How Does
Oxygen
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Much of the oxygen we need is already in our blood. However, the tissues in our system are not always effectively able to get the oxygen from the blood. Exercise is good for moving the oxygen into the tissue, but much of the oxygen is burned up by the muscles. Qigong is a moving meditation (similar to yoga) that both causes deep relaxation in the mind and keeps the body moving gently. In the state of relaxation that occurs when practicing qigong, the blood vessels get larger, making available a bigger volume of oxygen-rich blood for the whole body.
Lymph System
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The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and vessels that regulates the waste products in the system. Pollution that enters the body, such as cigarette smoke, is removed via the lymphatic system. The lymph system is a major component of the immune system and carries fluids containing bacteria essential for fighting toxic organisms in the body. Qigong benefits the lymphatic system in the following ways.
Compression and Metabolizing Oxygen
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Compression contracts and releases muscles in the body, which puts pressure on the lymph system, allowing the system to flow. The breathing and gentle exercise of qigong also causes more oxygen to be metabolized. The byproduct of this is more water, which increases the volume of tissue fluid, causing the overflow to become lymph.
Intrinsic Propulsion and Inversion
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The smooth muscle contraction that occurs during qigong allows the lymph to move along the vessel. When your arms are by your side, the lymph has to fight gravity to get to the thoracic ducts. But when your arms are raised, such as in some qigong postures, it causes an increase in propulsion since the lymph are not fighting gravity.
Deep Breathing
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Last, breathing from the diaphragm causes the lymph to propel forward.
Nervous System
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The deep breathing and gentle movements in qigong create a relaxation response that also increases tissue regeneration. These same aspects, according to Dr. Roger Jahnke, O.M.D., cause the body to "induce a neurotransmitter profile that is conducive to healing." The meditative state of deep relaxation from qigong also helps to regulate the autonomic nervous system, making less sympathetic activity in the nervous system, which causes stress.
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The circular movements in qigong also help balance the yin and yang (left and right sides of the brain), lessening the dominance of any one hemisphere of the brain. The deep breathing in qigong can bring on alpha brain wave activity, which, according to Dr. Jahnke, is "conducive to healing."
eHow Article: How Does Qigong Work?
