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Falun Gong and Health Benefits
March 05, 2011 | By He Mai
(Clearwisdom.net)
Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is a high-level cultivation practice guided
by the characteristics of the universe
–
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice
encompasses the cultivation of mind and body. Cultivating the mind involves improving one's
character and morality in daily life based on the principles inherent in Truthfulness-Compassion-
Forbearance, while cultivating the body involves doing five sets of gentle exercises to improve
one’s fitness.
After Master Li Hongzhi first taught Falun Gong to the public in 1992, the number of practitioners
increased dramatically. According to an early 1999 Chinese government report, about 70 to 100
million people practiced Falun Gong at that time. Since then, Falun Gong has grown quickly and is
currently practiced in more than 90 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, other
Asian countries, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia.
Alternative health regimens in Western countries are developing very fast. According to a 1998
survey conducted by David Eisenberg and his colleagues from Harvard Medical School and other
medical institutions, nearly 630 million people were using alternative medicine in the United States,
exceeding the number of patients who visited primary care physicians. The expenditures for
alternative medicine therapies were estimated to be more than 20 billion US dollars, with at least 12
billion paid by the patients themselves. [1]
According to a 2002 survey, up to 60% of cancer patients in Europe chose alternative remedies such
as special diets, vitamin supplements, herbal remedies, or acupuncture. In the United States, more
than 80% of cancer patients used alternative medicine. It is estimated that, globally, expenditures
for alternative therapies and medicine for cancer patients is as high as 18 billion US dollars annually.
Except for modern Western medicine, among all forms of alternative medicine, traditional Chinese
medicine is the most prominent. Acupuncture has already been widely acknowledged. Many
Western medicine researchers have shown great interest in the "mind and body self-healing
systems" of traditional Chinese culture, specifically Qigong practice. Many researchers have
traveled to China to study this subject. Many of them investigated the actual healing effects of
Qigong and searched for convincing evidence in this area. They wanted to find out that whether
Qigong practice was effective in terms of self-healing on a large scale, not only for a few individual
cases. The results from the following investigations in Mainland China, North America, and Taiwan
provide valuable information on the healing effects of Falun Gong.
I. 1998 Falun Gong Health Survey in Mainland China
Falun Gong spread the fastest in Mainland China and became the most popular among all the
Qigong practices in terms of healing and improving fitness. This elicited great attention from the
medical community and the Chinese government. In response to the requirements from the 1998
National Sports Commission investigation of all the Qigong practices popular in China at the time,
medical researchers conducted a survey. The results came from Beijing, Wuhan City, Dalian City,
Guangdong Province, and other areas, including Nanchang City, Guangxi Province, and Anhui
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Province. The study involved a primary health survey of Falun Gong practitioners at local practice
sites. The researchers sent out survey forms to more than ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners
from five districts in Beijing; 12.5 thousand practitioners from ten cities in Guangdong Province;
2,005 practitioners from more than 50 practice sites in Wuhan; and more than 6,000 practitioners in
Dalian. These areas had the highest population densities and the most Falun Gong practitioners, so
it was a relatively comprehensive representation of the overall situation of Falun Gong practitioners
in Mainland China. Nearly 35 thousand practitioners filled out the survey, which resulted in the
most systematic and complete large-scale investigation of the healing effects of Qigong practices. [3]
The survey included general information from the practitioners such as gender, age, and the length
of time practicing Falun Gong. A survey from Wuhan and the practice site at Zizhuyuan Park in
Beijing also listed practitioners' education level. These surveys were considered a census among the
practitioners.
The results revealed that a wide variety of socio-economic classes and those with different levels of
education practiced Falun Gong. 72.9% were female, 62.1% were over 50 years old, and more than
90% had multiple health problems before practicing Falun Gong. This suggests that most
practitioners started practicing Falun Gong to heal illnesses and improve fitness.
This survey also collected information regarding changes in health, comparing health conditions
before and after practicing Falun Gong. Of the up to 31,030 people (about 90.3% of the participants)
who had various illnesses before the practice—ranging from digestive problems, bone and joint
problems, and cardiovascular diseases—the researchers divided the results into three categories: full
recovery, alleviation of disease symptoms, and no change. In Guangdong Province, Beijing, and
Dalian, 23,619 out of 28,517 (82.7%) practitioners had full recovery of all illnesses; 4,616 (16.2%)
had some improvement; and 336 (1.2%) practitioners experienced no changes. The overall
effectiveness of Falun Gong practice in healing illnesses in those areas was 98.8%.
