Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine

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