How is Qigong Conducive to Women’s Health?

Abstract

The present literature review provides an overview of the benefits to women's health gained from practising Qigong (including Tai Chi and Baduanjin), including those who suffer from breast cancer, menopausal-related problems, menstrual disorders, and a variety of physical and psychological illnesses. It analyses 48 studies (n=38 in English, n=10 in Chinese) published before 2015, involving participants aged 17-86 in Asia, Europe, and North America via quantitative, qualitative, mix-method, and trans-country projects. The analysis reveals research gaps and practical implication, in particular, diminishing health disparities and accelerating health equity due to cost effectiveness when using Qigong among less advantaged groups for preventive, remedial, and rehabilitative interventions, justifying it as a powerful method of complementary and alternative medicine. IntroductionThe lifetime health care expense of women averages a third higher than that of men [1], and 33% of women's medical costs are incurred in their middle-aged years and 50% in their senior years. Meanwhile, one-third of women, especially among the elderly, die of chronic sicknesses, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer [2], which heavily impact personal medical costs and public health expenditures [3]. In addition to traditional medical measures, recently prevalent complementary and alternative medicines [4][5][6] apply to various illnesses such as diabetes mellitus [7], orthopaedics [8], and mental distress [9]. Qigong, a conventional Chinese aerobic exercise and mode of martial arts, has been considered as a popular complementary and alternative medicine approach [10].Qigong has been evolving in China since the second century before Christ. Its theories are grounded in traditional Chinese medicine principles [11] documented in the Emperor's Inner Canon (or Huangdineijing), the first Chinese medical text. Its primary aim is to achieve a balance between yin and yang and within the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth). Qigong was thus developed by Taoist masters for the sake of strengthening health through systematic abdominal breathing, resulting in stronger regulation of overall body functioning. This bioenergy therapy became prevalent in the Qin and Han dynasties (221 B.C. -220 A.D.), as embarked upon by Taoists, in order to cure and prevent illnesses, and continues in contemporary China for health promotion pertaining to both physiological and psychological benefits [12].Qigong consists of various presentations; that is, hard forms (or active forms) and soft forms (or still forms), among which the former involves martial arts, physical exercises, and walking; while the latter pertains to meditation, concentration [13], sitting, standing, and lying. Regardless of form, it relies on breathing and the flow of qi [14], constituting two inseparable domains, where qi refers to an alive and infinitesimal energy circulating within and throughout the body [13], and gong to perpetual work or practices. In practising ...