For Wuhan City and at the Zizhuyuan Park practice site in Beijing, the researchers classified their
results based on illness categories. Among the 2,483 practitioners who had more than one illness
before the practice, the researchers tallied a total of 6,772 symptoms, 4,926 (72.7%) of which
completely disappeared after the practice; 1,712 (25.3%) were alleviated, 133 (1.96%) remained
unchanged, and only 1 (0.04%) got worse. The overall effectiveness of the practice's health benefits
recorded in Wuhan and at Beijing's Zizhuyuan Park was 98.0%. In summary, the total effectiveness
of Falun Gong in healing illnesses across Mainland China exceeded 98%.
This health survey also indicated that the participants' mental condition improved significantly after
practicing Falun Gong. 86.5% of the practitioners in Beijing and Guangdong Province saw
remarkable improvement in their character and level of morality. In a special survey conducted
among more than 10 thousand practitioners in Beijing, the researchers concentrated on practitioners
who were in good health before the practice. Their results indicated that 57.9% of the practitioners
had further improvements, and 88.4% of the practitioners' mental health became notably more
positive. Another important finding was that after practicing Falun Gong, most of the practitioners
quit their bad habits. For example, 99.5% of the practitioners in Wuhan quit smoking, drinking, and
gambling. Modern medicine still lacks successful treatment for addiction, which emphasizes why
these results are quite remarkable. The survey also indicated that on average, every practitioner
saved more than 2,600
yuan
on medical expenses annually, suggesting evident financial benefits for
society.
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II. 1999 Falun Gong Health Survey in North America
Inspired by the results of Falun Gong health surveys conducted in China, several medical
researchers conducted a small-scale health survey of Falun Gong practitioners in North America in
1999. In consideration of the more complex nature of the make-up of the people in North America,
and that fact that most of the practitioners in North America have advanced education, the
researchers
added “level of education” to the questionnaire and also added “smoking history” to
estimate the percentage of people who gave up smoking after practicing Falun Gong. As for the
general improvement of health conditions, the researchers made use of some of the questions the
US National Health Bureau used in its "National Health Survey" of adults. The researchers e-mailed
their questionnaire to Falun Gong practitioners in the United States and Canada. 235 practitioners
responded and participated in the survey, of which 202 were from the United States, 32 from
Canada, and one from another country. The statistics showed that the practitioners in North
America were relatively younger, with an average age of 38.9 (the standard error is 13.6, and the
ages ranged from 4 to 78); 97% were Asian and 3% were Caucasian; the distribution of gender was
relatively even, with 58.3% female and 41.7% male. Over 80% had advanced degrees in education,
and almost 50% had a Master's or PhD degree. 18 practitioners were smokers before beginning the
practice; all of whom quit smoking after beginning the practice, with an average time to quit of 4.58
days. 103 practitioners consumed alcohol before the practice; 100 of them quit drinking after taking
up the practice; two cases drank less than three drinks per week, and one person did not reply to the
question.
Table 1 shows changes in health before and after practicing Falun Gong, with 224 practitioners
experiencing remarkable improvement. The questionnaire also asked the practitioners to fill out
their diagnosed health problems before practice and improvements after practice (Table 2). The
statistical results were consistent with the 1998 Beijing results. After practicing Falun Gong, many
severe illnesses such as cancer or heart ailments were cured or showed great improvement. Some
chronic diseases such as diabetes, hepatitis, or allergic diseases were also cured or improved. As
indicated by Table 3, even the non-physician-diagnosed pain symptoms and conditions of
discomfort saw distinct improvements.
