Qigong Can Help Manage Stress
Qigong is a an ancient practice of self-healing that has been found to be quite useful in stress management, Qigong is becoming popular in the west with health practioners and Qigong experts offering classes for novices.
Qigong is a type of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is over 5,000 years old. There are two main types of Qigong: internal and external. Internal Qigong is a self-directed practice that engages people in their own health and well-being with the use of meditation, movement, and sounds. External Qigong is performed by a practitioner who uses their hands on a patient with the aim of healing.
A number of studies have shown that Qigong helps to reduce psychological stress. In one study, Qigong improved the symptoms of psychological distress in chemotherapy patients.
A Swedish study of computer workers demonstrated that Qigong reduced noradrenaline excretion (a measure of stress), and influenced the heart rate and temperature, indicating reduced activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The researchers concluded that Qigong exercise had significant stress reducing capabilities.
One of the most attractive aspects of Qigong is that it can be done by almost anyone in a wide variety of settings, including at home or even at work.