For those of you recovering from addiction there is one method that you may not yet have come across. When integrated into your existing recovery programme it can help you maintain sobriety and improve the quality of your health and your life. This method is called Qigong. In the post below you will learn some interesting facts and tips which will show you how to use Qigong for addiction recovery.
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong with acupuncture clinics in Tralee, Cahersiveen and Killorglin, Co. Kerry, Ireland. She is also the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons. Janice has been in practice since 2000 and teaching Qigong in workshops and to her clients since 2002.
Please don’t forget to head over to subscribe to her YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss her regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place.
What is Qigong?
Qigong (or sometimes referred to as Chi Kung or Chi Gung) is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that is thousands of years old. It involves simple exercises which combine gentle movement, breathing and the use of your mind.The result is restoration of both physical and mental health by promoting the smooth and balanced flow of Qi (energy) throughout your whole system.
Benefits of Qigong
In addition to the well known physical benefits from Qigong such as improving your energy levels, helping ease joint pain from arthritis and muscle pain from fibromyalgia, Qigong can significantly improve your mental health. Many people have experienced a reduction in anxiety, depression and stress levels in addition to significantly improved sleep, conditions which can arise during addiction recovery.
All of these benefits make Qigong for addiction recovery an ideal complementary therapeutic approach.
You can watch two videos on my website with more information on the benefits of Qigong:
A number of research studies have reported that Qigong can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings, reduce depression and also help contribute to the prevention of relapse.
Study 1
In one study conducted in China on 86 male heroin addicts undergoing detoxification, the treatment group practicing Qigong experienced less anxiety and more rapid reduction of withdrawal symptoms than the group receiving detoxification drugs alone.
(Li M, Chen K, Mo Z. “Use of qigong therapy in the detoxification of heroin addicts.” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 8(1): 50-59, 2002.)
Study 2
In this Harvard study, 101 cocaine dependent people were given 4-6 sessions of either Qigong or a sham treatment over two weeks. Those who had practiced Qigong showed a greater reduction in cravings and symptoms of depression. The practice of qigong, through its use of movement, breath work, visualisations and meditation, may be a beneficial addition to both a detoxification regimen and to an overall treatment and relapse prevention strategy.
(Smelson, D, Chen KW, Ziedonis D, et al. “A Pilot Study of Qigong for Reducing Cocaine Craving Early in Recovery”. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. February 2013, 19(2): 97-101.)
What Do I Do Next?
If you would like to start using Qigong for addiction recovery there are a number of things you can do:
1. Head over to my Space To Relax homepage.
There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. These three lessons will give you the perfect introduction to Qigong. They only take 5 minutes to perform and are very easy to learn. Also, scroll to the bottom of my homepage where you can sign up to receive a free audio meditation called “Calm Your Busy Mind in 8 Minutes“. I talk you through this simple breathing method in order to help you feel calm, relaxed, clear and focused in your mind.
2. Go to YouTube and subscribe to my channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips.
3. Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Qigong Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Here I post articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
4. Janice’s Video Blog
If you would like more information and access to many free video demonstrations of Qigong then head over to my video blog. Some videos of particular interest to you are listed below. Please feel free to browse through some of the others on the blog page.
Do you ever wake up feeling as though you’ve been run over by a bus? I do, but thankfully not very often. We all know the feeling of having suffered a terrible night’s sleep. We feel exhausted both physically and mentally. We may also feel anxious that we won’t be able to function to the best of our ability at work. We may also be fearful of this happening night after night, and wonder how we are going to manage our lives if the exhaustion gets worse. In the video today you’ll learn how to use Qigong for sleep problems.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button on the page. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
Types of Sleep Problems
There are a number of different sleep problems which can all affect the quality and quantity of the sleep we get. The result is that they can also have a negative effect on our energy levels and our mental health. The following sleep problems are listed on the Mental Health Ireland Factsheet on Sleep where you can find more information.
Insomnia. This affects an estimated 20% of people and is the most common sleep disorder. This is the one we will be focusing on in this video.
Narcolepsy. This is excessive sleepiness.
Sleep Apnoea. The person may stop breathing at intervals in the night which then wakes them so their sleep is constantly being interrupted.
