Text A Theoretical Basis of Qigong
导 读
气功是中国人所独有的，是以中医理论内容为核心指导的“调神”的实践活动。气功在我国有悠久的历史，有关气功的内容在古代通常被称为吐纳、导引、行气、服气、炼丹、修道、坐禅等。如果从中医学角度定义气功，气功是通过调神的自我锻炼，使自身气机变得协调的锻炼方法。随着科学的向前发展，我们可以用现代科学的有关知识来认识气功，这将更加深化我们对气功实质的认识。从现代行为医学的角度看，气功锻炼是一种对有利于心身健康的良性行为进行学习训练，最终以条件反射方式固定下来的行为疗法。
The human body is a complicated system.Gases form,food is digested,Qi and blood circulate,saliva secretes,waste material is discharged,the PH changes,and spiritual activity influences metabolisms,all happening continuously in response to the growth of life.Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) regards such physiological changes as results of fluctuations and changes in the flow and function of Qi which circulates throughout the body through channels and collaterals.Qigong drills posture,respiration and focus of the mind in order to un-clog the channels and collaterals and re-establish body equilibrium.
Benefits of practicing Qigong
Qigong can affect the complex mechanism of the human body in various ways.Qigong experts and doctors in the past have done much research and established many theories.Contemporary research has further proven that Qigong is a holistic exercise,which requires little of the environment but produces a positive effect on the functions of all body organs and systems or tracts.
Effects on the Respiration System
The effect of Qigong is very obvious on the respiratory system.Most people can deepen,prolong,invigorate and slow down their breathing from 10～20 times per minute to 4～5 times or even fewer.When Qigong practice is effective,oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide decrease.This indicates that Qigong increases alveolar ventilation by activating gas exchange.Reduction in the number of respiration does not cause shortage of oxygen but saves much bio-physiological energy which otherwise would be consumed in more respiratory movement.
Effects on the Digestive System
Qigong exercise invigorates and regulates digestion.Studies have shown that the up-and-down movements of the diaphragm muscles in the Qigong-practicing group of patients were much larger on scale than those in a comparison group that did not practice Qigong.The stomach of a Qigong practitioner was also found to be six times higher than that of a non-practitioner.These Qigong-related changes prevent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and premature aging.
Effects on the Blood Function
Qigong can dramatically change the peripheral blood picture.Measuring Qigong effects on blood shows white cells increase by 13 to 23 percent on average.The index of white cells may also increase from 40 percent to over 90 percent after Qigong practice.
Effects on Cardiovascular Function
Static Qigong (also known as Quiescent Exercise) is particularly effective in slowing the rate of heartbeat.Qigong can significantly reduce pulmonary pressure,of which the effect is better than intravenous injection.After Qigong practice,the systolic pressure dropped 18 millimeters and the diastolic dropped 16 millimeters.
Effects on Metabolism
It has been proved that a practitioner’s gas metabolism is reduced when one enters the quiescent state of Qigong,but change in the quantity of oxygen while doing Qigong exercise can reduce gas metabolism to the minimum level required by the human body ordinarily,which is lower than simply lying.
Effects on the Nervous System Function
Practicing Qigong can produce beneficial effects on the function of the nervous system,especially the cerebral cortex.
