
Qigong in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19
This is reposted from Instagram account tao_de_ching. For some reason, the post disappeared a few hours after I had noticed it and copied its contents…
A recent research article highlighted the possible benefits of qigong practice in the fight against the pandemic. The article discussed various exercises. It also explained that Chinese medicinal herbs, Qingfei Paidu, have been recommended by the National Health Commission of China as a treatment for COVID-19 infected patients with mild to moderate symptoms. For patients with severe symptoms, the herbs are used in conjunction with Western medicine. (1)
Regarding qigong exercises, the article draws upon a variety of research papers that demonstrate qigong’s role in its regulation of the immune system. One study demonstrated that in as little as three months of regular practice, there was a significant increase in the ratio of T helper to suppressor cells.
T helper cells, as their name suggests, help other immune cells to appropriatize the immune response i.e. is it a viral infection, bacterial, fungal etc. Without T helper cells, other immune cells are left wondering how to form a defence.
Crucially, another study found that, while all immune cells are low in number during a COVID-19 attack, T helper cells are affected most of all. And the more they are reduced, the higher the odds of needing intensive care.(2)
The article also explained the importance of persistence – regular practice – to gain all of its benefits.
Research article info below. Can be found on pubmed.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7227578/
References:
1) Feng et al. (2020) Qigong for the Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of COVID-19 Infection in Older Adults. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
2) Huang W, Berube J, McNamara M, Saksena S, O’Gorman M (2020). “Lymphocyte Subset Counts in COVID-19 Patients: A Meta-Analysis”. Cytometry Part A.