RESEARCH STARTER

Qigong

Qigong is a holistic practice originating from traditional Chinese medicine that combines specific breathing exercises and physical postures. Primarily aimed at improving general wellness, it is categorized into internal qigong—practiced individually for personal health benefits—and external qigong, where practitioners purportedly channel energy, or "qi," to help others. Followers believe that qigong enhances vitality and promotes the free flow of qi throughout the body, although the scientific community does not recognize qi as a valid concept. While historical texts indicate that qigong practices date back over three thousand years, its adaptation for health has parallels with yoga's evolution into a secular exercise. Research on internal qigong suggests potential benefits for conditions like asthma, depression, and fibromyalgia, but consistent, convincing evidence remains limited. External qigong has shown some positive effects on heart rate and premenstrual symptoms in studies, but these studies faced methodological challenges. Additionally, while generally considered safe, there are risks for individuals with severe health conditions or those practicing rigorously. Overall, qigong represents a complex interplay of movement, breath, and energy that has attracted diverse interest and participation globally.

Full Article

  • PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: General wellness
  • OTHER PROPOSED USES: Asthma, cancer treatment support, depression, fibromyalgia, hypertension, neck pain, Parkinson’s disease

DEFINITION: A group of techniques that use various breathing exercises and physical postures.

Overview

The term qigong refers to various systems of breathing exercises and physical postures intended to improve general health by following the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. More precisely, this practice is known as internal qigong, or qigong practiced for a person's own benefit. Expert qigong practitioners may also use their training to treat other people, a practice called external qigong, or qi therapy.

Internal qigong is said to increase one’s overall vitality and health by facilitating the free flow of qi in the body. The term qi refers to the underlying “energy” in the body, as conceptualized in the ancient medical systems of East Asia. (There is no scientific evidence for the existence of qi.) Some who practice external qigong claim to have achieved such mastery of qi that they can project it into others.

Methods related to modern qigong are mentioned in Chinese texts dating back more than three millennia. Qigong bears a close relationship to the martial arts traditions of East Asia, but like Tai Chi, it has been adapted primarily for health rather than fighting. Qigong also has strong historical connections with metaphysical and religious traditions, but it gained popularity as a secular exercise. This evolution is similar to that of yoga.

Cults may form around practitioners of external qigong. Qigong master Li Hongzhi has claimed that he can make himself invisible, levitate, teleport through space, and control people’s thoughts. His tens of millions of followers practice a similar method of spirituality to qigong, Falun Gong, which incorporates elements of virtue and mortality. In 1999, after a period of rapid growth, Hongshi and his followers achieved sufficient political power in China and were banned for being what the Chinese government deemed an evil cult.

Scientific Evidence

Mainstream scientists do not accept the concept of qi as a legitimate healing practice, but internal qigong can be considered a form of exercise and studied as such. External qigong, however, does not strike most scientists as plausible; it has nonetheless been the subject of ongoing research.

Most research on both types of qigong suffers from significant flaws. This is, to some extent, the fault of researchers who may harbor a personal devotion to qigong that impairs scientific objectivity. However, even with the best of intentions and the most implacable dedication to objectivity, a researcher will find it difficult to properly study qigong. This results from a problem intrinsic to the treatment: It is difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a true double-blind, placebo-controlled study of qigong.

For a study's results to be truly reliable, some participants must receive the active treatment (the active group), while others receive a placebo (the control group). In addition, both participants and researchers must not know which group each belongs to. Without this “blinding,” the placebo effect and other confounding factors will inevitably and significantly skew the results.

When conducting studies of herbs, supplements, or drugs, it is relatively easy to achieve blinding: Some participants receive the real treatment in a capsule, while others receive a fake treatment in an identical capsule, and neither researchers nor participants know which is which. The capsules are coded, and the code is not broken until after the study has been completed. With qigong exercises, however, as with many other alternative therapies, there is no simple equivalent.

