A Study of the Recuperation Function of Qigong on

Hypertension Target Organ Impairment

Xu Dinghai     Wang chongxing

Shanghai Institute of Hypertension

Shanghai 200025, China

ABSTRACT

    This study was designed to observe the essential hypertension on 86 patients who had been treated with Qigong for one year. We discovered the Ejection Fraction (EF) and Mean Velocity of Circumferential Fiber shortening (MVCF), which reflect left cardiac function increased remarkably. The abnormal rate of Isoelectric statistical mapping analysis of EEG ,which reflects brain function, was decreased from 63.3% to 26.7%. The difference is significant. Urinary Alb and Urine IgA, IgC, and IgM ,which reflect the function of premature kidney failure, decreased remarkably. The results suggest that Qigong might be the cause of  the improvement of the heart, brain and kidney functions.

KEY WORDS

Qigong   Hypertension   Recuperation of heart, brain and kidney function

INTRODUCTION

    Hypertension is a common disease of the elderly, and a series of target organ impairments is caused while the disease proceeds and blood pressure increases. During 1979-1980 our institute had consecutively examined the blood pressure of 4 million persons. The result had been retrospectively analysed, and we knew the elderly hypertension mean morbidity rate is about 3-5 %. We estimated there would be 30 million patients in our country. Hypertension accompanied by the most severe concurrent symptom results in cerebral apoplexy, which is the third-ranked cause of death.  Therefore, to expand the active prevention and treatment research of hypertension accompanied by concurrent symptoms is very important. The international and domestic studies estimate the causes of target organ impairments of hypertensive patients as the premise of rational treatment. [1] So far except for lowering blood pressure by drugs, the traditional Chinese medicine without drugs attracts men's attention especially. This paper considers Isolectric Statistical Mapping, Ultrasonic Cardiogram and Urinary Alb and Urinary IgM, IgA, IgG as an objective index for researching the rehabilitation effects of Qigong on heart, brain and kidney target organ impairment caused  by hypertension.

    SUBJECTS AND METHODS

1. Study patients:

Eighty-six essential hypertensive patients, in accord with WHO hypertensive diagnosis standard; essential blood pressure >=21.3/12.7Kpa (>=160/95mmHg) before treatment; the state of disease is I or II stage; male; mean age is 55 (45-65); the disease duration is 10-20 years; all cases had been routinely examined to eliminate secondary hypertension; liver, kidney function normal; none  had any severe internal diseases.

2, Treatment method

The hypertensive patients were observed with the special outpatient service. The patients whose blood pressure was regularized by lowering blood pressure drug and whose diastolic blood pressure after four weeks was still higher than 12.7Kpa (95 mm HG) were turned into the observed objects who took the drug continually;  the dose was constant. They exercised Qigong once or twice every day; each time was thirty minutes.[2] After eight weeks the subjects were observed in follow-up outpatient service once every two weeks.

3. Detective method

Before beginning the period of Qigong treatment, the patients would be detected by the following indexes, which would be contrasted with the checking indexes after one year.

(1) EEG, by model SG-91II Isoelectric Statistical Mapping instrument, in the shield assembly, voice Isolation, no interference, thermostatic (about 20c) laboratory.

(2) Heart Functions, by model ALOKA SSD-720 M-mode Echocardiography instrument.

(3) Urine Alb and Urine IgA, IgG, IgM, by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Measurement.

RESULTS

1. By a contrast analysis before and after Qigong training of Isoelectric Statistical Mapping.

    A composite treatment in which Qigong is primary was adopted at the same time. By a contrast analysis before and after Qigong training (one year), and by adopting modern objective indices, we discovered the abnormal rate of Isoelectric Statistical Mapping analysis of EEG, which reflects the function of brain, was improved remarkably. The total abnormal rate of Isoelectric Statistical Mapping analysis of EEG was decreased from 63.3% to 26.7%. The difference is significant. The above results indicated the Qigong played a major role in the improvement of the brain function. (see figure 1)

2. By a contrast analysis before and after Qigong training of Ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG)

    Ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG) was performed on  30 hypertensive senior patients. Ejection Fraction (EF) and Mean Velocity of Circumferential Fiber shortening (MVCF), which reflects cardiac function, increased remarkably. The above results indicated the Qigong played a major role in the improvement of the heart function.

