WWW.DOCTOROMD.COM

Dr. Joo Bang Lee
L.Ac., O.M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Janet U. Lee
L.Ac., O.M.D., Ph.D.

Dong Kook Health Care Center

13762 Newport Ave., Suite 205
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 838-6789 Fax (714)731-5420

 

Ki Power

Ki Gong and the Study of Ki

Ki Ryuk Sool or Ki gong (or Chi gong) is a system of Oriental health care that combines physical training, preventive and therapeutic medicine, with Eastern philosophy. The word Ki (or chi) means air, breath of life, or vital essence. Ki gong means work, self-discipline, achievement, or mastery. Ki gong is said to be The cultivation and deliberate control of a higher form of vital energy, as well as an ancient philosophical system of harmonious integration of the human body with the universe. Ki gong challenges the foundations of Western biomedical thought by rejecting the idea that the human species is unaffected by nature. More specifically, this art combines the physical benefits of isometrics, isotonics, and aerobic conditioning, with the healing elements of meditation and relaxation. Ki gong is a discipline that focuses on gaining awareness and control over the life force or Ki present in our bodies. Ki Ryuk Sool found in the esoteric Korean Martial Art of Hwa Rang Do®.

For many centuries, Ki gong has been a mainstay in Korean as well as in Chinese medical practices. Ancient turtle-shell artifacts conclusively show the art was important at least 7,000 years ago.

North American psychological, physiological and medical researchers are also studying Ki gong with great interest. University students throughout North America have formed Ki gong groups. Even such institutions as the film industry, (with the creation of Kung fu movies) and the New Age Movement have significantly increased the study proliferation. Ki gong homepages are blossoming on the Internet World Wide Web as well.

Today, more than 70 million Chinese practice Ki gong daily. Some view the method as a curative step for existing afflictions, while others use the method as a preventative measure. Ki gong can be an integral component in the fight against virtually any disease. As many as 50% of all diseases dismissed by orthodox doctors as untreatable or 'psychosomatic' may be impressively impacted by the method; some of which being eradicated completely.

Oriental Medicine doctors have applied Ki gong in hospitals and clinics to treat individuals suffering from a variety of maladies.

The following is a list of some of the common ailments frequently treated with Ki gong:

Circulatory & Nervous Systems, Digestive System, Respiratory, Ocular & Auditory Systems, Other Chronic Diseases, Arthritis, Constipation, Myopia, Diabetes, Substance abuse, Rheumatism, Ulcers, Retinopathy, Cancer; reduce side effects of chemo therapthy, Insomnia, Sciatic Neuralgia, Liver disease, Meniere's disease, Cerebral Palsy & Multiple Sclerosis, Stress, Peripheral, Vascular disease, Kidney disease, Allergies, Parkinson's disease, Paralysis, due to external injury, Headaches, Obesity, Asthma, Post-stroke syndrome, Chronic pain, Hypertension &High Blood Pressure, Gastritis, Gout, Aphasia; temporary loss of speech.

Since it is best used for staving off disease and treating chronic conditions or disabilities, Ki gong may not be the most suitable treatment for acute illness or medical emergencies. It can be used as a compliment and supplement to conventional medical practices. If one decides to try Ki gong during the course of treatment of an existing illness, it is advisable that do so under the guidance of a licensed Oriental medical doctor. Professional supervision is strongly suggested for beginners.

Preventing Disease.

In addition to its curative potential, by preventing the onset of disease, Ki gong can significantly reduce the amount of suffering and financial burden experienced by many patients due to long- term health care.

Ki gong increases physical strength, heightens resistance to infectious diseases and premature senility, and helps ensure a long life. Practicing this method can greatly reduce the likelihood of stroke. It can improve blood sugar levels for diabetics. Because it normalizes the level of sex hormones, it helps ward off sexual impotence and frigidity. In fact, Ki gong stress relieving attributes may improve one's overall sex life -both quantity and quality. Practicing this discipline can hasten recovery from surgery, as well as from sports and other injuries by up to 50. Ki gong offers individuals a way to achieve a relaxed, harmonious state of dynamic equilibrium. It typically improves overall health, allowing them to maintain a pain-free life full of vigour and grace.

How does Ki gong Work?

