Qigong is a 2,500-year-old form of traditional Chinese medicine based on the concept that an energy known as Qi flows through meridians of the body and from the fingertips of "masters", who allegedly heal various maladies of the human body, including hypertension and cancer. This book separates fact from folklore.

Correlating the traditional therapies of Qigong with the most recent outcomes of scientific research, this is the authoritative introduction to the knowledge system and content of Qigong study. Substantially revised and updated reflecting changes made to the new Chinese edition, the text now has an accompanying DVD showing the forms in action, new information about key concepts and practice, and coverage of the applications of Qigong for a range of medical conditions. The only official textbook used in colleges of traditional Chinese medicine in China, this is an essential reference for medical and health practitioners working in complementary and alternative therapies.

Chi Gong: The Ancient Chinese Way to Health bridges the divide between Chinese and Western science, systems of health care, and spiritual practice. With proven, step-by-step exercises, chi gong instructor Paul Dong and psychiatrist Aristide Esser show how to perform basic and advanced chi gong exercises; increase vitality by maintaining the balance of bodily energies; prevent and cure ulcers, hypertension, heart disease, and other ailments; and achieve a relaxed and therapeutic meditative state, promoting health and longevity. The authors encourage practitioners to augment and strengthen their martial and spiritual disciplines, but also to develop external energy for the benefit of others. More than an instruction manual, Chi Gong functions as a complete survey of this healing art. Dong and Esser discuss chi gong’s history, famous practitioners, applications for health and the martial arts, and the role of chi in exceptional human functioning and mind-body interactions. Combining information from Western scientific investigations as well as personal insights from Paul Dong’s practice, the authors provide a thorough explanation of the concept of chi and its role in traditional Chinese medicine, discuss the groundbreaking use of chi gong in cancer treatments, and take the reader on a visit to one of China’s many chi gong clinics.

Medical qigong is one of the four main branches of Chinese medicine, and it is the energetic foundation upon which the others (acupuncture, herbal medicine, and medical massage) are based. Medical qigong and tai chi exercises are becoming more popular, but there are few books that discuss how they can be used to help address specific disorders. This book is the first medical qigong book that does not simply introduce a set of exercises that are a part of a general qigong routine. Rather, the exercises provided are those prescribed to patients at qigong hospitals in China. Medical qigong doctors and Chinese medicine hospitals have used these exercises for hundreds of years and yet they are relatively unknown in this country. The first half of the book introduces medical qigong theory from a modern Western scientific perspective as well as from the traditional Daoist and Chinese medicine perspectives, so that the reader will understand why and how medical qigong exercises work. The second half is practical exercises for self-healing. The book introduces guidelines for selecting appropriate exercises, and then the exercises themselves. There are general tonification (strengthening), purgation (sedating), and regulation exercises for health maintenance, followed by sections on specific organ and health disorders. This book targets health care practitioners as well as "patients," meaning anyone interested in taking an active role in the healing process.

When Bill Moyers visited China to explore the mysteries, and the healing potential, of Chinese medicine for his acclaimed PBS series "Healing and the Mind," he sought out David Eisenberg as his guide. For every reader fascinated by the seemingly fantastical aspects of Chinese medicine, from acupuncture addiction to Qi Gong martial arts, this captivating book offers deeper and more detailed encounters with the physicians and patients, the mystics and the martial artists, who were featured on television. Here is a sympathetic, yet objective appraisal of the concept of Qi (chee), the vital energy which is the unifying principle of Chinese medicine. Here are Chinese sages from the Yellow Emperor of 2700 B.C. to the very modern Dr. Fang, who remarks, "Acupuncture without Qi is only as effective as one man's sticking needles in another." And here are Chinese people from all walks of life as they seek relief, through a rebalancing of their Qi, their vital energy, for ailments from colds to cancer.

Learn all about the origins, theories, fundamentals and therapeutic effects of medical qi gong in this unique, practical textbook. As the first qi gong book designed especially for Chinese medicine practitioners and their patients, this book will teach you how to practice common qi gong forms to boost the health and combat illness. Common Chinese medicine disease patterns and their appropriate treatments using qi gong exercise are described in detail. We are sorry that the DVD content are not included.