3. By a contrast analysis before and after Qigong training of Urinary Alb and Urinary IgA, IgG, IgM

    By a contrast analysis before and after Qigong training (one year), Urinary Alb from 1.20+0.822 to 0.68+0.529, Urinary IgM from 0.2668+0.1 to 0.062+0.092. The difference is significant (see table 2).

DISCUSSION

1. HYPERTENSION IS A CHRONIC COMMON DISEASE. The study discovered that the function of heart, brain and kidney in elderly hypertensive patients are worse than in men of the same age and normal blood pressure.  It suggests that long-term high blood pressure actually impairs the functions of heart, brain and kidney. [3] At present,  reversing the target organ impairments caused by high blood pressure is determined to control the blood pressure. Using orally administered drugs  long-term would bring the severe side-effects to the patients. Therefore, Qigong, the traditional Chinese medicine without drugs, has been especially attractive to the men.

2. The study adopted a composite treatment in which Qigong played a major role and acted on the improvement of the heart, brain and kidney function. By a contrast analysis before and after Qigong training (one year) we discovered EF and MVCF, which reflect left cardiac function, had increased remarkably. The abnormal rate of Isoelectric Statistical Mapping analysis of EEG, which reflects the brain function had decreased remarkably. Urinary Alb and Urinary IGA, IgG, IgM, which reflect the function of premature kidney failure, had decreased remarkably. The above results suggest Qigong training not only stabilizes the blood pressure but also retards the degeneration of the heart, brain and kidney functions. The study elucidates that Qigong is a simple and efficient method for recuperation.

REFERENCES:

1. Genest J, et al. HYPERTENSION  USA  P. 83

2. Wang Chong Xing, Xu Dinghai, Qian Yuesheng, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT RESEARCH OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE OF QIGONG, Beijing Hua-Xoa Publish Community, 1990/12

3. Guo Jizhen, et al. COMPARISON OF THE PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION AND NORMAL SUBJECTS ON URINARY EXCRETION RATE AND CLEARANCE OF ALBUMIN AND IMMUNOGLOBULINS

ALBUMIN AND IMMUNOGLOBULINS

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY 1992:8 (2):66

Table 1. Changes of UCG before and after Qigong treatment (one year) n=30

.

Changes of Urinary Alb and IgX before and after Qigong Treatment (one year)                                                       X+- SD

Figiure 1.

Changes of EEG before and after Qigong treatment         n=30

JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE 11 (2) : 153-158, 1991

RESEARCH ON "ANTI-AGING" EFFECT OF QIGONG

Kuang Ankun, Wang chongxing, Xu Dinghai, Qian Yuesheng

Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai

Aging, which is both a physiological and pathological process of natural occurrence, is irreversible in certain implications. However, it has become possible to prevent certain pathological processes and slow down or even postpone the aging process; this thus enables the lifespan of human beings to be prolonged.[1} Since 1958, we have focused on applying Qigong to the prevention and treatment of geriatric diseases and anti-aging research.[2] The following is a preliminary report of our study.

Evaluation of anti-aging Effect of Qigong on the Basis of  a Controlled Study on 204 Hypertensives Treated With Qigong Continuously for 20 Years.

Substantial data show that the organism goes downhill gradually with the increase in age, and aging causes disease, which in turn accelerates the aging process. And so in this way a vicious circle is established. In the anti-aging research it is advisable to closely combine anti-aging methods with procedures for prevention and treatment of senility. Hypertension, a common disease among the people of middle and advanced age, exerts an obviously unfavorable influence on the cardiovascular system and physiological aging process.[3] Our experience in thousands of hypertension cases treated with Qigong showed Qigong has evident anti-hypertensive potency and is effective in anti-aging and breaking the vicious circle. [4,5] A prospective study project was made in 1963 with 218 patients with essential hypertension randomly allocated to Qigong and control groups. The Qigong group, besides practising Qigong, was given only small dosage of such routine antihypertensive drugs as Reserpine 0.125 mg tid, Dihydraiazine 12.5 mg tid, and Dihydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tid, and the dosage adjusted according to manifestations during the treatment. The control group was given the same routine antihypertensive drugs of same dosage, but without Qigong. The age, sex, occupation, duration and stage of disease, blood pressure, program and directions for drug administration in the two groups were comparable. 204 cases (93.58%) including patients who died were continuously monitored and analysed.