Table 1. Comparison of Health Conditions Before and After Practice
(Number of
practitioners)
Before
practice
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Total
After practice
Excellent
4
23
31
23
35
116
Very good
0
8
27
28
28
91
Good
0
0
3
10
3
16
Fair
0
0
0
0
1
1
Poor
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
31
61
61
67
224
Total
Table 2. Statistics on Improvement of Diseases After Practice
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Total Number of Disease Cases
Type of Disease
High Blood Pressure
Heart Disease
Stroke
Emphysema or Asthma
Alimentary Canal Ulcer
Cancer
Diabetes & High
cholesterol
Pollenosis (Hay Fever)
Sinusitis
Chronic Bronchitis
Kidney Failure
Hepatitis & Other Liver
Related Diseases
Other Diseases
Total
Recovery
7
14
1
10
35
4
2
23
13
8
13
11
40
Marked
Improvement
5
5
2
2
9
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
18
Improved
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
2
No
Change
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Getting Worse
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
14
19
3
12
45
6
5
25
16
10
17
14
61
Table 3. Statistics on the Improvement of Discomfort and Pain
Total Number of Cases
Symptoms of Upset
Total
Recovery
Marked
Improvement
12
Improved
2
No
Change
1
Getting Worse Total
0
48
Joints and the Surrounding 43
Areas Discomfort Such As
Pain, Stiffness & Swelling
Pain Such As Backache,
Muscle Ache, Headaches
and Migraine Headaches
Insomnia, Hearing
Impairments
Chronic Fatigue
Other Symptoms Not
Diagnosed by Doctors
74
14
4
7
0
99
2
40
40
0
8
18
0
3
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
3
51
61
This health survey report reveals that practicing Falun Gong is beneficial to health. After practicing,
many chronic illnesses which practitioners had previously suffered from completely disappeared,
some experienced reduced symptoms, and smokers quit smoking. By analyzing this data using a
statistical model, the results indicate that the longer the participants practiced Falun Gong, the more
health improvement they experienced.
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III. 2002 Survey of Falun Gong's Healing Effects in Taiwan
In view of increasing national health care expenditures and the government taking on an additional
load, improving health while minimizing public expenditures has become an important issue.
During the last few decades, Qigong as part of China's traditional culture has been shown to have an
important, positive impact, and is indeed an inexpensive way to enhance health. Falun Gong is
becoming increasingly popular.
How effective is Falun Gong?
Dr. Hu Yuhui, from the Department of Economics at National Taiwan University, has researched
medical economics for many years. She is also a Falun Gong practitioner. Drawing on her personal
experiences and professional prestige, and with support from the Taiwan Falun Dafa Association,
Dr. Hu completed a joint survey with other medical personnel on how the practice of Qigong
improves the quality of health. This academic research targeted case histories of Falun Gong
practitioners.
By way of a stratified sampling, Dr. Hu selected 20% of towns and cities for her research. Of the
questionnaires she distributed, 1,210 (75%) were answered and returned. Conclusions were based
on statistical analysis. The report emphasized that after people started practicing Falun Gong, 72%
used their medical card only once per year, down almost 50% from the past. The survey also
showed that Falun Gong had a significant effect in helping people quit bad habits. 81% of the
respondents quit smoking, 77% quit drinking, 85% quit gambling, and 85% also completely
stopped their habit of chewing betel nuts. This data validates the positive and significant role of
Falun Gong in everyday society.
Dr. Hu emphasized further that the research also shows that Falun Gong offers great psychological
and mental benefits. The satisfaction rate regarding personal health increased from 24% in the past
to 78%, and the satisfaction rate concerning carrying out daily activities increased from 36% to 81%.
In addition, 33% of respondents had a tendency to be nervous and depressed before practicing Falun
Gong, but the rate dropped to 3% after they started practicing.
The survey in Taiwan has, for the first time, reported the positive effects of Falun Gong practice on
women who experience menopause. In the U.S. in 2002, a long-term follow-up survey found that
hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) that was widely used over the previous few decades resulted
in more side effects than benefits [6]. The follow-up survey found that in the U.S. alone, of the
approximately 20 million menopausal women, 6 million were using HRT, which was later stopped.
Helping menopausal women remains an important issue. A common phenomenon of Falun Gong
practice is that many older women start to menstruate again, although only moderately, and they
become younger-looking. The survey found that among the 723 women who participated in the
survey, 345 were menopausal, accounting for 47.72%. Of the menopausal women, 68 are confirmed
to have resumed their menstrual cycle, and their symptoms showed obvious improvement.
Dr. Hu believes that in the economy where health care budgets are curtailed, Falun Gong practice
not only effectively reduces health care expenditures but brings immeasurable benefits to people’s
health in general. She believes that the government and the academic sector should work together to
further understand the health benefits of Falun Gong. She hopes that she can get support from the
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Healthcare Bureau so that she can do additional in-depth research on the health of Falun Gong
practitioners.
