Research studies on qigong and cancer are discussed below.   Dr. Wang offers 1. Defending against Cancer Qigong Workshop: increase circulation, stop pain, strengthen the body.    This qigong increases the flow of energy and oxygen throughout the body. According to Chinese medicine, cancer can grow where there is stagnation, a blockage of energy (qi). By increasing the circulation and greatly increasing the amount of oxygen as well as increasing the amount of toxins released from the body, the body becomes stronger and can protect itself better. From material below, "there is an increased efficiency of cell metabolism and tissue regeneration through increased circulation of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the brain, organs."   2. Individual Consultation Appointment    Dr. Wang can teach you qigong for the specific organs that have cancer.  For ex. if you have lung cancer you could learn qigong for the lungs. You may also receive some herbs and information on what foods to eat and more.  To create this individualized program for you Dr. Wang would need to see you for a private appt.   Letter from one of Dr. Wang’s patients,  a woman with lung cancer. “Dr. Wang you have sent me medicine and instructions for meditation and qigong. I do this exercise everyday. My doctor said I have just a 30% chance, maybe 50% if I do a second chemotherapy, but I don’t want it. I will take the Chinese medicine and do the exercises. This is a better way.” That was 8 years ago. The woman is cancer free and in good health. She  sends Dr. Wang many referrals.    Per research, qigong not only works against the cancer but improves your immune system and general health. Research studies support use of qigong to fight cancer- see below.   Research studies: Studies of qigong and cancer   Emitted qi (energy) was reported to inhibit the growth of implanted malignant tumors in mice.   2. In a clinical study of qigong "as a therapeutic aid for patients with advanced cancer, 127 patients with medically diagnosed malignant cancer were divided into a qigong group of 97 patients and a control group of 30 patients. All patients received drugs, and the qigong group practiced qigong for more than 2 hours a day over a period from 3 to 6 months. Both groups improved, but the qigong group showed improvements four to nine times greater than the control group in strength, appetite, diarrhea free, and weight gain of 3 kg. The phagocytic rate, which is a measure of the immune function, increased in the qigong group but decreased in the control group.   3. There is ample evidence in the literature that therapy by a combination of qigong exercise and drugs is superior to that of drugs alone.   4. Qigong is believed to remove blocks to the ready flow of the qi (energy), blood, oxygen and nutrients to all cells of the body as well as to promote removal of waste products from cells of the body. Blocks to energy (qi) flow may result from injury, disease or stress. Increases in qi flow and blood circulation help nourish diseased or stressed tissue, providing a means for the body to heal itself. This mechanism suggests that qigong also could promote drug uptake to tissue and cells via increased blood circulation. Read more."   INTEGRATIVE CANCER THERAPIES 1(4); 2002  Exploratory Studies of Qigong Therapy for Cancer in China “Qigong therapy from TCM  (Traditional Chinese Medicine) shows promise in treating cancer, and preliminary studies report immediate improvement without side effects, even recording complete remission in patients who engaged in ongoing practice of qigong.     Unlike other alternative medicines, which are only able to cope with symptoms, qigong therapy focuses on the entire body and its health system. Our review suggests that qigong therapy may actually stop and prevent cancer growth, and help patients recover from many different diseases at the same time.      Qigong improves immune functions  Many research studies suggest that qigong therapy and/or qigong practice may help cancer patients improve their immune function. From their clinical studies of cancer patients, Zhang reported that qigong practice significantly increased cancer patients’ C3b rate of red blood cells, the rate of lymphocyte transformation, and phagocytosis.       Studies showed that increases in NK cells and many other components of the immune system can significantly reduce the chances of infection or tumor growth. Some studies also reported the rise in the level of T lymphocytes with enhanced immune function after qigong.     