1, In the Qigong group of 104 cases, effective results at consecutive stages (5, 10, 15 and  20 years of follow-up)  stabilized in 85-90.02% of the patients as against 66.67-69.07% in the control group. This shows that Qigong is effective in the treatment (P<0.01-0.001). Further analyses revealed that 47.70% in the Qigong group reduced the antihypertensive dosage because of the stabilized BP, while in contrast, 30.85% in the control group increased the antihypertensive dosage, the difference being markedly significant.

Fig. 1 Comparative efficacy in stages (Q:85.00-90.00%; C: 66.67-69.07%).

2. The total accumulative mortality rate during the 20 years of follow-up was 17-31% in the Qigong group, lower than 32% in the control group (P=<0.01). Further analyses showed that the incidence of stroke and the rate of death due to stroke were 16-35% and 11.54% respectively in the Qigong group, as compared with 30% and 23% in the control group(P<0.05).

Fig.2 Comparative annual study on prognosis between Q and C

3. Analysis of 154 patients who survived 20 years showed that the mean BP be fore treatment  was 23.2 +-1.87 / 14.1 +-0.933 Kpa (174.3=-14.2/106.7 +-6.9 mmHg in the Qigong group (86 cases) and 23.2+- 1.47/144.2+-0.8Kpa (175.0 =+-11.5 / 106.4 +-6.0mmHg) in the control group(68 cases). After two months of treatment the blood pressure decreased in both groups, being 17.3+-1.33'11.1+-0.667 Kpa (130.8+- 10.1/83.9+-5.6 mmHg) in the Qigong group and 17.1+-1.47/11.2+-0.8 Kpa (128.9+- 11.3/84.1+-6.4mmHg) in the control group. As time went on the blood pressure increased gradually in the control group, the mean BP at the 20 years of follow-up being 20.8 +-1.47/12.3 +-0.8Kpa (155.6 +-11.5/92.6 +-6.1mmHG), while it was relatively stabilized at 18.1 +-1.33/11.3+-0.533 Kpa (136.7 +-10.4/85.6 +- 4.8 mm Hg) in the Qigong group at the same time. Compared with BP before treatment, the BP reduction was 4.93 +-1.6/2.8 +-1.2 Kpa (37.6+-12.54/21.1+-8.9mmHg) in the Qigong group and 2.53 +-1.33/2.73+-1.07 Kpa (19.4 +-10.4 / 13.8 +-8.4 mmHg) in the controls, a very significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001). The mean BP at the 20 years of follow-up was further compared with that after one  year of treatment, showing an increment of 0.133+- 0.533/0.01 =-0.133Kpa (10 +-4.8/0.3+-1.3mmHg) in the Qigong group and 2.0 +-1.07 / 0.533 +- 0.667 Kpa (15.3 +- 8.9  4.7 +- 5.3mmHg) in the control group (P<0.001); the increment being significantly different between the two groups (P<0.01).

Fig. 3 Comparative observation on levels of blood pressure in consecutive stages.

With advance of age, the aging process is generally accelerated and blood pressure rises; the longer the duration of hypertension, the quicker the senility and the higher the blood pressure will be. The fact that there was almost no rise of blood pressure during the 20 years of follow-up as compared with the BP reading after one year of treatment in the Qigong group suggests that Qigong is effective in lowering blood pressure and slowing up the aging process.

4. The ECG findings and retinopathy of the 154 survivors were similar between the two groups before treatment. But after 20 years, 31-40% in the Qigong group maintained a mild retinopathy (Grade 0-1), and 46.5121% with normal ECG, while this figure was only 11.7% and 29.49% in the control group. The significant difference (P<0.05) between the two groups indicates that longterm Qigong exercise can hinder the development of cardiovascular lesions and slow up the aging process.

Evaluation of anti-aging Effect of Qigong on the Basis of Sex Hormones in Male and Female Patients

The change of plasma sex hormone concentration can be seen during the aging process, but the patterns in the male and the female are somewhat opposite after middle age. In normal men the concentration of plasma estradiol ( E₂)  tends to rise, while the levels of plasma testosterone (T) remain normal  or slightly decreased.

