Hye-Sook Jang

Psychoneuroimmunological effects of Qi-therapy : preliminary study on the changes of level of anxiety, mood, cortisol and melatonin and cellular function of neutrophil and natural killer cells

This preliminary study investigated the psychoneuroimmunological effects of Korean Qi-therapy (QT) on randomly divided placebo group (N = 10) and QT group (N = 10) via measuring the level of anxiety, mood, cortisol and melatonin, and the cellular function of neutrophil and NK cells. Although the basal levels of anxiety and mood were not different between the two groups, there were significant differences in group by time interaction in the anxiety level (5 min after intervention, Post I: changed by −23 per cent in QT group and −10 per cent in placebo; 1 hour after, Post II: −23 per cent, −8 per cent) and mood score (Post I: −34 per cent, −14 per cent; Post II: −55 per cent, −21 per cent). Melatonin levels also changed differently by intervention. In response to QT, melatonin levels increased after treatment but decreased in the control. For neutrophil response to intervention, superoxide generation was increased by QT but decreased by placebo (group by time interaction, p < 0.0001; changed by 36 per cent in the QT group and 8 per cent in the placebo group). There was a significant change in NK cell cytotoxicity in the QT group. The cytotoxicity increased (27 per cent compared to baseline) in the QT group but there were no changes in the placebo group (7 per cent). Our current observations suggest that Korean Qi-therapy may induce psychological stabilization, increase melatonin level and enhance cellular function of neutrophil and NK cell. Therefore Qi-therapy may be an effective complementary method for human health care and in the prevention of disease. Copyright

Effects of Qi-therapy on blood pressure, pain and psychological symptoms in the elderly: a randomized controlled pilot trial.

Recently, we reported that Qi-therapy may be beneficial in reducing negative psychological symptoms and increasing melatonin levels, neutrophil function and natural killer cell cytotoxicity in young subjects. However, there is little scientific evidence of its efficacy in elderly subjects. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of Qi-therapy on anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain and blood pressure in elderly subjects. Ninety-four elderly subjects were randomly assigned to either Qi-therapy (n=47) or mimic therapy (n=47) groups. Both groups received a 10-min intervention period once using similar procedures. The Qi-therapy group exhibited greater reduction in anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain level and blood pressure compared to the placebo group; the difference in anxiety was significant (P=0.014). These results suggest that even a brief application of Qi-therapy may exert a positive psychological and physiological effect. However, further research is necessary in order to fully understand the long-term impact of Qi-therapy on psychological health and the cardiovascular system.

Effects of Qi Therapy (External Qigong ) on Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of qi therapy on premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). DESIGN A randomized placebo-controlled trial. SUBJECTS Thirty-six (36) college women with symptoms of PMS. INTERVENTION After 2 months of screening, subjects with PMS were randomized to receive real qi therapy (18 subjects) or placebo (18 subjects). The subjects were informed that they would receive one of two types of treatment. They did not know which treatment they received. Each intervention was performed eight times during the second and third cycles with subjects completing a PMS diary. RESULTS There were significant improvements in the symptoms of negative feeling, pain, water retention, and total PMS symptoms in subjects receiving qi therapy compared to placebo controls. CONCLUSION Qi therapy may be an effective complementary therapy for managing the symptoms of PMS.

Effects of Emitted Qi on In Vitro Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxic Activity

The present study investigated the effects of Korean Qi-therapy, ChunSoo Energy Healing, on natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity in vitro depending on Qi-treatment time and the types of cells treated. NK cell cytotoxicity was assayed by measuring LDH release from tumor target cells (K562 cell lines). NK activity was significantly increased by emitted-Qi treatment of 30 sec duration. Three and 5 minutes of Qi projection created the greatest increase in NK cell activity when mixtures of NK cells and K562 cells were treated (1.81 and 2.12 fold for 4 hr culture; 1.54 and 1.36 for 16 hr culture, respectively). NK cell activity increased significantly in Qi-treated K562 cells alone (1.13 fold, p<0.05) compared to control. These results are consistent with in vivo Qi-therapy on humans and suggests that emitted-Qi has an acute stimulatory effect on NK cell activity. This study provides direct scientific support that Qi as such may positively affect human cellular immunity.

Effects of In Vitro and In Vivo Qi-therapy on Neutrophil Superoxide Generation in Healthy Male Subjects

The present study investigated the effects of in vitro and in vivo Korean ChunSoo Qi-Energy Healing on neutrophil superoxide generation. Neutrophil superoxide generation was measured by a chemiluminescence assay. Superoxide generation was significantly increased in vitro by emitted Qi-therapy (QT) of 60-second duration and 150-second duration compared to control (1.59-fold for 60 seconds, p < 0.05; 1.50-fold for 150 seconds, p < 0.05). Neutrophil superoxide generation increased significantly immediately after 5 minutes of QT in vivo (1.42-fold, p < 0.05). These results show that QT in vivo and in vitro has an acute stimulatory effect on neutrophil superoxide generation. This study provides direct scientific support that Qi as such may positively affect human innate immunity.

Effects of Qi-therapy on premenstrual syndrome.

This study investigated the effects of Qi-therapy (nine sessions over two menstrual cycles) on pain and other symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Forty-six women who were attending college were randomly allocated to receive Qi-therapy (Qi-therapy group: n = 23) or placed on a waiting list as controls (n = 22: 1 dropped out). Qi-therapy had a significant effect on pain and water retention. In addition, there were significant short-term effects on pain, mental depression, and anxiety. These results suggested that Qi-therapy might be useful as a nursing intervention for women who suffer from PMS to maintain or restore a balance of Qi.

An exploratory pilot study of Qi-therapy (External Qi Healing) on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome

This study assessed the effects of Qi therapy (QT) on premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Forty-six college women were randomly allocated to receive QT (QT group: n=23) or complete diary of PMS (control group: n=22, 1 was dropped out). The experimental group receives 12 minutes Qi therapy for 5 times (7, 4, 1 day before and 7, 14 day after menstruation), and control group relaxed in the same procedure with experimental group. We measured pain, depression and anxiety level with visual analogue scale (VAS) to investigate participants responses. There were significant reductions on pain, depression and anxiety in QT group compared with control. These findings suggest that Qi therapy may have a role in helping the women with PMS to cope with their pain, depression and anxiety symptoms.