The human body resembles a highly intricate, precise, and miraculous fully automatic machine. Its different systems and organs function not only independently but also in close coordination, demonstrating a remarkable adaptability to changes in the external environment. This adaptability stems from the body’s nearly perfect self-regulating system, which systematically manages various physiological functions. The primary regulatory mechanisms of the human body include nervous regulation and humoral regulation. In a sense, the internal mechanism by which Qigong, which primarily involves regulating the body, breath, and mind, achieves continuous optimization of one’s physical and mental state is also a result of the regulatory effects of the nervous and endocrine systems.
The nervous system, composed of the central nervous system and peripheral nerves throughout the body, is the body’s primary regulatory and control system. It directly or indirectly regulates the functions of various organs and systems to adapt to changes in the internal and external environment and maintain homeostasis. Although the activities of the nervous system are very complex, the basic mode of operation is the reflex. A reflex is a responsive reaction of the body to changes in the internal and external environment, mediated by the central nervous system. The structural basis of a reflex is the reflex arc, which is the pathway of signal transmission within the nervous system from receiving a stimulus to producing a response.
Research has indicated that Qigong exercises can influence the efficiency of specific nerve reflexes, thus modifying and regulating the body’s physiological functions. For instance, studies have demonstrated that during Qigong practice and meditation, there is a rise in alpha rhythm brainwaves, and different brain regions tend to synchronize and exhibit orderly directional changes. With the cerebral cortex in control, as the practitioner’s body and mind achieve deeper relaxation, corresponding coordinated changes take place in the functions of various systems throughout the body. These changes encompass a slower heart rate, reduced blood pressure, vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, gentle and deep breathing, decreased skin resistance, enhanced efferent nerve conduction velocity, and related alterations in the endocrine and immune systems. Ultimately, these changes result in more coordinated and unified functional activity across all parts of the body.
During the practice of health-promoting Qigong, not only is the effectiveness of unconditioned reflexes affected, but it is also closely related to the formation, consolidation, differentiation, generalization, and development of conditioned reflexes in Qigong. For example, under the guidance of intention, practitioners establish conditioned reflexes of physical and mental relaxation through repeated stimulation; they develop conditioned reflexes that allow the brain to enter a relaxed and tranquil state through repeatedly focusing their attention on a specific acupoint or body part; and they establish conditioned reflexes of the second signal system under various instructions. Therefore, it is evident that many health-promoting Qigong exercises are processes of establishing and consolidating conditioned reflexes in the body and internal organs.
Experimental studies have indicated that Qigong exercises can influence the production and release of different hormones in the body, as well as modify their sensitivity. For instance, among middle-aged and older adults who engaged in the Eight Pieces of Brocade Qigong exercises, female practitioners experienced a notable rise in estrogen (estradiol) after 3 months of practice, while male practitioners saw a significant increase in testosterone, the primary male hormone, after 6 months. This implies that numerous physiological benefits of Qigong are attained through humoral regulation.
Research has shown that Qigong exercises can regulate the functions of the neuro-humoral system, controlling nerve-innervated visceral activities and thus regulating human life activities. For example, during Qigong practice, when the practitioner enters a state of tranquility, the frontal cortex can influence the hypothalamus and pituitary gland through specific pathways, prompting the anterior pituitary to increase the secretion of neurotransmitters such as endorphins. These opioid substances in the brain can produce feelings of pleasure and, through receptors distributed throughout the body, enhance the body’s self-regulatory capabilities, bringing the functions of the mind and body to an optimal state. This is a typical neuro-humoral regulatory process.
In a sense, health Qigong is about training the ability to control physiological processes to improve the body’s self-control level and effectiveness. Therefore, the regulatory aspects of health Qigong are closely related to biological control theory.
Qigong achieves active regulation of bodily physiology and visceral functions through the brain and consciousness. The feedback information primarily comes from the afferent sensory input reflecting the internal environment of the body, such as proprioceptors and visceral receptors. This feedback method or mechanism, which mainly uses interoceptors and their pathways as channels, can be called internal feedback, and together with the mind and body, it forms an internal feedback loop.
Specifically, the regulatory process of Health Qigong involves using physical and mental training techniques such as regulating the body, breathing, and mind to establish and strengthen internal feedback loops and effects. This allows for active perception and control of one’s own physiological and visceral organ activities, thereby achieving the goals of strengthening the body, maintaining health, and promoting
To learn more about Qigong, make sure to check out the book “Qigong for Better Mind and Body Health”. It’s available on Amazon, or you can download it to your favorite electronic device using your preferred app. Here is a sample of the book.