IV. The Healing Characteristics of Falun Gong Practice
To summarize the healing characteristics of Falun Gong practice based on the above-cited statistics:
First, the effectiveness of Falun Gong practice is demonstrated by the 70% complete and partial
recovery rate among Falun Gong practitioners who previously suffered from illnesses, with the
overall effective rate reaching over 98.0%.
Professor Hu Mingqin, from the pathology research department at the No. 1 Military Medicine
University, who participated in the survey in Guangdong Province, China, stated,
“Some Falun
Gong practitioners previously suffered from illnesses considered difficult and/or terminal; some of
them had been given a ‘death sentence’ in hospitals, considered ‘incurable’ by medical
professionals, yet they have miraculously regained their health through practicing Falun Gong.
Medical checkups showed that their cancerous cells disappeared, and the symptoms of terminal
illnesses and difficult cases vanished. They regained their health.”
The healing power of Falun Gong is also demonstrated by the fact that they recover without the
help of other medical treatments. Professor Hu Mingqin continued, “Many Falun Gong practitioners
were well-known
‘chronic invalids’ or ‘regular visitors to hospitals,’ but while they were practicing
Falun Gong, they stopped medications and injections. Their conditions did not get worse, but
instead got better and better. Some of them were cancer sufferers in the middle of chemotherapy,
and some were diabetics who had been warned by doctors that they 'must not stop taking
medication.' Their recoveries were unconceivable from a medical point of view.” He also stated,
“Among Falun Dafa practitioners, not only did illnesses disappear, the patients also commonly
became physically rejuvenated, to that of their youth. Senior practitioners have fewer wrinkles, their
hair turns black, and their complexion is rosy and smooth, showing signs of rejuvenation. It is
especially difficult to explain what I mentioned earlier—that older women resumed their menstrual
cycle and were
rejuvenating.”
The healing power of Falun Gong is also shown in the “anti-placebo effect.” This will be discussed
in a different section.
Second, the holistic healing power of Falun Gong is shown from several aspects. The survey results
indicate that the average complete and partial recovery rate from different types of illnesses exceeds
70%, and the recovery rate for “incurable diseases,” such as cancer, lupus, and Parkinson disease, is
66%. For other difficult and complex cases such as anasarca, the complete and partial recovery rate
is 58%.
The survey in Dalian shows that illness-disappearance rates among Falun Gong practitioners who
previously suffered one illness, and those who suffered multiple illnesses were 89.72% and 88.83%,
respectively. There is no obvious discrepancy from a statistical point of view. The holistic healing
power of Falun Gong is also reflected in the great improvement in practitioners’ psychological and
mental wellbeing. A survey in Beijing shows a connection between psychological change, physical
change, and the change in illness (see Figure 1). The above indicates that Falun Gong's healing
effects impacts the body and mind in a holistic manner. But it also demonstrates that the
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effectiveness of the practice is determined by each individual practitioner rather than the type of
illness or the number of illnesses a practitioner has.
Figure 1: Beijing survey of more than 10,000 people, with corresponding relationships
between recovery of mental, physical, and health status
Vertical axis:
Percentage of people investigated
Horizontal axis:
Status groups
Group 1: Happy and optimistic, physically energetic, complete recovery
Group 2: Significant improvement, can work normally, basic recovery
Group 3: Some improvement, can engage in average manual work
Group 4: No change, unable to work
Bars represent:
Mental status; Physical status; Health recovery status (respectively)
Third, Falun Gong practice has been shown to exert a positive impact on behavior and lifestyle. In
China, a great majority of practitioners participate in daily group exercises for a half-hour or longer.
They live normal lives and most have let go of unhealthy habits such as drinking, smoking, and
gambling. Most Falun Gong practitioners believe they have improved their character and morals,
their mental wellbeing has experienced complete self-regulation and improvement, they have
enhanced their capacity to endure, and their moods have stablized. They have improved their health,
and their improvement in character has been a positive influence on their families, as well as their
social life and work.
Fourth, most Falun Gong practitioners experienced rapid health improvement after they started
cultivation. The speed and effectiveness are commonly described as "amazing."
