The Dreaded Cold and Flu Season – Using Qigong for Prevention and Quick Recovery

Qi is the Chinese word for the “Bio-Electric Energy” that flows to and through you, the Heavens, and the Earth. It is the “Energy of Life.” Knowing how maintain your Qi balance, create an abundance of qi, and maintain a smooth flow of qi are crucial to preventing or recovering quickly from a cold or the flu. Qigong can be used to either strengthen your immune system and help prevent cold and flu or it can be used to minimize both the duration and the symptoms of the cold or flu. It is Qi that creates and maintains your health through its balance, abundance and flow. Loss of balance, insufficient quantity and stagnation of the flow of qi very often results in an acute illness, such as cold or flu, which if left untreated can lead to chronic sickness and perhaps even death. Strengthening your immune system is one of the best ways to prevent the onset of any illness, especially cold and flu. Your body's immune system has the ability to resist any infectious agent and it is only when you allow your immune system to become suppressed that an infectious agent such as a cold or flu virus can take hold. If you are coming down with or already have a cold or the flu then your goal in using qigong is to minimize the symptoms and the duration of the illness. The key to recovering quickly at the onset of a cold or flu is to first be aware that you are coming down with something. Second, you need to immediately begin to bring your Qi back into balance, abundance and flow. Qigong practice for Prevention To strengthen your immune system and aid in the prevention of cold and flu there is a qigong practice that was first taught by a Taoist Physician, Tao Hung-jing (A.D. 451-536). It uses six sounds to cleanse and strengthen the yin organs of your body. Each sound is repeated six to twelve times. You begin by standing or sitting in a comfortable position. As you exhale you vocalize these sounds softly, visualize each of the organs and see the toxins being cleansed out of them and affirm “my [insert name of organ here] is strong and healthy.” 1. LUNGS - Sound is “ss.” Pronounced like “shh” 2. HEART – Sound is “kher.” Pronounced like “khuh” 3. SPLEEN – Sound is “hu.” Pronounced like “who” 4. LIVER – Sound is “xu.” Pronounced like “shoo” 5. KIDNEYS – Sound is “chui.” Pronounced like “ch-way” 6. VISCERAL CAVITIES (surrounding the organs, also called the Triple Warmer) – Sound is “xi.” Pronounced like “shee” Qigong Practice for Quick Recovery When you are coming down with a cold or flu here is a simple Mind Power Qigong practice that you can perform. It contains the four aspects of mind power qigong that of movement, breathing, visualization and affirmation. It invokes a visualization of fresh energy that is used to create a white hot fire and cleanse your body of toxins. You begin by standing or sitting in a comfortable position. 1. Hold your arms out to your sides at shoulder level with your palms facing forward. 2. Inhale deeply. As you inhale reach out with your arms and visualize that you are wrapping them around a large pine tree gathering its energy and then bring your palms and the energy to your chest and into your heart. At the same time use your inner voice and say to yourself “I choose to create good health.” 3. Exhale deeply. As you exhale, keeping both palms over your heart, visualize that you are a flame on a giant candle, burning brightly, burning white hot, burning the infection out of your system. At the same time use your inner voice and say to yourself “I choose to feel better and better.” 4. Repeat this many times until you can feel the heat, feel the infectious agent being driven out. 5. At the end place both of your palms over your dan tian (four fingers below your navel), relax, breathe normally and enjoy how you are feeling. Qigong can be used effectively and easily to prevent or quickly recover from the onset of a cold or flu. The techniques of prevention should be used everyday to make sure that you have a strong and healthy immune system. Techniques for recovery should be invoked as soon as possible at the beginning of a cold or flu.