Breathing and meditation are an important part of Medical Ki gong. In a Ki gong meditative state, one is fully relaxed, yet not in a trance. One can increase Ki and direct it to any area of distress. Anxiety and self-doubt are replaced with peace of mind and increased confidence. Gradually, all distractions, worries, and hints of depression begin to dissipate. Meditation fosters feelings of happiness, which, in turn, stimulate circulation of blood and Ki. This therapy contributes to the healing of those who are already ill, as well as increasing the vitality of healthy individuals. People of all ages can develop and maintain internal vigour and good health through Ki gong.

Practicing Ki gong lowers blood pressure, pulse rates, metabolic rates, lactate production, and oxygen demand. It raises the endocrine system's capabilities. It also has a regulating effect on the substances cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which play important roles in proper respiratory function and the delivery of oxygen to the body's cells. The sense of serenity the exercise produces is the result of slightly elevated body temperature and an increased rate of oxygen absorption. Ki gong activates Ki, improves blood circulation, and balances Um and Yang. It bolsters the immune system, and stimulates the conductivity of the meridians and channels through which Ki flows. In Oriental medical theory, many diseases come from adverse environmental conditions such as

Heat, cold, wind, dryness and humidity; wrong diet; spoiled food; worms and microbes; poisoning and pollution; trauma and accidents. Internal conditions can arise from excess or deficient emotions of anger, joy, sympathy, grief or fear [and] inappropriate mental attitudes and beliefs.

There are also maladies of the spirit that [sic] can cause serious problems. These factors can cause one's Ki (chi) to become excessive, deficient, stuck, blocked, congested or stagnant, and thereby cause all manner of problems. The goal of Ki gong is to encourage the circulation of Ki throughout the body. This helps the body resist or overcome imbalances or blockages, and the resulting disharmonies. It shares similar objectives with some other disciplines such as acupuncture and Oriental herbal medicine.

Eastern herbology, acupuncture, and Ki gong are three parts of a single entity, as closely related as water, steam, and ice. They can be and often are used separately, and may be used together. With dietetics and massage they are considered to be the indispensable components of traditional Eastern health care· While acupuncture and herbal medicine typically focus on curing sickness, Ki gong usually focuses on maintaining good health (as do massage and balanced for um and yang nutrition).

A primary aim of Ki gong is to maintain or restore balance and harmony of mind and body, while becoming aware of the human body's place within nature's oneness. As a Ki gong practitioner becomes more conscious of the state of his or her body, he or she gains a greater resistance to the imbalances and blockages affecting Ki. This sensitivity aids in the balance of the um and yang, the two opposing forces of Universal Order. In the seventeenth century, Descartes' postulate, (which most Westerners still accept today) stated that the mind and body are separate entities. The Ki gong student will contend that such a notion is a fallacy. It is in this context that we are able to understand the philosophy of Ki gong, where Ki is the force that integrates the relationship between body (matter, structure) and mind (process, function). Scholars of this art gain more than improved health. They learn another way of viewing and experiencing the dynamic unity of life, an attitude far removed from the feelings of disenchantment and alienation common in Western civilization. Students of Ki gong learn to achieve their potential as highly successful members of our species.

How Does One Practice Ki gong?

One need not become a Ki gong master to experience many of its healing effects. For health purposes, one needs to learn only a few exercises. One must achieve a state of tranquillity, find release from tension, take on a positive attitude, and develop strong will power. Benefits can be further achieved in one of three ways. First, one can go to a master for treatment by that master's external Ki. Although some masters exist in some Western metropolitan areas such as Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Vancouver, the most experienced masters reside in Korea and China. Second, one can seek education from a master and practice exercise and meditation. Third, in a supervised group, one can learn to treat oneself. The latter is the most realistic option for most North Americans. In order to fully benefit from Ki gong training, one must apply time, patience, commitment, determination and persistence. This art involves more than simple physical training. It requires retraining one's breathing and thought processes. Learning the basics can take from three months to a year. As with any other human endeavour, some people will prove more adept at the art than others, and so will progress more quickly. However, anyone with enough motivation can learn adequate skills to make a positive impact upon one's quality of life. While there are no shortcuts, there are also no limits to how far one may progress.