Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine
Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine
Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine
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Chapter 13 / Energy <strong>Medicine</strong>s and Therapies 211<br />
cal research to evaluate the beneficial effects of its techniques on the<br />
cardiovascular system. Specifically, it has demonstrated a balancing of<br />
heart rate variability (50).<br />
Several recent studies (51–53) indicate that Transcendental Meditation<br />
is effective in reducing hypertension, has a beneficial impact on<br />
cardiovascular functioning in adolescents who are at risk for hypertension,<br />
and is associated with a reduced carotid atherosclerosis measurement,<br />
compared with a health-education control group in African<br />
Americans with hypertension.<br />
Numerous studies on the effect of internal Qigong practice on CVD<br />
have been conducted in China. Their methodological details are unclear,<br />
resulting from, in part, language translation difficulties. However,<br />
Qigong practice is used as a treatment modality in the Shanghai Research<br />
Institute for Hypertension, where it is generally acknowledged as<br />
a cure for many patients with hypertension (54). In 101 Miracles of<br />
Natural Healing, Chan (55) interviewed 101 patients at “The World’s<br />
Largest <strong>Medicine</strong>less Hospital” who, through Chi-Lel (a specific form<br />
of Qigong), were cured of several diseases, including heart disease.<br />
In one such uncontrolled study performed in China, Lee (56) studied<br />
the physiological effects of Korean traditional internal Qigong training<br />
on changes in blood pressure, heart, and respiratory rates before, during,<br />
and after Qigong. For 12 normal healthy trainees, heart rate, systolic<br />
blood pressure, and rate-pressure product were significantly decreased<br />
after practicing this technique. In a study by Kuang (57) TCM was used<br />
to treat coronary heart disease (CHD) and Qigong was used to treat<br />
hypertension. It was reported that the frequency and severity of angina<br />
pectoris in CHD and the blood pressure in essential hypertension were<br />
significantly decreased. A recent review published in the Journal of<br />
<strong>Alternative</strong> and <strong>Complementary</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong> evaluated 30 studies selected<br />
from peer-reviewed scientific publications, the database from the Qigong<br />
Institute of San Francisco, and books and newsletters from Qigong institutes<br />
in China. The authors concluded, with one dissenting author: “in<br />
hypertensive patients, the practice of Qigong positively affects blood<br />
pressure, other blood flow measures, cardiovascular outcome measures<br />
and other aspects of health” (58).<br />
EDITORS’ ADDENDUM<br />
Safety and Efficacy of Energy Therapies in Humans<br />
When limited to commercial flat magnets, auditory range acoustic<br />
energy and extrinsic healing arts (e.g., Rikki, Qigong, and Therapeutic<br />
Touch) and intrinsic meditation practices (e.g., yoga, Transcendental