Other components of the immune system, such as the activity of macrophages and bactericidal functions of neutrophils, also improved as the patients practiced qigong and/or received qi from a qigong master    Given the fact that most conventional cancer therapies tend to damage or destroy the patient’s immune functions, which in turn reduces overall capability of self-recovery, the indication of improvement in the immune system from qigong therapy warrants further in-depth research.” "Qigong therapy may increase the microcirculation functions. Microcirculation is the blood circulation between microartery and microvein (capillary).Qigong practice has been reported to improve microcirculation, changing the viscosity of blood, increasing elasticity of blood vessels, and controlling the concentration of platelet. One study in this area measured the skin temperature before and during qigong practice and found an increase in back surface temperature and greater infrared radiation from the palm.   It was concluded that qigong therapy could adjust the microcirculation function to an optimal state by accelerating blood flow, raising the skin temperature, and increasing the number of micro blood vessels, which in turn increases the oxygen and blood supplies to the tissues and cells, strengthens the metabolism, and changes the pathological state to a normal physiological state to achieve the antitumor effect or maximize the efficacy of chemotherapy. Huang also reported increased microcirculation of lung among cancer patients who practiced qigong.   Qigong’s therapeutic properties may also lie in its regulation of the respiratory system, the metabolic system, activity of the cerebral cortex, the central nervous system, and the cardiovascular system, as well as its effect in correcting abnormal reactions of the organs, the massaging effect on the organs of the abdominal cavity, and its effect on self-control over  the physical functions of one’s body. "   Kevin Chen and Raphael Yeung. (2002). Exploratory Studies on Qigong Therapy for Cancer in China. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 1(4): 345-370. "The authors reviewed more than 50 studies of Qigong therapy for cancer in China, in three categories: clinical studies on cancer patients, in vitro studies on laboratory-prepared cancer cells, and in vivo studies on cancer- infected animals. Most of the clinical studies involved observations of cancer patients' self-practice of Qigong. Although no double-blind clinical trials were found among patient studies, many had a control. The Qigong groups showed more improvement or had a better survival rate than conventional methods alone. In vitro studies report the inhibitory effect of Qi emission on cancer growth and in vivo studies find that Qigong-treated groups have significantly reduced tumour growth or longer survival among cancer-infected animals. However, there is much room for improvement in these studies and some require replication to verify the findings. Qigong therapy is an area that is often neglected by mainstream medicine and research but our review strongly suggests that Qigong deserves further study as a supplement to conventional cancer treatment."   e-Journal of Traditional & Complementary Medicine.   Qigong As An Adjunctive to Cancer Therapy http://naturalhealingforyou.com/journal.php?J_Id=28&V_Name=Volume%203&SE_Name=Review%20Article "Qigong movements are gentle and unhurried and the slow movement tends to synchronize with the pace of breathing. Cancer patients practicing such activities will experience a sense of deep relaxation and heightened alertness. The practice of qigong has 3 main beneficial effects on the individual with cancer:   a)    Improved oxygen supply  -  during qigong, the body becomes deeply relaxed and oxygen is absorbed from the blood by the tissues. Unlike other more vigorous physical activities in which oxygen is utilized by the muscles, during qigong, oxygen is distributed throughout the body, including those areas that may be harboring cancer cells. Thus qigong accelerates oxygen distribution in the body. The higher the oxygen supply, the more readily the body can reverse a cancerous condition. In addition, there is an increased efficiency of cell metabolism and tissue regeneration through increased circulation of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the brain, organs   b)    Improved balance of the autonomic nervous system The second major benefit of qigong on the cancer patient involves the person’s psyche and its effect on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). During qigong practice, the individual can achieve a state of deep relaxation, enabling the parasympathetic nervous system to neutralize the stress response. When the autonomic nervous system are in balance, the immune system is more highly activated.   c)    Improved Lymphatic Function Qigong exercises stimulates circulation of the lymph fluid through the system, carrying the Immune cells to key areas and eliminating toxins from the tissue spaces.   Thus, qigong’s main therapeutic benefits for cancer patients are the combined effects of improving the oxygen supply, balancing the nervous system, enhancing mood and relaxation, and strengthening the lymphatic system. "