In 1976, Phillips found that of 15 middle-aged male patients, 7 had a slower growth of beard, 3 gynecomastia and 3 decreased libido before myocardial infarction occurred. Four months after myocardial infarction, plasma E₂  rose significantly while T levels were normal. He believed that the increase of E₂ and E₂:T ratio was one of the risk factors of coronary heart disease. [6]

We began to study the relationship between coronary heart disease and sex hormones in 1979. In 1982, we proved  Phillips' findings,[7] and held that the disturbance of sex hormone homeostasis might be the common pathophysiological change in a series of diseases in the middle and advanced age. We found that the E₂ level and/or E₂:T ratio increased respectively in sick sinus syndromes (19818) as well as in Type II diabetes (1982), acute myocardial infarction (1983) and hypertension (19984). Administration of kidney tonics and Yin-yang regulating herbal medicines or practice of Qigong overcame various characteristic symptoms, and decreased, to various extent, the E₂ levels and E₂:T ratio.[8].

(1) In 70 male patients with essential hypertension (age range: 40-69 years; stage of disease: II), a higher level of plasma estradiol (69.68 +-3.35 pg/ml) and a higher E;T ratio (13.33+-o.97 x 10³ ) were found as compared with the E₂ level of 42.23 +- 5.82 pg/ml and the E:T ratio of 7.60 +- 1.00 x 10³ in healthy men of 40-69 years without cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal or endocrine diseases. The difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). No significant difference in the testosterone concentration was found between the two groups (596.42 +-32.58 and 588.7 +- 25.03 ng/dl).

The 70 cases of hypertension were divided into two groups: Qigong, 42 cases and controls, 28 on the basis of medicinal treatment. After one year of treatment the elevated E₂ and the E₂:T ratio significantly decreased in the Qigong group but not in the controls. The decrements in the Qigong group were E₂, 22.41+-4.94 pg/ml and E:T ratio, 4.83 +- 1.28 x 10³, whereas no apparent changes were found in the control group, this also possibly implying a certain anti-aging effect of Qigong (See Table 1.)

Table 1. Comparison of concentrations of E₂, T and E₂/T rate between Q and C after treatment for 1 year

*P<0.05  **P.<0.0 as compared with that before treatment.

(2) The female aging process was associated with failure of ovarian function manifested by decreased E₂ and T levels. A study on postmenopausal female patients with menopausal hypertension (aged 51 to 67 years) found E₂ (40.9 +-3.5 pg/ml) and T (25.5 +-2.2 ng/dl) which were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of normal menopausal controls (E₂, 51.8 +-3.7 pg/ml; T, 34.4 +- 2.1 ng), who had no hypertension or cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal and endocrine diseases (aged 49 to 69 years. The E:T ratios did not show significant difference between the two groups, being 173.8 +- 12.3 x 10³ in the hypertension group and 164.4 +- 11.7 x 10³ in the control. After one year of treatment with Qigong, the plasma E₂ rose to 51.6 +- 3.5 pg/ml and T to 37.2 +- 2.2 ng/dl but the E:T ratio decreased to 138.2 +- 7.3 x 10³.

The above data suggest that the Qigong exercises play an important role in establishing homeostasis of sex hormones as manifested not only by decrease of the elevated E₂ and E₂:T levels in male hypertensive patients of the middle and advanced age, but also by the rise of the decreased E₂ and T levels in post menopausal female patients. This finding is particularly important in anti-aging treatment, especially for female post-menopausal patients as it has generally been accepted that ovary degeneration and decreased E₂ level in this period of life is an irreversible process.

Evaluation of the Anti-aging Effect of Qigong as Seen from Its Effects on Other Geriatric Diseases

In presenile and senile stages, the body function is weakened, and the reserving and anti-illness ability of the organism decreased, leading to higher frequency of diseases and thus more evident aging signs. Many geriatric diseases often coexist. These diseases and aging factors may influence each other, resulting in a vicious cycle of retrogression. Treating a main disease without considering the accompanying or underlying illnesses will not gain good results in the physiologic aging process; and further, patients treated this way may suffer untoward effects. Our preliminary research on the mechanism of Qigong revealed that the Qigong exercise regulates the body function in various ways, and it can prevent and treat diseases and slow down the aging process. Qigong not only controlled the main disease in senile patients but also improved the complicating diseases and the aging signs.

