Using Qigong to Reduce Cortisol, The “Stress Hormone”

Healers have known for years that practicing qigong reduces stress and energizes the body and mind. Now multiple studies from researchers have documented the exact degree to which qigong aids in balancing cortisol, otherwise known as the “stress hormone.” Besides improving your mood, reducing cortisol levels allow your body to heal and repair itself.

High levels of cortisol can cause, or contribute to, a variety of illnesses, such as:

  • Impaired cognitive performance
  • Blood sugar imbalances
  • Decreased bone density
  • Suppressed thyroid function
  • Degradation of muscle tissue
  • Contributes to high blood pressure
  • Lowering immune system’s defenses
  • Increased inflammation in the body
  • Increased abdominal fat, associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and metabolic syndrome

The National Institutes of Health have studied and recommended both qigong and tai chi in various articles. From their website we read: “The instructions for attaining the state of enhanced Qi capacity and function point to the purposeful coordination of body, breath and mind (paraphrased here): ‘Mind the body and the breath, and then clear the mind to distill the Heavenly elixir within.’ This combination of self-awareness with self-correction of the posture and movement of the body, the flow of breath, and stilling of the mind, are thought to comprise a state which activates the natural self-regulatory (self-healing) capacity, stimulating the balanced release of endogenous neuro-hormones and a wide array of natural health recovery mechanisms which are evoked by the intentful integration of body and mind.”

TCM offers other remedies for stress, such as acupuncture and acupressure. The following tips are from www.finebalanceacupuncture.com:

PC6- Starting from the wrist, measure down with three fingers as shown in the picture to the right. Where your third finger touches the middle of your wrist is the acupoint. Take your thumb and apply firm pressure to this point until you feel some mild discomfort. Only apply enough pressure to interrupt the normal blood flow but not too much that it causes pain. Hold this pressure point and gently knead your thumb in a tight circular motion for about 2 minutes. Do this to both wrists and you will feel your anxiety descend immediately. This point is also good for nausea!

HT7- Apply pressure with your thumb at the point where your wrist forms a crease with your hand. Hold the acupressure point for about 2 minutes, applying a generous amount of pressure. This point is good for relieving tension.

K1- This is my favorite point especially at night when I want a good night’s sleep. In a sitting position, cross one legover your opposite leg and rest your foot on your knee. Start with your thumb between your 2nd and 3rd toes and draw a straight line down until you are about a 1/3 of the way down the foot. Push firmly on the center of your foot (see picture). Hold this pressure point and knead for at least 2 minutes and repeat on the other foot. This is a great point for anxiety and relaxation.

Ears- Gently massage your ears with your thumb and forefinger. There is no exact pressure point so simply give yourself a relaxing ear massage.Pull down gently on the lobes and rub the inner surface of the ear for about 2-3 minutes. When you relax and massage your ear, you will feel soothed and calm all over.

Click here for our podcast interview with Qigong Master Mingtong Gu

 


The Art of Chi-Flow: My Experience Studying With Master Mantak Chia by Merryn Jose

Merryn Jose writes about Master Mantak Chia and her own experience learning, as a student, various methods created by Mantak Chia that safely works with the body’s chi-flow. ” Mantak Chia was taught Kundalini Yoga and the Buddhist Palm, which enabled him to eliminate blockages of flow of life force in his internal organs. However, he felt that Kundalini Yoga produced too much heat, and could be dangerous, so he later combined it with elements of Taoist practice, which had cooling effects.”

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Can’t Get Out? Learn Qi Gong at Home with Lee Holden

For over 25 years Lee Holden has devoted his career to helping others learn the powerful principles of Qi Gong. Working in collaboration with Grand Master Mantak Chia, a Qi Gong expert, he has worked to bring the ancient Taoist practice to western culture. Lee Holden is an instructor in Qi Gong, meditation, and Tai Chi, and is a licensed acupuncturist. In addition to his international teaching and private practice, he works as a stress management consultant to several corporations, including Apple and 3Com.

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Merlian News Podcasts with Master Mingtong Gu

| by Merlian News & Team

Master Mingtong Gu is an internationally recognized teacher and healer in Wisdom Healing Qigong, who received his training from a variety of Grandmasters of China and Tibet and at the largest Qigong medicine-less hospital in China. As founder of The Chi Center, he helps lead a journey of health and happiness. He is the author of several publications including Wisdom Healing Qigong: Activate and Embody Wisdom and Energy for Health, Healing and Happiness and Sound Healing Technologies. In this two part podcast, Merryn Jose talks with Master Mingtong Gu about: What is Qigong & Wisdom Healing Qigong. how Wisdom Healing Qigong can reverse aging and illness, and more.

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Delay or Reverse Aging with Qi Gong, Meditation, Yoga and More

| by Merlian News

There’s increased evidence showing that practices such as qi gong, meditation and yoga can not only prevent disease, but actually reverse it and delay aging as well. As scientists learn more about such topics as gene expression, what turns a gene on or off, and how to prevent telomeres, (the strands of protein in our cells that control aging) from unraveling, it becomes impossible to ignore just how much our good lifestyle choices can pay off.

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Qigong Meets Quantum Physics by Imke Bock-Mobius

| review by Cheryl Shainmark

Qigong Meets Quantum Physics – Experiencing Cosmic Oneness by Imke Bock-Mobius Review by Cheryl Shainmark Qigong meets Quantum Physics is a wonderful integration of the various principles of qigong, mysticism, and the natural sciences. In the best Daoist tradition, Bock-Mobius has surmounted the duality of any discussion of religion (or philosophy) and science, and outlined her compelling vision of how it all comes together.

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Cooking With Qi & Conquering Any Disease

Like so many of us, I’ve been watching my nutrition and eating healthfully for years, buying only organic food and the very freshest ingredients possible. Also years ago, I cut out those foods that are known to damage our systems. I thought I was doing well until I heard about Qigong Master Jeff Primack and his food based healing system.

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Qigong Master Entrances Animals, Puts them to Sleep

| by Merlian News

Japanese Qigong Master Kanzawa Sensei manipulates qi (or chi), the subtle energy that animates all living things. Long associated with healing, meditation, feats of strength and the martial arts, Kanzawa Sensei uses his mind and talent in a different way. First televised on Stan Lee’s series, “Superhumans,” viewers watched as he put several animals to sleep, including alpaca and buffalo, using just his mind and qi energy. When asked how he was doing this, Kanzawa replied, “I exchange energy with the animals, and then they go to sleep.”

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Treating Dementia With Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Yoga

Do you know someone who suffers from dementia? Witnessing a loved one slowly lose their memory and reasoning skills can be a very painful experience. Dementia is a persistent syndrome that tends to get worse over time–affecting memory, thinking, and behavior. It is distinct from Alzheimer’s in that Alzheimer’s is a specific disease, but general dementia can stem from a variety of unrelated brain illnesses.

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Using Chi Gong to Treat Cancer

| by Merlian News

All over Shanghai there were people getting together every morning, hundreds of people in dozens of places, to practice these seemingly simple forms of exercise to fight their cancer. These groups were run solely by cancer survivors who had used this form of exercise. In Shanghai alone, there were almost 3,000 people in these cancer recovery clubs, and besides the exercise they also scheduled group trips, met for yearly anniversaries of members survival, and generally supported each other in their fight.

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