Qigong
Author
 Nancy Hepp, MS, BCCT Project Manager
Read more Ms. Hepp is a science researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. View profile. Reviewer
 Laura Pole, RN, MSN, OCNS, BCCT Senior Researcher
Read more Ms. Pole is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation and education services for more than 30 years. View profile. Last updated May 17, 2021.
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Also known by these names
- Chi gung
- Ch'i kung
- Qi gong
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Key Points
- Qigong an ancient Chinese practice using breathing techniques, gentle movement and meditation.
- The goal is to cleanse, strengthen and circulate the life energy (qi).
- BCCT’s interest in qigong derives from research showing benefits regarding symptoms of cancer and treatments, including fatigue, sleep difficulty, depression and pain.
- Qigong is generally considered safe.
- Classes and videos are widely available.
- Qigong is most likely beneficial across a wide range of cancers, even though research to date may focus on only a few cancer types.
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Qigong, pronounced “chee-gung”, is an ancient Chinese practice consisting of a combination of movement, self-massage, meditation and breathing. The word qigong is a combination of qi (life-force, energy, creativity, consciousness, breath, function) and gong (cultivation or practice over time).
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Qigong is one of the four main branches of traditional Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture, massage and herbal medicine. Many individual styles of qigong have evolved.
No formal qigong organizational structure exists to regulate training and certification of its providers.
Qigong is most likely beneficial across a wide range of cancers, even though research to date may focus on only a few cancer types.
Clinical Practice Guidelines
Highlighted Video
Physician and author Cynthia Li, MD, demonstrates a simple qigong exercise that promotes healing.
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How Does Qigong Differ from Tai Chi?
A discussion of the differences between qigong and tai chi is located on our Mind-Body Approaches page.
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2009 evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology conclude that therapies based on a philosophy of bioenergy fields are safe and may provide some benefit for reducing stress and enhancing quality of life. Only limited evidence is available regarding their efficacy for symptom management, including reducing pain and fatigue. The Society for Integrative Oncology gives a strong recommendation for these therapies:
- For reducing anxiety: grade 1B (strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence)
- For pain, fatigue, and other symptom management: grade 1C (strong recommendation, low or very low quality evidence)
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The Society for Integrative Oncology 2017 clinical practice guidelines for patients with breast cancer recommends qigong for improving quality of life. Based on evidence, the use of qigong is rated Grade C (at least moderate certainty that the net benefit is small; see Clinical Practice Guidelines and Standards of Care for a full description of grades).
Managing Side Effects and Promoting Wellness
Managing or relieving side effects or symptoms, reducing treatment toxicity, supporting quality of life or promoting general well-being
As with other mind-body approaches, assessing the effectiveness of qigong in addressing cancer symptoms can be challenging due to the difficulty in creating controls and placebo conditions.
A 2017 review and meta-analysis of 22 studies involving both qigong and tai chi (another movement and meditation therapy) found these results after three to 12 weeks of training and practice:
- Significant improvement in fatigue
- Significant improvement in sleep difficulty
- Significant improvement in depression
- Significant improvement in overall quality of life
- A statistically non-significant trend was observed for improvement of pain
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Other evidence:
- A 2016 review of 11 clinical trials in several countries found that qigong therapy was found to have positive effects on the cancer-specific quality of life, fatigue, immune function, and cortisol levels (related to stress) of individuals with cancer.
- A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis also found improved quality of life with qigong.
- A review in 2017 of 22 studies found that “symptoms in the qigong group were significantly improved or there was an observed positive trend from pre-to post-interventions scores for physical symptoms and psychological symptoms.”
| Physical symptoms with significant positive results |
Psychological symptoms showing improvement |
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- Quality of life
- Cognitive function
- Mood disturbance
- Depression
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However, the authors note the high risk of bias, the small numbers of participants, lack of follow up and other methodological problems with many of the studies. Not all symptoms found improvement in across studies. Thus some evidence shows benefits of qigong for cancer patients, but better research is needed.
- A 2020 systematic review concluded that qigong is effective in addressing cancer-related pain in breast cancer patients.
- Qigong has reduced stress levels with improved sleep quality, activity levels, immune response and balance in older adults (not limited to cancer patients or survivors).
Cautions
Qigong is generally considered safe.
Access
Qigong is available as classes, on video or online. Many hospitals, wellness centers and other health-related facilities offer qigong classes.
Integrative Programs, Protocols and Medical Systems
- Programs and protocols
- Traditional systems
Non-cancer Uses of Qigong
BCCT has not reviewed the effectiveness of this therapy for non-cancer uses.
- Arthritis
- Bell’s palsy
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Fibromyalgia
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
- Mechanical neck disorders
- Menopause symptoms
- Parkinson’s disease
- Physical fitness, including resting heart rate, strength and balance
- Pulmonary dysfunction
- Sleep difficulties
- Stroke prevention
- Type 2 diabetes
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Note: BCCT has not conducted an independent review of research of qigong. This summary draws from CAM-Cancer and other sources as noted.
Highlighted Video
Brian Bouch discusses integrative oncology, part 1
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BCCT advisor Brian Bouch, MD, retired several years ago from an integrative medicine practice in Sonoma, California. After he received a difficult cancer diagnosis, he developed a specialty in integrative oncology. Dr. Bouch was the first medical director of Commonweal. In the following three videos, he talks with Michael Lerner about how he developed his practice, used certain therapies and how he worked with people with cancer.