Sleep Disorders in Children. This can be distressing and exhausting for both children and parents. Sleep problems can impact on the physical and emotional health of a child so are important to address as early as possible.
The Solution – Qigong For Sleep Problems
In order to be able to sleep soundly we need to have a calm mind. Often we find that our minds are too busy when we go to bed. This over-excitement in the brain can prevent us from getting off to sleep quickly and easily.
There are many practical steps you can take to ensure that your mind is calm before bed, e.g. taking regular exercise, establishing a regular time for going to bed, turning off screens at least an hour before bed, taking a bath, avoiding coffee and alcohol a few hours before going to bed.
Qigong is also the perfect practice to help you improve the quality of your sleep because every Qigong method helps to calm your mind, the essential ingredient for good sleep.
Below are a few specific tips using Qigong for sleep problems.
Watch my previous video called “How to Calm Down with Qigong” so that your mind is in a calm state before going to bed.
Relaxation is very important as it gets you into the state where you can easily go to sleep. Watch the video “Qigong Relaxation Techniques” for some effective Qigong tips on how to do this.
Watch another video from me called “Qigong for Sleep Difficulties” which will give you more information and useful methods of Qigong for sleep problems.
What Do I Do Next?
If you would like to start using Qigong for sleep problems then:
Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. These three lessons will you to help to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective Qigong methods which work to calm and clear your mind; essential factors in enabling you to sleep soundly.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box any tips you might have to improve the quality of your sleep.
Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Qigong Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
Have you ever suffered with eye problems? If you have you’ll know just how uncomfortable and depressing this can be. This is because your eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in your body. Any interference with healthy functioning of your eyes can make you feel anxious, irritable and depressed. Even simple long or short-sightedness, teary eyes or dry, gritty eyes can cause us worry and misery. In the video today you’ll learn some simple Qigong eye exercises to help you keep your eyes in the best health possible.
According to the National Eye Institute in the United States, the estimated annual economic burden of vision loss, eye diseases and vision disorders in the U.S. amounts to $139 billion!!! (March 2014). These disorders include glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. However, we don’t have to have serious eye disorders for us to be negatively impacted by poor eye health.
Please head over to my YouTube channel and click the red “Subscribe” button above so you don’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
3 Qigong Eye Exercises (Plus A Bonus Video)
Every organ in Chinese medicine is associated with a sense organ. The Liver opens into the eyes so Qigong eye exercises generally focus on improving the smooth flow of Qi through the Liver channel and into the Liver organ itself.
Close your eyes. Concentrate on your eyes. Move your eyeballs up and down vertically, then side to side, then in circles. Open your eyes and look forward, then to both sides, then circle the eyes. Repeat a few times.
Close your eyes. Use your imagination to look at a fixed object, e.g. a tree or flower a few metres away. Open your eyes and look at the same object, or look at it with one eye at a time. Repeat a few times.
Close your eyes. Rub palms together to generate heat. Place them over eyes for a few seconds. Rub face up and down with a “face wash” action. Open the eyes and observe the brightness and clarity of your vision!
Refer to a previous video “Combating Excess With The Ba Duan Jin” which shows you a method which smooths the flow of Liver Qi and therefore benefits the eyes. It’s also great for easing the after effects of too much alcohol through its action on the Liver system! 🙂
What Do I Do Next?
If you would like to start using Qigong for eye health then:
Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. These three lessons, in addition to the Qigong eye exercises referred to above, help to improve general eye health. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to relieve pain, calm your mind and eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. This includes many more effective Qigong methods which work to harmonise the Liver and thereby its associated sense organ, the eyes.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box any tips you might have to improve the health of your eyes.
Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
Menstrual cramps or period pain are all too common. Along with cramping and pain, symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, feeling faint, breast tenderness, nausea, bloating and diarrhoea. Also, you may experience a whole range of unwanted emotions including irritability, anxiety or feeling tearful. In the video on this page you’ll learn how to use Qigong for period pain management so that you can keep this unwanted monthly misery to a minimum!