A comparative study on 98 cases of essential hypertension accompanied by coronary heart disease was made (aging type 55 cases, recessive type 38 cases, infarct type 5 cases). These patients, who consistently took antihypertensive drugs, were divided randomly into a Qigong group of 50 cases (Qigong with small doses of routine antihypertensive drugs) and a control group of 48 (routine antihypertensive drugs only). The Qigong group was comparable to the control group in age, sex, course of disease, blood pressure, retinopathy, ECG manifestations, as well as intake of antihypertensive drugs. After one year of treatment, 86% of the cases in the Qigong group showed effects and 59% improvement in clinical symptoms; whereas in the control group the corresponding figures were 64%, and 21.4% respectively. Further observation showed a much better improvement in electrocardiograms and left heart function in the Qigong group than in the controls. After treatment the abnormal electrocardiogram improved in 52.2% of the Qigong group cases, while in the control group it improved in only 21.5%. After one year of Qigong practice the cardiac output was increased, while the total peripheral vascule resistance was decreased and the rate of PEP/LVET tended to be normal. Experimental results showed the blood viscosity decreased, platelet aggregation improved, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride decreased, while HDl-C increased significantly. The above data indicate that Qigong has regulatory effects on hemodynamics, left ventricular function, lipid metabolism and blood rheology. Qigong may therefore be considered to be used in preventing and treating hypertension complicated with coronary heart disease.

We also treated sixteen male patients of 45 to 65 years of age with hypertension associated by diabetes on consistent diabetic diet and hypoglycemic agents. Fasting plasma sugar (FPS) and urine sugar were determined before and after treatment. The score method was 3 for serious symptoms, 2 for moderate symptoms and 1 for mild symptoms. The symptoms included polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, lassitude, weakness, blurred vision and hyperesthesia. After 6 months of Qigong practice, the symptomatic score values decreased from 8.4 +- 2.6 to 4.1 +- 1.9 (P<0.01), clinical symptoms abated and general condition significantly improved. FPS decreased from 171.55 +- 15.66 mg % to 151.31 +-14.91 mg % (P<0.01). Before treatment the urine sugar was +++++++in 8 cases, +++ in 7, + in 1, but after treatment it was +++ in 4, + in 4, and - in 8.

The above data further revealed the beneficial effect of Qigong on many kinds of geriatric diseases.

JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE 11 (3): 224-227, 1991

 RESEARCH ON "ANTI-AGING" EFFECT OF QIGONG

(Continued)

Kuang Ankun, Wang Chongxing, Xu Dinghai, Qian Yuesheng

Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai

Evaluation of Anti-aging Effect of Qigong Based on the Theory that the Qigong Exercises Correct both Yin and Yang Deficiencies

The TCM theory holds that maintenance of  good health depends on the balance of body yin and yang which are constantly in motion and change. Premature aging is mainly due to imbalance of yin and yang in the body. Years of experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the material basis of yin and yang. In 1973 Goldberg supposed that two messengers of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) in regulating cellular functions might contradictorily correlate yin and yang in TCM, and that a two-directional regulating system might be a main principle of yin and yang theory. We studied in 1977 the concentrations of plasma cyclic nucleotides in various diseases due to yin and yang deficiency, and found that plasma cAMP and cGMP levels changed according to a certain modality and that they were two valuable parameters reflecting yin and yang deficiency.

Preliminary studies showed that when Qigong was practiced, a two-directional regulating process took place, inhibiting hyperfunction and overcoming deficiency. For example, hypertensive patients exhibiting sympathetic hyperfunction and bronchial asthma patients governed by vagal excitation both improved markedly after Qigong exercise. In order to study the potency of Qigong in regulating yin and yang and to search for their material basis, 70 hypertensive patients were divided into yin-deficiency type (32 patients) and yang-deficiency type (38) according to the TCM differentiation of symptoms and signs.  The level of plasma cGMP in the yang-deficiency group was elevated (7.91 +- 3.22, normal 5.31+- 2.55 pmol/ml) and cAMP/cGMP decreased (2.47 +-0.72, normal 4.23 +-2.13), while the yin deficiency group showed an elevation of plasma cAMP level (26.55 +- 5.4  pmol/ml) as  compared with the normal group (19.56 +- 6.24 pmol/ml N=57). Each of the two types was subdivided into Qigong and control groups. After one year of treatment, the elevated cAMP level in the yin-deficiency Qigong group of 16 patients decreased, the decrement being 3.58 +- 1.04 pmol/ml, significantly higher than in the yin-deficiency control group (N=16) (0.1 +- 1.26 pmol/ml, P<0.01). The elevated cGMP level in the yang deficiency Qigong group decreased, the decrement being 2.16 +- 0.79 pmol/ml, and the lowered cAMP/cGMP increased, the increment being 1.2 +- 0.29. These two values were significantly different as compared with the yang deficiency control group (cAMP 0.21 +- 0.6 pmol/ml, cAMP/cGMP 0.15 +- 0.19, N=17, P<0.05-0.001).

