Pueblo Medical Qigong
Chinese Energetic Medicine
Medical Qigong
Medical Qigong, also known as Chinese Energetic Medicine, is a centuries-old Chinese Medicine therapy that supports the body’s natural ability to build and maintain health in mind, body, and spirit by balancing and harmonizing the body’s energetic (Qi) systems.
A Medical Qigong practitioner uses Chinese Medicine theory to understand how energetic (Qi) patterns in a person affect the functioning of the body. They use Qigong (energy work) to identify, balance, and harmonize energetic patterns in a person’s body that are, or have the potential to, interfere with their health.
Medical Qigong is used as preventive and treatment therapy and takes a holistic perspective on health addressing both symptoms and causes of disease.
Medical Qigong Sessions
Generally, clients find Medical Qigong sessions relaxing and rejuvenating. The client lies face-up on a massage table. Since Qi can pass through air and clothing there is no need to disrobe.
To guide and manipulate the movement of Qi, the Medical Qigong practitioner mostly works several inches away from the client's body, but will at times gently touch the client.
The client may not notice any particular sensations during a session or they may momentarily feel Qi movement as warmth, tingling, coolness, vibration, and twitching as the stagnant energy releases. Qi movement may be felt post-session as well.
Session length varies but typically the client is on the table 45-60 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Qigong
How is my energy (Qi) affected during a Medical Qigong session?
During a Medical Qigong session the practitioner provides an overall cleanse and boost to a person’s major Qi systems. For each system, the practitioner purges excess Qi, tonifies deficient Qi, and then harmonizes the Qi. The particular Qi manipulation tools the practitioner uses in a session will vary based on the practitioner’s assessment of the client’s Qi
What causes energy (Qi) imbalances?
Qi excesses and deficiencies (imbalances) can develop from physical trauma (such as car accidents) or infections as well as from common life experiences such as unreleased emotions, patterns of belief, unhealthy environments, grief, shock, chronic stress, and overall poor nutrition and sleep. Over time, energy imbalances may become manifest as physical symptoms and/or emotional unrest.
How frequently should I receive a Medical Qigong session?
There is no fixed prescription for how many sessions are appropriate for a person to receive. This depends on the person’s interest in pursuing healing with Medical Qigong and the practitioner’s assessment of the nature of the energy imbalances to be treated. For general wellness, monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly sessions may be appropriate. For more intense work for specific symptoms, weekly sessions for 6-8 weeks may be appropriate.
I’m taking prescription medicine and/or undergoing medical procedures. Is it OK to receive a Medical Qigong session?
In most cases, Medical Qigong sessions serve as a complementary healing therapy to Western medical care. The practitioner can advise you on your particular situation.
Do I need to do anything between Medical Qigong sessions?
The practitioner can advise you on activities you can do between sessions to support the energy work you received in a session. These activities are often Qigong methods for self-healing that can involve meditation, breathwork, visualizations, or gentle movements.
What is the difference between Qigong and Medical Qigong?
Generally speaking, Qigong has three variations: martial Qigong, health Qigong, and Medical Qigong. They are all based on the Chinese Medicine perspective of the body for building the capacity for and working with Qi, but they have different purposes. Martial Qigong focuses on the fighting arts. Health Qigong (or often just Qigong) refers to a self-care practice in which a person uses their intent, breath and movements to harmonize and balance their own Qi. Medical Qigong, on the other hand, is a practice whereby a trained practitioner manipulates the Qi of another person. While Medical Qigong can be used as a general well-being tool, it is often used to identify and heal specific symptoms a person is experiencing.
The Practitioner
Frieda Parker is a Red Thread Certified Medical Qigong Practitioner. For more information about the training process, visit the Red Thread Institute website.