Consider internal qigong. While some participants can be assigned fake qigong exercises, it is difficult to ensure they do not know the exercises they are practicing are fake. One would need to first train a group of people to teach the fake exercises, and to do so without letting this group know that the exercises are fake; in turn, they would teach the participants in the placebo group. However, the duped participants and duped teachers would have to be prevented from learning about real qigong, because such knowledge would destroy the necessary deception. Such a complex feat would be challenging to achieve. Perhaps it would be more practical to compare qigong exercises with an equally impressive but ineffective intervention, such as fake ultraviolet laser acupuncture or fake ultrasound treatment. However, a review of the literature failed to find any such study of qigong.

External qigong presents a somewhat different but related challenge. Because qi is said to be invisible, a practitioner of external qigong could simply convey qi to certain participants and only pretend to convey it to others. However, practitioners would know what they themselves were doing, and the history of medical research indicates that by subtle, even unconscious, cues, these practitioners would convey emotional confidence when providing real therapy and lack of confidence when providing fake therapy. In turn, this “confidence differential” would create placebo effects and other confounding factors. One proposed method to overcome this problem involves using actors to confidently provide a fake therapy; however, again, no such study could be found in the published literature. Given these caveats, a summary of the evidence is provided here.

Internal qigong. In controlled studies, the use of internal qigong has shown some potential benefits for asthma, cancer treatment support, depression, fibromyalgia, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and enhancing general wellness. However, consistent and convincing evidence of effectiveness is lacking for all of these conditions. For example, in one study, qigong was no more effective than conventional physical therapy exercise techniques in the treatment of chronic, nonspecific neck pain. A later review of five studies investigating qigong's impact on pain management also found conflicting results. A review of nine clinical trials and observational studies found insufficient evidence to support qigong for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

External qigong. One study reported that, compared with placebo treatment, external qigong affects heart rate in a positive way. Another study reported that, compared with placebo treatment, external qigong reduces symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Both studies had problems with their statistical analyses. A third randomized trial compared the effects of two qigong practitioners and a sham practitioner (administering fake or placebo qigong) on 106 persons with osteoarthritis of the knee. Compared with the sham group, only those persons treated by one of the true qigong practitioners showed significant improvement. This suggests that something other than the qigong itself imparted benefit. Intuitively, it would seem that internal qigong would be a better choice for osteoarthritis, though there is no scientific support for this belief.

Another study compared the potential benefits of both Tai Chi and qigong—studying the two as synonymous practices—to alternative exercise methods and non-exercise methods. While the researchers recognized the differences between the two practices, they wanted to understand the potential benefits of the practices from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The study focused on six domains of health-related benefits regarding Tai Chi and qigong: psychological effects, falls/balance, cardiopulmonary fitness, quality of life, patient-reported outcomes, and physical function. Overall, the study found positive associations in each of the six categories, especially compared with patients who do not exercise or live sedentary lives. Similar results were found with groups who participated in other exercises, however, suggesting that any movement and bodily focus is better than none, an outcome that is generally understood.

A review of thirty-one studies involving over 3,000 patients with COPD found that qigong may offer some benefit as a complementary therapy in treating lung function, physical mobility, depression, and anxiety. However, the benefits were not consistent across all populations.

Safety Issues

Qigong, when practiced in moderation, is most likely generally safe. However, people with severe heart or lung conditions may put themselves through excessive stress by attempting vigorous breathing exercises.

There are numerous anecdotes in which practitioners of qigong have developed serious mental problems (“qigong psychosis”) as a result of practicing the method to an extreme or with insufficient or inept guidance. However, it has been suggested that some people with latent mental illnesses have been drawn to extreme forms of qigong, rather than the qigong practice itself causing the mental illness.


Bibliography

Boaventura, Paula, et al. "Yoga and Qigong for Health: Two Sides of the Same Coin?" Behavioral Science, vol. 12, no. 7, 2022, doi:10.3390/bs12070222. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Cao, Ailing, et al. “Baduanjin Exercise for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Clinical Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 8, 2020, pp. 1004–13, doi:10.1177/0269215520926635. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Chen, K. W., et al. “Effects of External Qigong Therapy on Osteoarthritis of the Knee.” Clinical Rheumatology, vol. 27, 2008, pp. 1497-505.