Some people’s
symptoms disappeared within three to five days after listening to Mr. Li’s lectures or reading the
book
Zhuan Falun,
and their bodies felt light. Most people experienced a complete recovery or
obvious improvement within a few months or a year or two. The Dalian area survey reported a
healing rate of 99% among people within a year of beginning Falun Gong practice, while the
Guangdong report shows that among the people surveyed, 72% practiced Falun Gong for less than
two years at the time. 98% became healthy within one or two years. The summary result of this
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survey shows that 61.5% of people had practiced Falun Gong for less than two years at the time of
the survey. The survey in North America shows that the average time for a smoker to quit smoking
is 4.58 days (standard error is 9.72 days). The Dalian survey shows that as people continued
practicing Falun Gong, the basic recovery rate also increased. The surveys in North America and in
Taiwan both indicate that the longer people practiced Falun Gong, the better their health index
became.
Lastly, Falun Gong practice is economical. Promotion of Falun Gong practice happens on a
volunteer basis, without charge. Falun Gong books can be downloaded free of charge from the
Internet. There is no cost to learn Falun Gong. On the other hand, Falun Gong’s healing power has
saved practitioners, their employers, and the government large amounts in medical expenses. As per
the surveys in Guangdong, Beijing, and Dalian, each Falun Gong practitioner saved over 2,600
yuan
per year in medical expenses. The economic benefits are significant. The Taiwan survey also
showed that people reduced their medical expenditures by half after they started Falun Gong
practice, excluding the work time saved from sick leave and the invisible cost of time and energy in
family care for the sick.
V. The Initial Study of Falun Gong Cultivation’s Possible Mechanism of Healing and Fitness
The improvement of physical health among Falun Gong practitioners is merely one advantage of
practicing Falun Gong. In fact, people can benefit in other aspects as well by practicing Falun Gong.
Following are some examples:
Practicing Falun Gong makes one more relaxed, clear-minded, and less stressed. Practitioners are
energetic and they are able to quit bad habits such as smoking. After learning to handle conflicts
with sincerity and compassion, practitioners improve their relationships with those around them.
They have also gained more understanding of what one's “true self” means. In addition,
practitioners come to understand many fundamental principles. They understand the cause of
different tribulations in life and learn to use them to cultivate themselves. With a better
understanding of the spirit-matter relationship, practitioners focus more on self-improvement and
tend to spend more time with people with similar interests.
Apparently Falun Gong practitioners have discarded many bad habits that impair health. Through
cultivation, they also gradually reduced the stress in their daily lives. Hence, they have become
healthier both physically and mentally.
However, if you ask practitioners if becoming healthier is the motivation for their cultivation, the
answer will probably be surprising: “No, becoming healthy is merely a by-product of our practice.”
How do practitioners gain the health benefits as a by-product? After all, even with the best
treatment provided by modern technology, such a goal would take a lifetime, with significant
monetary investment and an enormous amount of effort. Will we be able to explain this from the
standpoint of Western medicine or even traditional Chinese medicine?
Although Qigong, similar to acupuncture, is effective in healing and fitness, it is still not fully
understood or accepted by modern Western medicine. The basis of acupuncture lies in the meridian
system, which has not been fully studied by Western medicine. Plus, the concept of “Qi” and “Gong”
cannot be easily understood by modern medical science, which is built on morphology. Qigong
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practice emphasizes the unification of spirit and matter, mind and body, as well as the human being
with the surrounding world. These are areas that have not been well understood by modern science,
which mainly focuses on the study of material existence. Nonetheless, although its progress is very
slow, modern science has accumulated some understanding of the relationships between spirit-
matter and mind-body.
Plus Qigong’s health effect on its practitioners is reflected on various levels
recognized by modern medical science from the genes to cells to organs. Let us look at how
cultivation affects healing and fitness, from the point of view of both modern Western medicine and
traditional Chinese medicine.