Bold text indicates topics related to qigong.
- 2:48-10:04 Dr Bouch’s experience with a cancer diagnosis:
- malignant growth in his neck
- primary cancer unknown, 5 years later source known
- ENT oncologist recommended surgery and radical lymph-node dissection
- embarked on is own program detox (Optimal Health Center)
- diet and exercise
- talked with Renneker, Block, Broffman, McKee
- Contact provided with MD Anderson with latest research recommending 80% with his type of cancer do well with chemo and radiation
- 11:45-12:50 How his cancer experience has changed him:
- importance of exercise (qigong, yoga, vegan diet, Zen Buddhism)
- respect for spirituality and how to bring it to our daily lives
- 15:00-26:00 Michael & Brian discuss Integrative Cancer therapies:
- importance of the 7 pillars of health promotion
- creating a healthier person who may be living with cancer, extending their life, or improving their life
- more information on the etiologic factors: genomes (what we are born with with) and epigenetic factors that influence our genes
- measuring the toxic load is one part of functional medicine
- 26:46-32:32 What is happening in our bodies: toxicity
- functional medicine looks at microbiome, leaky gut, mercury, lead and cadmium
- urine and stool sample can provide information on toxicity
- hydrocarbons
- biotoxins (such as from mold) can impact autoimmune system
- 35:00-41:19 Detox before and after chemo
- body/mind retreat
- all raw vegan diet, paleo, ketogenic diet
- exercise 150 min/week; heart rate for person in their 70s would be 116 bpm
- spiritual practice
- tai chi
- qigong
- Buddhist meditation
- sauna
- Introduction to Qigong. Qigong Institute. Viewed January 15, 2018.
- Chinese Medicine Living. Qi Gong. Viewed December 20, 2017.
- Energy Arts. The Difference between Tai Chi and Qigong. Viewed December 20, 2017.
- Deng GE, Frenkel M et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: complementary therapies and botanicals. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2009 Summer;7(3):85-120.
- Greenlee H, DuPont-Reyes MJ et al. Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2017 May 6;67(3):194-232.
- Ruddy KJ, Stan DL, Bhagra A, Jurisson M, Cheville AL. Alternative exercise traditions in cancer rehabilitation. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2017 Feb;28(1):181-192.
- Wayne PM, Lee MS et al. Tai chi and qigong for cancer-related symptoms and quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2017 Dec 8.
- Klein PJ, Schneider R, Rhoads CJ. Qigong in cancer care: a systematic review and construct analysis of effective qigong therapy. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2016 Jul;24(7):3209-22.
- Lin WF, Zhong MF et al. Efficacy of complementary and integrative medicine on health-related quality of life in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Management and Research. 2019;11:6663-6680.
- Van Vu D, Molassiotis A, Ching SSY, Le TT. Effects of qigong on symptom management in cancer patients: a systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2017 Nov;29:111-121.
- Behzadmehr R, Dastyar N, Moghadam MP, Abavisani M, Moradi M. Effect of complementary and alternative medicine interventions on cancer related pain among breast cancer patients: a systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2020;49:102318.
- Yang Y, Verkuilen J, Rosengren KS, et al. Effects of a taiji and qigong intervention on the antibody response to influenza vaccine in older adults. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2007;35(4):597-607; Yang Y, Verkuilen JV, Rosengren KS, et al. Effect of combined taiji and qigong training on balance mechanisms: a randomized controlled trial of older adults. Medical Science Monitor. Aug 2007;13(8):CR339-348; Jahnke RA, Larkey LK, Rogers C. Dissemination and benefits of a replicable tai chi and qigong program for older adults. Geriatric Nursing. Jul-Aug 2010;31(4):272-280.
- Cohen L, Jefferies A. Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six. New York: Viking. 2018.
View All References
More Information
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Tai Chi and Qi Gong: In Depth
- CAM-Cancer: Qigong
- Qigong Research and Practice Center: Qigong FAQs
- Chinese Medicine Living: Qi Gong
- Susan G. Komen: Qigong
- Kevin Mutschler, LAc, demonstrates several qigong techniques and exercises in videos
- Lutgendorf, SK, et al. Energy Medicine in Cancer in Abrams DI, Weil AT. Integrative Oncology. 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2014.
- Dr. Cynthia Li: Brave New Medicine
- Gurdev Parmar and Tina Kaczor: Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology
- Cynthia Li: Strengthening Personal Immunity and Resilience
- National Cancer Institute: Cancer Pain Control: Support for People with Cancer
- September 2018 Issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
- Wayne Jonas, MD: Your Healing Journey: A Patient’s Guide to Integrative Breast Cancer Care
- Donald I. Abrams, MD, and Andrew T. Weil, MD: Integrative Oncology, 2nd Edition
- Neil McKinney, BSc, ND: Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition
- Keith I. Block, MD: Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment
- Lorenzo Cohen and Alison Jefferies: Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six
- Yang Yang, PhD: Qigong for Cancer Survivors
- National Cancer Institute: Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Michael Lerner: Choices In Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer
- American Tai Chi and Qigong Association: Locate Tai Chi and/or Qigong Classes
- Erlene Chiang: Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Cancer and Grief
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