Ching, Siew Mooi, et al. “Effects of Qigong on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Lowering: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.” BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, vol. 21, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1–11, doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03172-3. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Feng, Fan, et al. “Qigong as a Non Pharmaceutical Therapy for Sleep Disturbance.” Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative, vol. 7, 2024, doi:10.1016/j.bbii.2024.100073. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Hui, P. N., et al. “An Evaluation of Two Behavioral Rehabilitation Programs, Qigong versus Progressive Relaxation, in Improving the Quality of Life in Cardiac Patients.” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 12, 2006, pp. 373-78.

Jahnke, Roger, et al. “A Comprehensive Review of Health Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi.” American Journal of Health Promotion, vol. 24, no. 6, 2010, pp. e1-e25, doi:10.4278/ajhp.081013-LIT-248. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Jarmey, Chris. The Theory and Practice of Taiji Qigong. 4th ed., Lotus Publishing, 2024.

Jing Xu, et al. “Effectiveness of Qigong and Tai Chi for Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer: An Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis.” BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, vol. 25, no. 1, 2025, pp. 1–13, doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04875-1. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Lansinger, B., et al. “Qigong and Exercise Therapy in Patients with Long-Term Neck Pain.” Spine, vol. 32, 2007, pp. 2415-22.

Lee, Myeong, et al. “Qi-Training (Qigong) Enhanced Immune Functions: What Is the Underlying Mechanism?” International Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 115, no. 8, 2005, pp. 1099–104, doi:10.1080/00207450590914347. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Lee, Myeong Soo, et al. “Qigong for Type 2 Diabetes Care: A Systematic Review.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 17, no. 4, 2009, pp. 236–42, doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2009.05.001. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Mannerkorpi, K., and M. Arndorw. “Efficacy and Feasibility of a Combination of Body Awareness Therapy and Qigong in Patients with Fibromyalgia.” Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine, vol. 36, 2004, pp. 279-281.

Oh, B., et al. “Impact of Medical Qigong on Quality of Life, Fatigue, Mood, and Inflammation in Cancer Patients.” Annals of Oncology, vol. 21, 2010, p. 608, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdp479. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Oh, Jung-Ho, et al. "Qigong Therapy for Stress Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials." Healthcare, vol. 12, no. 23, 2024, doi:10.3390/healthcare12232342. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

"Qigong: What You Need to Know." National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Feb. 2022, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/qigong-what-you-need-to-know. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Speiser, Joshua. “Mind-Body Practice of Qigong Can Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue.” News from Brown, Brown University, 24 May 2023, www.brown.edu/news/2023-05-24/qigong. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Zhang, Ya-Peng, et al. “Evidence Base of Clinical Studies on Qi Gong: A Bibliometric Analysis.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 50, 2020, doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102392. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Full Article

  • PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: General wellness
  • OTHER PROPOSED USES: Asthma, cancer treatment support, depression, fibromyalgia, hypertension, neck pain, Parkinson’s disease

DEFINITION: A group of techniques that use various breathing exercises and physical postures.

Overview

The term qigong refers to various systems of breathing exercises and physical postures intended to improve general health by following the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. More precisely, this practice is known as internal qigong, or qigong practiced for a person's own benefit. Expert qigong practitioners may also use their training to treat other people, a practice called external qigong, or qi therapy.

Internal qigong is said to increase one’s overall vitality and health by facilitating the free flow of qi in the body. The term qi refers to the underlying “energy” in the body, as conceptualized in the ancient medical systems of East Asia. (There is no scientific evidence for the existence of qi.) Some who practice external qigong claim to have achieved such mastery of qi that they can project it into others.

Methods related to modern qigong are mentioned in Chinese texts dating back more than three millennia. Qigong bears a close relationship to the martial arts traditions of East Asia, but like Tai Chi, it has been adapted primarily for health rather than fighting. Qigong also has strong historical connections with metaphysical and religious traditions, but it gained popularity as a secular exercise. This evolution is similar to that of yoga.

Cults may form around practitioners of external qigong. Qigong master Li Hongzhi has claimed that he can make himself invisible, levitate, teleport through space, and control people’s thoughts. His tens of millions of followers practice a similar method of spirituality to qigong, Falun Gong, which incorporates elements of virtue and mortality. In 1999, after a period of rapid growth, Hongshi and his followers achieved sufficient political power in China and were banned for being what the Chinese government deemed an evil cult.