(1) Modern Medical Science’s Understanding of the Relationship between Body and Spirit
-
Psychosomatic Medicine
Modern medical science believes in the model of physiology, psychology, and sociology. After six
years of studying 170 sudden death cases, in 1971, George Engel observed that severe diseases or
death might be related to psychological stress or trauma. Mental stress can lead to many health
issues, such as heart disease, asthma, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and acute viral
infection. Mental distress is also a possible cause of mononucleosis, cancer, AIDS, and even
Alzheimer's. The diseases caused by poor lifestyle account for 70% to 80% of all diseases. For
example, in the United States, about 10% of women and 20% of men require treatment for
alcoholism. Each year, about 200,000 deaths are directly related to alcohol-related physical and
mental disorders, including suicide, cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. Alcoholism reduces a
person's life span by approximately ten years. The direct or indirect financial losses to society
brought by these physical and mental disorders are estimated to be more than $150 billion, that is,
about $600 per person. In the United States, there were an estimated 61 million smokers in 1995,
4.5 million of them young people. Every year, there is an increase of 170,000 new lung cancer
patients, and 150,000 deaths are due to lung cancer. About 80% to 90% of lung cancer patients are
smokers. Today there are 300 million smokers in China. Poor diet, lack of exercise, and depression
also lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Despite modern technology and health education,
each year 400,000 to 500,000 people die of coronary disease. [15]
The theme of
Science
magazine on April 26, 2002 was "The Puzzle of Complex Diseases, It's Not
Just the Genes." The main article states: “The most common diseases are the toughest to crack.
Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, psychiatric illness: All of these are 'complex' or 'multifactorial'
diseases, meaning that they cannot be ascribed to mutations in a single gene or to a single
environmental factor. Rather, they arise from the combined action of many genes, environmental
factors, and risk-conferring
behaviors.” In his article titled “Balancing Life-Style
and Genomics
Research for Disease Prevention,” Walter C. Willett from the Harvard School of Public Health
wrote, “We have been able to identify modifiable behavioral factors, including specific aspects of
diet, excess weight, inactivity, and smoking that account for over 70% of stroke and colon cancer,
over 80% of coronary heart disease, and over 90% of adult-onset
diabetes.” “Findings from modern
molecular research have helped to clarify the genetic contribution to many diseases. Highly
penetrant mutations, which account for conspicuous clustering of diseases within families, are rare
and appear to account for less than 5% of major cancers and coronary heart disease.” “...the
majority—probably the large majority—of important cancers in Western populations are due to
environmental rather than genetic factors.” [16, 17]
Researchers have found that, compared to 20 years ago, more patients had benefited from the use of
a placebo. This indicates that the stress in modern life and environment may contribute to more
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psychological diseases. In their book
The Invisible Plague: the Rise of Mental Illness from 1750 to
the Present,
Dr. Torrey and Dr. Miller stated that, in recent decades, at least in some industrialized
countries, strong evidence has shown that depression-caused human illnesses are epidemic diseases,
even including the most serious mental disorder—schizophrenia. [18] In a survey of psychological
stress reactions to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, “The Effect Post 9.11,” such a trend was
further confirmed: people, even away from the scene, have shown substantial stress symptoms. [19]
Out of the respondents living in the vicinity of the “Twin Towers,” 20% of them showed
“significant post-traumatic stress” (or post-traumatic
stress disorder, PTSD). [20] Another study
involving 988 Manhattan residents showed that smoking, drinking, and marijuana use has increased
significantly, which may be related to various psychological conditions. [21] According to a study
from the Department of Education, in a survey of 1.1 million public school students, about 75,000
children showed more than six symptoms of PTSD, which is sufficient to be diagnosed with mental
disorders. [22, 23]
The above studies have clearly shown that these psychological factors, lifestyle, environmental
factors, and social conditions have significant impact on physiological conditions. Modern medical
treatment in these areas is relatively ineffectual. From the benefits Falun Gong practitioners have
experienced from their practice, it is obvious that this practice leads to positive outcomes in all the
above areas.
(2) From Traditional Chinese Medical Science to the Elevation of Cultivation [25]
It is easier to understand the role of Qigong practice in longevity and health from the perspective of
traditional Chinese medical science, because these are the reflections of one system at different
levels.
In contrast to Western medical science that focuses on physical medicine, traditional Chinese
medical science focuses on energy levels. The meridian system in Chinese medicine is the channel
for energy flow. All types of matter in Chinese medical science have the concept of energy or "Qi"
such as Wei Qi, blood Qi, Ying Qi, Jing Qi, Qi in the inner organs, the meridian Qi, Qi of water and
food, etc. According to Chinese medicine, organs are not merely anatomical parts but are, instead,
different energy hubs. Through the meridian system, these organs connect the body from inside to
outside, from top to bottom. They also connect other organs within the system or outside the system
(that is, from other organ systems). This is the basis for the holistic view in Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture, chiropractic, and breathing techniques are treatments that adjust one's energy balance.