Words & Expressions
1.theoretical[，θiə'retikəl，，θiːə-] adj.理论的；假设的；理论上的；推理的
2.circulate['səːkjuleit] vi.循环；流通；传播；流传
vt.使循环；使流通；使传播
3.saliva[sə'laivə] n.唾液；涎
4.secrete['sikriːt] vt.& vi.［生］分泌
5.metabolism[mi'tæbəlizəm，me-] n.新陈代谢
6.physiological[，fiziə'lɔdʒikəl] adj.生理学的；生理的
7.clog[klɔɡ] v.阻塞；障碍
8.equilibrium[，iːkwi'libriəm] n.均衡；平静；保持平衡的能力
9.mechanism['mekənizəm] n.机械装置；机制；技巧；原理；途径；进程
10.holistic[həu'listik] adj.整体的；全盘的
11.respiration[，respə'reiʃən] n.呼吸；呼吸作用
12.respiratory['respərətəri，ri'spaiə-] adj.呼吸的
13.prolong[prə'lɔŋ，'lɔːŋ] vt.拖延；延长
14.invigorate[in'viɡəreit] vt.鼓舞；使精力充沛
15.consumption[kən'sʌmpʃən] n.消费；消耗；肺痨
16.alveolar[æl'viələ] adj.肺泡的；齿槽的
17.digestive[di'dʒestiv，dai-] adj.消化的；助消化的
18.diaphragm['daiəfræm] n.［解］横膈膜；［动］隔膜；隔板；快门；光圈
19.peripheral[pə'rifərəl] adj.外围的；次要的
20.phagocytic[，fæɡə'sitik] adj.［生理］吞噬细胞的；白细胞的
21.cardiovascular[，kɑːdiəu'væskjulə] adj.［医学］心血管性的
22.intravenous[，intrə'viːnəs] adj.［医学］静脉内的；静脉注射的
23.systolic[si'stɔlik] adj.心脏收缩的
24.diastolic[，daiə'stɔlik] adj.心脏扩张的
25.cortex['kɔːteks] n.皮质；树皮；果皮
26.integrate['intiɡreit] vt.使……完整；使……成整体
27.arthritis[ɑː'θraitis] n.关节炎
28.fluid['flu（ː）id] adj.流动的；不固定的；流畅的
n.流体；液体
29.curve[kəːv] n.曲线
vt.使弯曲；弯
vi.成曲形
adj.弯曲的；曲线形的
Notes
1.Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM中医）：Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2，000 years，including various forms of herbal medicine，acupuncture，massage （Tui na），exercise （qigong），and dietary therapy.
2.Taiji（T’ai chi ch’uan太极拳）：T’ai chi ch’uan，often shortened to T’ai chi or Tai chi in the west is a type of internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits.It is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons： its hard and soft martial art technique，demonstration competitions，and longevity.As a consequence，a multitude of training forms exist，both traditional and modern，which correspond to those aims.Some of T’ai chi ch’uan’s training forms are especially known for being practiced at what most people categorize as slow movement.Today，t’ai chi ch’uan has spread worldwide.Most modern styles of t’ai chi ch’uan trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools： Chen，Yang，Wu/Hao，Wu，and Sun.
Exercises
I.Fill in each of the following blanks with the most suitable word given below.Change the form if necessary.
theoretical basis circulate clog prolong
invigorate digestive integrate fluid curve
1.This agenda will form the________of our next meeting.
2.The buildings are well________with the landscape.
3.His stomach hurts.He suffers from________trouble.
4.This book is too________; I need a practical guide.
5.The road________suddenly to the left.
6.That heavy oil will________up the machinery,i.e.prevent it from working properly.
7.There’s some sort of sticky________on the kitchen floor.
8.They________their visit by a few days.
9.Blood________through the body.
10.I feel________by all this fresh air.
II.Decide whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F) according to the passage.
1.Qigong drills posture,respiration and focus of the mind in order to un-clog the channels and collaterals and re-establish body equilibrium.( )
2.Qigong is a holistic exercise,which requires much of the environment.( )
3.When Qigong practice is effective,oxygen consumption increases.( )
4.The up-and-down movements of the diaphragm muscles in the Qigong-practicing group of patients were much larger on scale than in a comparison group that did not practice Qigong.( )
5.Qigong can significantly reduce pulmonary pressure,of which the effect is actually not better than intravenous injection.( )
III.Try to fill in each of the following blanks with suitable words.
1.Qi circulates throughout the body through_______.
2.Qigong produces a positive effect on the functions of all body organs and_______.
3.Qigong increases alveolar ventilation by_______.
4.The stomach of a Qigong practitioner was also found to be_______times higher than that of a non-practitioner.
5.The index of white cells may also increase from 40 percent to_______after Qigong practice.