I have heard of the benefits of qigong but did not know where to find the right class to join until I attended a talk organised by the NPC support group. I learned from the talk that high oxygen levels can kill cancer cells & gigong uses deep diaphramatic breathing technique to help strengthen the body's immune system. Coincidentally at that time, I also learned that cancer had spread to my lung. I felt that I could not afford to do nothing so I decided to give qigong a try.
And so in Nov 2008 I signed up for the qigong class which was organised specifically for NPC survivors. About 10 of us met every Sunday morning at Toa Payoh Park to learn qigong from Sifu Nicholas from Chi Dynamics. We completed our lessons in May 2009, and since then I have made an effort to practise qigong every morning for one hour.
In Oct 2009, I happened to watch a news clip on Channel News Asia which reported that a study conducted in China had shown that practising qigong can help fight cancer. I attach the news clip below, obtained from the CNA website : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/health/view/1010774/1/.html
CNA news on "Some studies show practising qigong helps to fight against cancer"
SHANGHAI : The stress of modern living had prompted many around the world to learn qigong. Recent joint studies from China and the United States also show that qigong can help cancer patients live longer.
One community club in Shanghai is practising a form of qigong that has helped members recover from life-threatening illnesses over the past 20 years.
Cancer survivor Qiu Jia Ming, 65, who suffered from pancreatic cancer years ago, said: "I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when I was 50 years old and the doctor told me I only had three months to live. But I've survived 14 years now."
Another cancer survivor, Yin Xiao Ling, suffered from nasal malignant granulomatosis 22 years ago.
"I'm 57 and have been practising qigong for 22 years. I was diagnosed with nasal malignant granulomatosis, a very rare cancer, and doctors said I only had six months to a year to live at the most.
"So when I was discharged from hospital, I didn't go home. I went to join the Guolin Qigong Club. Doctors said it was a miracle that I survived beyond a year," said Yin.
Even the head of the cancer rehabilitation club is convinced of the benefits of qigong against cancer. Yuan Zheng Ping was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma 28 years ago and after studying Guolin qigong in Beijing, he started the Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club in 1989 to teach others like him.
"It's not only a physical exercise, it is also a psychological practice of breathing using rhythmic exercises, thereby taking in a lot of oxygen. This is beneficial because it increases immunity and help fight the cancer.
"We did a survey in 1993 with 1,500 cancer patients and discovered that after five years of practising Goulin qigong, there was about 85 per cent recovery rate. In 2003, we did another comprehensive study and found that out of 7,000 cancer sufferers, more than 60 per cent of them survived for more than five years," said Yuan.
With such high success rate, there is now more attention paid to this form of exercise. Initial results from studies conducted by the University of Illinois and Shanghai University of Sports show that practising Cailin qigong can help cancer patients live longer and give them a better quality of life.
Wang Changwei is the researcher behind a new study programme sponsored by the US-based National Cancer Institute. Her first phase of research centred on those who regularly practise qigong and it showed that this group of practitioners have a lower rate of cancer reoccurrence than others.
She said: "From our current study, regardless of quality of life, exercise ability or health conditions, those who practised Guolin qigong are far better off than those who don't exercise qigong.
"We did an 11-month observation and found that oxygen intake of those who practise Guolin qigong was higher and when they are at rest, the oxygen level is the same. This means that they inhale more oxygen during their practice. Their breathing method of inhaling twice and exhaling once helped to improve their oxygen intake."
Even doctors who specialise in Western medicine believe there are benefits to practising qigong. But they said there may be other causes that are helping cancer patients recover from their illnesses.
Gao Yong, a doctor at Shanghai East Hospital, said: "Qigong can help patients forget the pain of the disease. Also, the exercise is a team activity. Practitioners encourage and support each other. There is more confidence when they see others recover. I think this is the real benefit of qigong.
"The study has only just started about two or three years ago. A large scale study is needed and should take about three to five years, or even longer, for a more detailed observation of the benefits."
China sees about 2.2 million cancer cases yearly, with one in five dying from the disease.
Notes from author :
If you wish to learn qigong, you may contact the following Chi Dynamics Centres:
1. Singapore - http://www.chidynamics.org/
2. Malaysia - http://www.chidynamics.org.my/
3. Australia & UK - email addresses are given in the Malaysian website.
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References :
Channel News Asia
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/health/view/1010774/1/.html
Chi Dynamics Singapore
http://www.chidynamics.org.sg/
Qigong & Cancer Care (to know more on how qigong can help fight cancer)
http://www.chidynamics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=9