In fact, the critical difference between traditional Chinese and Western medical science is not only
in their naturalness and comprehensiveness, but also on their views of the body's energy balance.
Chinese medicine studies the four properties and five tastes of herbs, which is then applied to the
different meridian systems. Such viewpoints are also seen in the diagnostic method of Chinese
medicine, that is, the material and energy flow between the different energy hubs (organs). Some
examples are: the syndrome of intermingled phlegm and qi, stagnation of qi transforming into heat,
sinking of qi of middle-jiao, and hyperactivity of liver-yang. From these, we can see that Chinese
medicine is a complete medical system on the energy level, rather than an alternative and
complementary medicine, as it is viewed in the eyes of some Western medicine professionals.
Secondly, Chinese medicine studies the human system at a microscopic level. Many people in
modern society are puzzled by the abstract concepts in Chinese medicine. Although modern
medical researchers have come to recognize the clinical effects of traditional Chinese medicine,
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they do not quite understand its intangible, invisible, theoretical system and its basic concepts. In
fact, many researchers have realized that Chinese medicine is a systematic and complete energy
system that is also complex and precise. This system exists in a highly microscopic dimension that,
albeit serving as an extension of the human senses, is indeed beyond the limits of sophisticated
modern instruments. The information that traditional Chinese medical science obtains through
“looking,” “listening,” “asking,” and “feeling” is the most superficial reflection of this micro-
dimension. In ancient times, through cultivation, people could develop the capabilities of seeing
through human bodies and the micro-dimension. In
Zhuan Falun,
it states, “In ancient China,
supernatural capabilities were common to virtually all Chinese medical doctors, such as those great
medical scientists: Sun Simiao, Huatuo, Li Shizhen, and Bian Que. They all had supernatural
capabilities that were documented in medical texts. Yet now these excellent parts are often
criticized. What Chinese medicine has inherited are only those prescriptions or experiences from
research. Ancient Chinese medicine was very advanced, and the extent of its progress was beyond
present medical science.”
Thirdly, Chinese medical science unifies mind and body. It stresses that “The heart holds the office
of monarch.”
In Traditional Chinese health studies, being ascetic is the great secret of longevity.
Modern Chinese medical science has very limited understanding and recognition of spiritual aspects.
Therefore, the most essential parts of traditional Chinese medical science have not been fully
inherited and carried forward. Hence, in modern Chinese medical treatment, these most essential
parts have often been missing as well. The reasons for this are complex. One important reason is the
political and ideological
influence. Researches are afraid to deal with the “mysterious” parts of
traditional Chinese medical science, which are now often considered “superstition.” Thus they lose
the opportunity to explore and study them in detail.
Finally, and most importantly, traditional Chinese medicine is a science of the unification of
humanity and nature. The thought of the unification of humanity and nature is one of the basic
platforms of traditional Chinese medical science. The human body is a small universe. Heaven has
five Qi, and the earth has five elements. Similarly, the human body has five emotions and internal
organs. They all correlate to one another. The naming of the acupuncture points and the description
of the various energy changes within the human body all reflect this characteristic. This is why
some Westerners say that the diagnosis of traditional Chinese medical doctors sounds like a weather
forecast.
However, the human body exists not only materially, but it also has a spiritual existence, such as the
human disposition, temperament, and ideas. From the perspective of human health, when the human
spirit is calm and at ease, then the organs work properly. On the other hand, because Qi is an energy
entity in the body that is finite and vulnerable, many factors can lead to blockage of Qi.
Therefore, all theories of treatment and health involve supplementing the Qi, absorbing the Qi,
adjusting the Qi. However, Qi is merely Qi after all. It will ultimately run out and fail. However, the
energy of the universe
is eternal. Then, since the human body is a small universe, why can’t human
energy be eternal? If the human body is a small universe, and a human body has a spirit, then
doesn’t the universe around us have not only the five elements and the five Qi but also
a spirit? The
answer should be affirmative. If the small universe is assimilated with the spirit of the big universe,
shouldn’t it also obtain the energy from the big universe? The answer should also be affirmative.
