good AI bots that can be used to conduct
medical and other kinds of research. This study will use Microsoft Copilot
[85] because it is currently being widely used, and it is easy to
use even for nonprofessionals. It is too early to tell whether it is the
“best” bot to use for medical research, since the AI market is changing
so rapidly. Even if Copilot were the best bot to use for medical
research today, it might not be the best bot a few weeks after the
present article is written. Things are really changing that fast. To start
things off, the instruction below was given to generate some basic information.
Since the focus is on applications in Western medicine, the
instruction was written to focus on that subtopic of qigong medical
research and practice.
INSTRUCTION: List some recent studies where qigong has been
used as a supplement to Western medicine. Provide references.
REPLY
Certainly! Here are some recent studies where qigong has been
explored as a supplement to Western medicine:
1. “Qigong and the Treatment of Illness: Recent Case Studies”:
o This paper reviews several studies that have used qigong to
treat various illnesses, including back pain, cancer, cognitive impairment,
depression and anxiety, fatigue, muscle strength, posture,
and Parkinson’s Disease [86].
o Reference: Qigong and the Treatment of Illness: Recent Case
Studies
2. “Qigong Exercise Balances Oxygen Supply and Acid-Base to
Modulate…”:
o A study suggests that qigong exercise can help balance oxygen
supply and acid-base levels, potentially benefiting health
[87].
o Reference: Qigong Exercise Balances Oxygen Supply and Acid-
Base to Modulate…
3. “The Future of Qigong in Western Medicine”:
o This analysis explores the ancient history of qigong in China,
scientific explanations of bio-electromagnetic fields found in Qi,
and measurable medical applications for self-healing and medical
assisted-healing. It highlights qigong as an emerging technique
in Western medicine, emphasizing integrative medicine and biophysical
care [88].
o Reference: The Future of Qigong in Western Medicine
These studies provide valuable insights into the potential benefits
of qigong as a complementary approach alongside Western medicine.
Integrating traditional practices like qigong with evidence-based
medicine can enhance overall well-being and promote holistic health
[89-95].
Copilot provided a nice, but very brief summary of what qigong is
all about and how it may be used in Western medical practices. Actually,
the summary might have been too brief for medical practitioners
who would have liked more depth or breadth. Fortunately, Copilot
also provided nine references and links to other articles and blogs on
the subject, which fill in many of the gaps. The references it provided
are also written in mostly nontechnical language, making it easy
for medical professionals and others to obtain a basic understanding
of what qigong is all about it what it is capable of doing. For those
who wish to read some studies that have more depth, PubMed [58]
would be a good place to go, since this database has many studies on
the health benefits of qigong, mostly as a supplement to traditional
Western medicine. In fact, a word search of titles and abstracts that
included the word “qigong” got 1095 hits.
Frantzis Bruce (2010) Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong, Volume 1. Fairfax, CA: Energy Arts.
Frantzis Bruce (2014) Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong Volume 2: Qi Cultivation Principles and Exercises. North Atlantic Books.
Jahnke Roger (1997) The Healer Within. San Francisco: Harper.
Jahnke Roger (2002) The Healing Promise of Qi. New York: Contemporary Books, a division of McGraw-Hill.
Jingwei li, Zhu Jianping (2014) The Illustrated Handbook of Chinese Qigong Forms from the Ancient Texts. London & Philadelphia: Singing Dragon.
Johnson, Jerry Alan (2000) Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide. Pacific Grove, CA: International Institute of Medical Qigong.
Johnson, Jerry Alan (2005) Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy, Vol. 1: Energetic Anatomy and Physiology. Pacific Grove, CA: International Institute of Medical Qigong.
Johnson Jerry Alan (2005) Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy, Vol. 2: Pacific Grove, CA: International Institute of Medical Qigong.
Johnson Jerry Alan (2002) Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy, Vol. 4: Prescription Exercises and Meditations, Treatment of Internal Diseases, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Neurology, and Energetic Psychology. Pacific Grove, CA: International Institute of Medical Qigong.
Johnson Jerry Alan (2005) Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy, Vol. 5: An Energetic Approach to Oncology. Pacific Grove, CA: International Institute of Medical Qigong.
Yu, A, Gibson D (2020) The Future of Qigong in Western Medicine: An Analysis of Qigong as a Measurable and Effective Therapy. Sound Healing Certification, summer Intensive.
ISSN: 2574 -1241
Abstract
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