Scientific Evidence

Mainstream scientists do not accept the concept of qi as a legitimate healing practice, but internal qigong can be considered a form of exercise and studied as such. External qigong, however, does not strike most scientists as plausible; it has nonetheless been the subject of ongoing research.

Most research on both types of qigong suffers from significant flaws. This is, to some extent, the fault of researchers who may harbor a personal devotion to qigong that impairs scientific objectivity. However, even with the best of intentions and the most implacable dedication to objectivity, a researcher will find it difficult to properly study qigong. This results from a problem intrinsic to the treatment: It is difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a true double-blind, placebo-controlled study of qigong.

For a study's results to be truly reliable, some participants must receive the active treatment (the active group), while others receive a placebo (the control group). In addition, both participants and researchers must not know which group each belongs to. Without this “blinding,” the placebo effect and other confounding factors will inevitably and significantly skew the results.

When conducting studies of herbs, supplements, or drugs, it is relatively easy to achieve blinding: Some participants receive the real treatment in a capsule, while others receive a fake treatment in an identical capsule, and neither researchers nor participants know which is which. The capsules are coded, and the code is not broken until after the study has been completed. With qigong exercises, however, as with many other alternative therapies, there is no simple equivalent.

Consider internal qigong. While some participants can be assigned fake qigong exercises, it is difficult to ensure they do not know the exercises they are practicing are fake. One would need to first train a group of people to teach the fake exercises, and to do so without letting this group know that the exercises are fake; in turn, they would teach the participants in the placebo group. However, the duped participants and duped teachers would have to be prevented from learning about real qigong, because such knowledge would destroy the necessary deception. Such a complex feat would be challenging to achieve. Perhaps it would be more practical to compare qigong exercises with an equally impressive but ineffective intervention, such as fake ultraviolet laser acupuncture or fake ultrasound treatment. However, a review of the literature failed to find any such study of qigong.

External qigong presents a somewhat different but related challenge. Because qi is said to be invisible, a practitioner of external qigong could simply convey qi to certain participants and only pretend to convey it to others. However, practitioners would know what they themselves were doing, and the history of medical research indicates that by subtle, even unconscious, cues, these practitioners would convey emotional confidence when providing real therapy and lack of confidence when providing fake therapy. In turn, this “confidence differential” would create placebo effects and other confounding factors. One proposed method to overcome this problem involves using actors to confidently provide a fake therapy; however, again, no such study could be found in the published literature. Given these caveats, a summary of the evidence is provided here.

Internal qigong. In controlled studies, the use of internal qigong has shown some potential benefits for asthma, cancer treatment support, depression, fibromyalgia, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and enhancing general wellness. However, consistent and convincing evidence of effectiveness is lacking for all of these conditions. For example, in one study, qigong was no more effective than conventional physical therapy exercise techniques in the treatment of chronic, nonspecific neck pain. A later review of five studies investigating qigong's impact on pain management also found conflicting results. A review of nine clinical trials and observational studies found insufficient evidence to support qigong for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

External qigong. One study reported that, compared with placebo treatment, external qigong affects heart rate in a positive way. Another study reported that, compared with placebo treatment, external qigong reduces symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Both studies had problems with their statistical analyses. A third randomized trial compared the effects of two qigong practitioners and a sham practitioner (administering fake or placebo qigong) on 106 persons with osteoarthritis of the knee. Compared with the sham group, only those persons treated by one of the true qigong practitioners showed significant improvement. This suggests that something other than the qigong itself imparted benefit. Intuitively, it would seem that internal qigong would be a better choice for osteoarthritis, though there is no scientific support for this belief.

Another study compared the potential benefits of both Tai Chi and qigong—studying the two as synonymous practices—to alternative exercise methods and non-exercise methods. While the researchers recognized the differences between the two practices, they wanted to understand the potential benefits of the practices from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The study focused on six domains of health-related benefits regarding Tai Chi and qigong: psychological effects, falls/balance, cardiopulmonary fitness, quality of life, patient-reported outcomes, and physical function. Overall, the study found positive associations in each of the six categories, especially compared with patients who do not exercise or live sedentary lives. Similar results were found with groups who participated in other exercises, however, suggesting that any movement and bodily focus is better than none, an outcome that is generally understood.