Please don’t forget to subscribe to go to my YouTube channel and click the red “Subscribe” button so you don’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
The Impact Of Menstrual Cramps (Period Pain) On Our Lives
Any woman knows that period pain can be absolutely miserable. It can vary in intensity from mild cramping to excruciating pain which may cause us to double up and almost pass out. It may cause us to miss work, prevent us from going to social events and stop us from exercising. This truly can be a depressing experience, especially if we know it is going to happen month after month!
The Solution – Qigong For Period Pain
1. Any moving Qigong exercise. In Chinese Medicine pain is the result of the stagnation of flow of Qi, blood and/or fluid through an area. Qigong encourages the internal movement of Qi and blood in the area of the uterus resulting in a relief of stagnation and thereby pain.
2. Discharge With Vibration Method. This is lesson 3 in my free 3 part video series (more about how to access that below). This method will quickly rid waste Qi (in the form of stagnation and pain from the whole body).
3. Qigong for Cleansing. Watch my previous video on “Qigong For Cleansing“. You can use this method of Qigong for period pain because it helps to rid any waste Qi from your body, i.e. pain, nausea, bloating, headache.
What Do I Do Next?
If you would like to start using Qigong for period pain then:
1. Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. These three lessons will show you many useful pain relieving methods to help relieve menstrual cramping. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level. You’ll learn many exercises to relieve pain, calm your mind and eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. This includes many more effective Qigong methods which work to harmonise the Liver and Spleen systems (those responsible for healthy and pain free periods).
2. Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button over on YouTube so that you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you do to relieve period pain.
3. Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
Have you ever had a headache or migraine? If the answer to this question is “No” then you are probably in the minority of people reading this. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that “almost half of the adult population have had a headache at least once within the last year“. Among those people, 30% or more have reported migraine. This makes headache one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. (Click here to see the WHO document). If you or someone you know suffers with this problem then watch the video on this page to learn how you can use Qigong for headaches and migraine management.
Please head over to YouTube to subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
The Impact Of Headache and Migraine On Our Lives
You will all no doubt know someone who suffers with recurrent headaches and/or migraine. This is because it is such a common problem affecting people of all ages, races and income levels around the world.
If you’ve ever suffered with a headache you will know that it is painful, miserable and debilitating. Other negative impacts of headache and/or migraine may include:
Fear of when the next one is going to occur.
The ability to carry out our daily tasks.
Days or months of work lost with a consequent financial impact.
A severely restricted social life.
Side effects of medication we may take which create further health problems for us.
A predisposition to further illnesses. The WHO states that “anxiety and depression are significantly more common in people with migraine than in healthy individuals“. Click here for the WHO factsheet.
I think you’ll agree that enduring recurrent headaches or migraine is not an acceptable situation!
The Solution – Qigong For Headaches and Migraine
Make sure you are hydrated. Although this is not Qigong I’m including this tip here because on many occasions headache can be caused by a lack of fluid intake so ensure that you are drinking plenty of water.
Discharge With Vibration Method. This is lesson 3 in my free 3 part video series (more about how to access that below). This method will quickly rid pressure in your head literally in the space of less than 5 minutes.
Qigong for Cleansing. Watch my previous video on “Qigong For Cleansing“. You can use this method of Qigong for headaches and migraine because it helps to rid any waste Qi from your body, i.e. pain, dizziness, nausea, heaviness in the head.
Face Wash and Massage. This simple method will give you relief from headache. Rub palms together until hot. Close eyes and place palms on eyes feeling the heat from the hands. Face wash. Comb over head down to back of neck. Pluck around eyebrows and under eyes with index finger and thumb. This brings more circulation of Qi into the face and stimulated acupuncture points around the eyes so if you have migraine where vision is affected this can be a very useful little tip to improve things for you.
What Do I Do Next?
If you would like to start using Qigong for headaches and migraine then:
Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. These three lessons, in addition to the videos referred to above, will give you many useful pain relieving methods to help relieve headaches and migraine. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to relieve pain, calm your mind and eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. This includes many more effective Qigong methods to minimise headaches and migraine.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you do to manage headaches and/or migraine.
Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
Feeling stiff and inflexible, or even worse, feeling pain in your back is debilitating and can be a source of misery and depression for many people. Back pain is extremely common. If you are an office worker sitting at a desk every day or have ever been pregnant then the chances are you have experienced back pain at some point! The website goodbody.com reports that 8 out of 10 Americans will experience back problems at some point in their lives. In my experience the similar statistics must also apply to Ireland, where I live, and many other countries too. The good news is that there are many practices and methods we can adopt to help minimise back pain and manage it so that it doesn’t limit our lifestyle. In the video on this page you will learn how to use Qigong for back pain management so that you can regain strength and flexibility in this very central supporting area of your body.
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong, and the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button in Youtube. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
The Impact Of Back Pain On Our Lives
In my Chinese medicine and acupuncture clinics I have observed an increase in back pain over the years. I’m sure that we all know someone with recurrent back pain, even if we ourselves are not sufferers. Perhaps this is because of the increasing number of people sitting at their desks working.
In addition to the misery that back pain brings, it can also negatively impact our lives:
We may not be able to go to work and so lose financial security.
The ability to carry out our daily tasks may be limited.
We may not be able to exercise and therefore put on weight which may lead to further health complications.
Our sleep may be interrupted as we can’t find a comfortable position in bed. This can result in us waking up exhausted.
Any pain medication that we may take for back pain may have side effects which create further health problems for us.
Back pain can be a recurrent problem because often the cause is never identified. If the cause cannot be eliminated then your pain is more likely to recur. This is why the appropriate management of back pain is crucial in preventing the problem developing into a long term, chronic one.
The Solution – Qigong For Back Pain
Qigong for back pain methods in general involve movement. They are perfect for dealing with back pain as they smooth the flow of energy (Qi) and blood flow through the area. In Chinese Medicine terms, a stagnation or blockage of the flow of Qi and blood can cause pain. However there are a couple of methods which are particularly useful to help you regulate back pain more specifically.
This method of Qigong for back pain is exceptionally helpful as it provides you with a standing posture which will avoid any obstruction in the flow of Qi and blood through two areas which are particularly prone to stagnation and pain, the lower back and neck.
2. For morning stiffness and pain
If you feel especially stiff in the mornings and it takes you a while to get going then it will be very helpful for you to start the day with a few gentle movements. This will help you to loosen up the back in the mornings! My perfect Morning Qigong Routine is shown here.
3. Looking Back Over Shoulder Method
This exercise is one belonging to a series of 8 called the Ba Duan Jin. It regulates everything, especially the spine and the thighs. It is useful in the prevention of twisting of the spine.
Basic Instructions
Qigong stance. Stand with neck stretched straight, arms hanging down freely. Bring hands into position with palms facing down and pressure on heels of hands, fingers spread wide. With chest projected out and shoulders squared, slowly rotate head to left (men) or right (women) with eyes looking backward over shoulder and move hands to sides of body, palms facing ground. Keep arms close to sides of body and chin parallel to the ground as you turn the head. Then slowly rotate head back to starting posture and bring hands back to in front of body. Repeat to right side. Repeat several times.
Finish the exercise by placing one hand (right for women, left for men) flat over Dan Tian (lower abdomen) with the other hand on top. Circle a few times in one direction and then the other to seal in the Qi. Allow the hands to drop down by the sides of the body and observe any sensations or changes
Breathing Instructions
Exhale as head and hands turn to side. Inhale as body returns to starting posture. Exhale as palms press to ground. Inhale before starting the movement again.
Focus of Mind
Imagine Qi travelling down side of the leg to the sole of the foot) on side you are looking towards. As head returns to centre make Qi come back to coccyx in the lower back.
What Do I Do Next?
If you would like to start using Qigong for back pain then:
Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. These three lessons, in addition to the videos referred to above, will give you many useful Qigong for back pain relieving methods to help improve any problems you have with your back. Once you’ve been through that series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to relieve pain, calm your mind and eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. In this programme you will also learn the other 7 exercises in the Ba Duan Jin to complement the “Looking Back Over Shoulder” method you just learned in this video. This is a fantastic, comprehensive series of exercises which will elevate your health to a whole new level.
Go to my YouTube channel by click the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you do to manage back pain if you are one of the many sufferers around the world.
Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
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