How could it possibly be? It seems that a 5,000 year old therapeutic system, developed in China’s ancient shamanic culture, can have an impact on cancer growth.
Let’s look at some of the evidence and see if the conclusion is plausible.
Let us first think about how and why people get cancer. This is obviously a vast topic, way beyond the scope of this article. But – in simple terms – the body’s own cells are damaged in some way (by contact with radiation, from too much sun, from exposure to chemicals like tar in cigarettes and alcohol, from exposure to viruses).
The critical issue is that the cell’s control centre is damaged. That damage causes the cell to multiply much more quickly than a healthy cell. Certain tumors also invade the surrounding tissue.
Now let’s look at the role of the body’s immune system. The immune system monitors the body for ‘invaders.’ That usually means keeping a wary eye out for bacteria and viruses that enter the body from the air we inhale, or the food we eat.
Our immune system has evolved to ‘seek and destroy’ potentially harmful organisms that enter the body. In order to do this, it has to be able to tell the difference between cells which originate in the body (which it will not attack) and invading cells (which it will seek out and destroy).
Most people are now familiar with the idea that the body rejects a transplanted organ. This is the immune system at work. It recognises the transplanted organ as a foreign invader. ‘ Rejection’ is the word used for a massive attack mounted by the body’s immune system.
Now let’s put these two ideas together.
Our cells are being damaged all the time. You may have heard of oxidative damage or free radicals as well as damaging substances listed above. In fact, it has been said that we all get cancer much of the time.
That is, we all experience cell damage. But… a healthy immune system destroys these damaged cells soon after they appear. Anything that damages or compromises the immune system damages our body’s ability to recognise and destroy damaged cells before they can form a tumour.
Conversely, a healthy immune system responds quickly and effectively to destroy any damaged cells.
There is now a mountain of evidence showing that stress depresses the immune system. Stress causes a change in the levels of the hormones which control the immune system, reducing its effectiveness.
Scientific research has proven that exposure to stress over a long period of time is a contributing factor in the development of cancer (and other degenerative illnesses).
How Qigong affects cancer growth
We are now ready to look again at this issue.
If we can show that Qigong has a positive effect in stress reduction, we can conclude that it is likely to have a positive effect on the immune system, and therefore the body’s ability to fight cancerous changes in the cells.
In fact Qigong practice promotes the following changes, all of which correlates with low stress and high relaxation:
- feelings of happiness, contentment and well-being
- a tranquil and calm state of mind
- deeper, more refreshing sleep
- increased energy, vitality and libido
- feeling confident and comfortable with one’s place in the world
There are numerous case studies of individuals who attribute the remission of their cancer to Qigong. While I personally choose to believe most of these stories when they are told in an otherwise authoritative context, we cannot know whether this happens in one in 10 cases, or one in 10,000.
Ken Cohen of the Qigong Research and Practice Centre states:
The most compelling evidence of Qigong’s immune-enhancing effect is found in cancer research. In China, Qigong is commonly prescribed as an adjunct to chemotherapy and radiation. It is known to lessen the side effects of these therapies. Qigong is frequently recommended as the primary therapy for advanced, inoperable, and medically untreatable cancer. In these cases, Qigong can ameliorate pain and other symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. More rarely Qigong practice results in long-term remission.
‘ The Way of Qigong’ p. 71
Cohen summarises a clinical study, where cancer patients were given either orthodox treatments or orthodox treatments with Qigong. On a number of measures, including normalisation of liver function, ESR, white cell activity, appetite and regaining of strength, the Qigong group fared significantly better. There were 127 patients in the study.
In a number of places in the book, individual or small group accounts are given of the apparent remission of cancer symptoms in patients practising Qigong.
A Qigong therapist would also be expected to prescribe a dietary regime that supports the patient. Various epidemiological studies of the impact of diet on cancer could therefore be cited as evidence that Qigong may impact cancer.
For example: Japanese women eating a traditional Japanese diet suffer far less breast cancer than women in the West. Japanese women who travel to the west, settle, and eat a typical Western diet tend to suffer breast cancer at a similar rate to Western women. Japanese women living in the West who revert once again to a traditional Japanese diet, find the incidence of breast cancer falling back to typical Japanese levels.
A Qigong therapist working with a cancer patient is also likely to prescribe Chinese herbs as dictated by a traditional Chinese medical diagnosis.
Guided visualisation is one of the cornerstones of modern alternative cancer treatments, pioneered by the Simontons since the late 70s/early 80s. The Chinese have been employing visualisation to conduct healing energy to the site of the tumour in the body since ancient times.
Another way that Qigong affects cancer is through relaxation. Patients are prescribed specific postures and movements to be carried out with relaxed, focused awareness. These movements are relaxing in themselves. But there are also specific relaxation exercises and visualisations that may be employed in the management of a cancer patient using Qigong. The immune enhancing effects of relaxation described above would become available to the patient.
Qigong and cancer: further reading
Ken Cohen ‘The Way of Qigong – the art and science of Chinese energy healing ‘ Ballantine, New York. 1997.
Tianjun Liu and Kevin W Chen eds., ‘Chinese Medical Qigong’ Singing Dragon, London. 2010.
I hope this article helps you in your journey to better health. Please, be wary of all claims to cure cancer. At the same time, journey in hope and with hope.
‘The journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step.’ Laozi
All this is required to complete the journey is to keep taking single steps.
May you discover that your pathway has a heart.