A review of thirty-one studies involving over 3,000 patients with COPD found that qigong may offer some benefit as a complementary therapy in treating lung function, physical mobility, depression, and anxiety. However, the benefits were not consistent across all populations.

Safety Issues

Qigong, when practiced in moderation, is most likely generally safe. However, people with severe heart or lung conditions may put themselves through excessive stress by attempting vigorous breathing exercises.

There are numerous anecdotes in which practitioners of qigong have developed serious mental problems (“qigong psychosis”) as a result of practicing the method to an extreme or with insufficient or inept guidance. However, it has been suggested that some people with latent mental illnesses have been drawn to extreme forms of qigong, rather than the qigong practice itself causing the mental illness.


Bibliography

Boaventura, Paula, et al. "Yoga and Qigong for Health: Two Sides of the Same Coin?" Behavioral Science, vol. 12, no. 7, 2022, doi:10.3390/bs12070222. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Cao, Ailing, et al. “Baduanjin Exercise for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Clinical Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 8, 2020, pp. 1004–13, doi:10.1177/0269215520926635. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Chen, K. W., et al. “Effects of External Qigong Therapy on Osteoarthritis of the Knee.” Clinical Rheumatology, vol. 27, 2008, pp. 1497-505.

Ching, Siew Mooi, et al. “Effects of Qigong on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Lowering: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.” BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, vol. 21, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1–11, doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03172-3. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Feng, Fan, et al. “Qigong as a Non Pharmaceutical Therapy for Sleep Disturbance.” Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative, vol. 7, 2024, doi:10.1016/j.bbii.2024.100073. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Hui, P. N., et al. “An Evaluation of Two Behavioral Rehabilitation Programs, Qigong versus Progressive Relaxation, in Improving the Quality of Life in Cardiac Patients.” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 12, 2006, pp. 373-78.

Jahnke, Roger, et al. “A Comprehensive Review of Health Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi.” American Journal of Health Promotion, vol. 24, no. 6, 2010, pp. e1-e25, doi:10.4278/ajhp.081013-LIT-248. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Jarmey, Chris. The Theory and Practice of Taiji Qigong. 4th ed., Lotus Publishing, 2024.

Jing Xu, et al. “Effectiveness of Qigong and Tai Chi for Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer: An Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis.” BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, vol. 25, no. 1, 2025, pp. 1–13, doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04875-1. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Lansinger, B., et al. “Qigong and Exercise Therapy in Patients with Long-Term Neck Pain.” Spine, vol. 32, 2007, pp. 2415-22.

Lee, Myeong, et al. “Qi-Training (Qigong) Enhanced Immune Functions: What Is the Underlying Mechanism?” International Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 115, no. 8, 2005, pp. 1099–104, doi:10.1080/00207450590914347. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Lee, Myeong Soo, et al. “Qigong for Type 2 Diabetes Care: A Systematic Review.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 17, no. 4, 2009, pp. 236–42, doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2009.05.001. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Mannerkorpi, K., and M. Arndorw. “Efficacy and Feasibility of a Combination of Body Awareness Therapy and Qigong in Patients with Fibromyalgia.” Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine, vol. 36, 2004, pp. 279-281.

Oh, B., et al. “Impact of Medical Qigong on Quality of Life, Fatigue, Mood, and Inflammation in Cancer Patients.” Annals of Oncology, vol. 21, 2010, p. 608, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdp479. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Oh, Jung-Ho, et al. "Qigong Therapy for Stress Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials." Healthcare, vol. 12, no. 23, 2024, doi:10.3390/healthcare12232342. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

"Qigong: What You Need to Know." National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Feb. 2022, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/qigong-what-you-need-to-know. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Speiser, Joshua. “Mind-Body Practice of Qigong Can Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue.” News from Brown, Brown University, 24 May 2023, www.brown.edu/news/2023-05-24/qigong. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Zhang, Ya-Peng, et al. “Evidence Base of Clinical Studies on Qi Gong: A Bibliometric Analysis.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 50, 2020, doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102392. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

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