TABLE 2.  cAMP, cGMP AND cAMP/cGMP ratio before and after one year's Qigong treatment

(B): Before (A): After           *P<0.05,  **P<0.01, ***P<0.001

The above results indicate that Qigong not only possesses an antihypertensive effect, it also plays an important role in bidirectional regulation of cyclic nucleotide concentrations. If the balance of yin and yang can be established by Qigong, the homeostasis is assured. This is the essence of Qigong treatment.

COMMENT

After the middle age, the incidence of hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus gradually increases. This suggests that there is a relationship between the occurrence and development of the above geriatric diseases and the aging  process. The hallmark of hypertension in the elderly increases vascular resistance. Recent epidemiologic studies have greatly increased our knowledge of pathogenesis of hypertension and its sequelae, including stroke, arterial aneurysm, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, sudden death and congestive  failure. So preventing and treating hypertension has been an important subject in our study of elderly health and anti-aging. In recent years, a lot of manpower and money have been allocated to the long-term follow-up trial of interfering elderly hypertension in many countries. According to the result of a 12-year follow-up of 416 elderly hypertensives with antihypertension treatment reported by EWPHE, the long-term antihypertension treatment may decrease the incidence of fatal myocardial infarction, serious congestive failure and stroke, but the total mortality is not significantly decreased. Clinical experience has proved that although antihiypertensive drugs are effective in treating hypertension, the adverse reactions of drugs are also a troublesome problem. The adverse reactions of drugs are far more common in older than in younger individuals. In addition, older patients often have concomitant diseases requiring multiple pharmacologic interventions. This increases the likelihood of complications related to drug interactions. Thus, the non-pharmacologic interventions are particularly appealing to older patients. Many authors recommended the non-pharmacologic treatment of hypertension to be a primary therapy for mild hypertension, and a useful adjunct to antihypertensive medication for severe hypertension. Qigong is a self-practice therapy and thus belongs to the category of non-pharmacologic interventions, which effects self-regulation and self-control through mental induction and respiratory adjustment. Our study on hypertensive patients over the past 30 years has repeatedly confirmed that Qigong can not only stabilize blood pressure and reduce complications, but also abate aging manifestations and improve the general condition significantly.

The central nervous system plays a major role in organism degeneration. Analysis of EEG integral values, measurement of EEG-power-spectrum and determination of brain-power all have indicated that Qigong has definite regulatory effect on the cerebral function. We have also investigated skin potential, plasma DBH activity, urinary MHPG-So4 levels and TMN excretion and found that Qigong could reduce excitability of the sympathetic nervous system and correct disequilibrium of the autonomous nervous system in hypertensive patients. These data suggest that the coordination function of the nervous system is improved by Qigong practice.

There is a closed relationship between the endocrine system and the body function. A normal blood pressure is maintained by the nervous and hormonal system, and many hormones and biological active substances play an important role in regulation of blood pressure. We have found that after practising Qigong, plasma LEK and PRL levels were increased, cortisol concentration decreased and plasma 18-OH-DOC turned to normal, serum T₃ and T₄ concentration increased, this suggesting that the regulatory and controlling effect of the endocrine system was promoted by Qigong practice.

According to the TCM theory, the concept of sex is included in the category of kidney. And, therefore, abnormality of sex hormones is one of the important causes for diseases and aging.

The above data suggest that qigong is indeed an effective measure to prevent and treat geriatric diseases and to postpone aging. It is particularly good for anti-aging better than any other medicines commonly used. In our opinion, this is worthy to be further studied.

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