Therefore, when traditional Chinese medical
science reaches its highest level, it is “cultivating the
mind and body, stopping the pursuit of fame and fortune, being ascetic, and reaching the ultimate
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1378836_0012.png
realm of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
This, in fact, goes beyond medical science and
reaches a new realm, that is, cultivation. A cultivation practice that truly cultivates mind and body
can help the practitioners reach this realm. At this point, the energy in this small universe of the
human body—Qi—has been purified along with the assimilation of the spiritual characteristics of
the big universe. It has been transformed into eternal energy
–
Gong, which makes true health and
longevity achievable. Falun Gong is such a cultivation practice method.
Modern Western medicine has acknowledged that there are multiple layers and multiple facets to
health. This clearly puts forward a new model of modern medical science: “physiology-
psychology-society-spirit”
model [25]. When one’s soul is healthy, one’s mental health and social
behavior must be healthy, too. Physical health is an inevitable result. In fact, traditional Chinese
medical science and true cultivation practice not only cover this model, but also provide a full set of
feasible methods, which should be cherished, inherited, and carried forward.
VI. Inspiration from a Medical Survey for Future Health Care
Health care today can be considered primarily a system provided by health care professionals with
modern medical technology (mainly medicines, radiation, surgery, etc). Nowadays, public health
care has become a heavy and increasingly heavy burden for every government. With the emergence
of expensive medical technology, the treatment of diseases has not been fundamentally improved,
but the cost of health care has greatly increased. Therefore, reducing the cost of health care and
improving the efficacy of treatment have become important goals. Meanwhile, the current high cost
of health care inevitably excludes low-income people outside of the health care system. So, how to
improve cost-effective medical care and how to provide acceptable and effective health care for all
levels of society have become very important for any government. In addition, modern medical
science has changed people’s understanding of disease and health. As medical technology
becomes
more and more advanced, people are becoming more dependent on medical technology, health care
professionals, and other external factors, hoping that the developments in science and medicine can
help them avoid the suffering of disease. That is, few people are considering how to improve
themselves and truly being responsible for their own health. In other words, people have become
more self-indulgent.
From the healing and fitness effects of Falun Gong, it’s clear that the practice has provided
a self-
care system that is low-cost but a highly effective way to good health and mental stability. Through
practicing, they have a different viewpoint from everyday people regarding life and health. They are
responsible for their own health and lives and are truly changing their behavior.
Very simply, Falun Gong cultivates both mind and body. It consists of two parts: the most
important one is cultivating the mind or
xinxing.
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the
guiding principle in practitioners’ daily lives. Cultivating xinxing is the key to achieving the growth
of Gong and healing and fitness. Falun Gong also cultivates the body
–
practicing the exercises to
improve the physical body. The five exercises include standing exercises and a sitting meditation.
Falun Gong is a cultivation system with a goal beyond healing and fitness. But, as the survey shows,
on the level of healing and fitness, the effects of Falun Gong are miraculous. On this level, Falun
Gong practice can be viewed as a self-care or self-improvement system.
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More specifically, Falun Gong practice can be viewed as a multi-level self-care system that
combines the spiritual and material and has a great effect on the treatment of diseases. Multi-level
also refers to individuals, families, and communities. From the individual perspective, it is effective
on physical, mental, and spiritual levels. Practitioners are responsible for their own health and life
and use the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to guide their daily lives and
correctly view the gains and losses in their lives to reduce anxiety. They are also able to
successfully quit bad habits. Anxiety and bad habits are recognized as high risk factors for many
major diseases in modern medical science. What modern medical science has not recognized is the
direct impact of mental and spiritual factors on an individual's physical condition. Falun Gong
practitioners are able to achieve good psychological and mental states by cultivating xinxing. At the
same time, the exercises can also improve and transform the body. When one is ill, practicing the
exercises can completely eliminate the disease. When one is not ill, practicing the exercises can
greatly enhance resistance to disease. From the traditional Chinese medicine point of view, the
exercises not only open up and widen the meridians, but also transform low level energy, “Qi,” to
a
high level of energy, “Gong,” which traditional Chinese medicine cannot accomplish.
Reflecting on its own limitations, modern medical science has proposed the new health care model
“physiology-
psychology-society-spirit.”
As stated above, modern medicine
not only lacks effective,
reasonably priced means to cure physiological diseases, but also lacks good methods in other areas.
The information gathered from the research regarding the effect of Falun Gong practice on healing
and fitness in mainland China, North America, and Taiwan from 1998 to 2002 is therefore worth
reflecting on and investigating. There should be further research in this area.
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