Practical Use of Five Element Qigong

This Autumn was our first in Oregon after moving here last March from California and I have to admit, the weather (or tianqi “Heavenly Qi) is causing me some truly annoying problems. No, it’s not the rain, we like rain. It’s not the cold; it’s great to be in a place that has four seasons. It’s not even the snow; bring it on. No, what’s been bothering me is the heat. Wait, what? Heat? In Oregon? In the Autumn? Let me explain.

As soon as we started using the heater in our apartment on a daily basis, I began to have problems. I developed a dry cough. Because there was no phlegm to expectorate, the cough was non-productive. It came in series of racking, convulsive explosions that made my stomach muscles contract painfully. After an attack, I was often dizzy and developed an immediate headache that lasted for fifteen minutes or more.  The coughing fits would start whenever I changed positions, such as when I bent over to tie my shoes. (There has been a positive side to things; all the violent contractions of my abdominal muscles are really strengthening my core!). My sleep was affected as well. I couldn’t sleep on my back and every time I changed position, I experienced another coughing fit. I eventually had to try and sleep sitting up in bed. You can imagine how uncomfortable and non-restful this was. I was only able to sleep for a couple hours a night Needless to say, this got old fast.

I did my due diligence by checking with my doctor to make sure it was not something serious like strep. She could find nothing wrong with my lungs and her only advice was “patience”.Western medical cough suppressants and expectorants proved to be useless. I had the heater checked but there was no filter so the likelihood of mold or something similar was minimal. I bought a humidifier to help moisten the air; in fact, I bought three, two cool and one hot. They had almost no effect.

Chinese medicine, of course, provided a better answer. My self diagnosis was lung dryness over a root cause of Lung Qi deficiency. Lung Dryness, evidenced by the lack of phlegm, was pretty obvious. In Chinese medicine it is said that “the lungs fear dryness” and the electric heating unit caused the apartment to be very dry. I had also noticed that the minute I left the house and stepped  into a moist environment, the symptoms rapidly diminished.  Lung Qi deficiency is very similar to dryness and is often the root cause since one of the functions of Qi is to moisten. The big giveaway here was pressure. Deficient conditions like pressure. For example, if you have a deficient condition in your stomach and you press on it, it feels better. So, while sleeping on my back would cause coughing fits, if I slept on my stomach it didn’t. I also found that filling my lungs with air before changing position would often prevent the onset of a coughing jag. Finally, I found that, once the coughing began, pressing on my chest with my palms would cause it too stop.

So now that I had figured out what was going on, how to treat it? I used a Chinese cough syrup for immediate relief. It is available in most Asian grocery stores under the name “Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (Madarin pinyin: Pipa Gao) and is a good thing to have on hand at home. Acupuncture is very effective but is a little difficult to do on yourself. Chinese herbal formulas, whether in raw herb or “tea pill” form also work extremely well. I ordered both Bu Fei Tang and Ling Zhi Lung Tonic tea pills since their indications were quite similar. Still, I had to do something while waiting for the formulas to arrive.  The obvious answer was Qigong. This is where Five Element Qigong came into effect.

Of course, a Medical Qigong treatment by a qualified practitioner would be the most effective remedy. However, if there is no practitioner available (and we are very rare) there are things you can do with the Five Element Qigong knowledge that you already have. The very first movement of the Five Element exercise is for the Lung/Metal Element. This Daoyin movement is regulatory in action and can be very effective in moving the Qi in the lungs to help moisten them and alleviate dryness. The Lung/Metal Tu Na meditation can help tonify the Lung Qi and eliminate the deficiency.

While on a day trip to the Oregon Coast, I took a few minutes to practice on the beach where the air was fresh and the Qi was strong. Facing West, the direction associated with the Metal element, I placed my tongue in the Metal position and spent about twenty minutes doing both the Tu Na and Daoyin exercises. The fresh salt air and the powerful Qi of the ocean made me feel great and the symptoms were greatly reduced for the next two days. Back home, daily practice, either indoors or out, began to make a huge difference.

So what is the best way to use Five Element Qigong in the prevention and treatment of disease. First of all, of course, is to practice the entire exercise year round. This benefits each of the major Yin organs, regulating their flow of Qi to avoid any deficiencies or excesses. Doing the movements in sequence has the added benefit of encouraging each organ system to support the following one in the cycle, which the Chinese call “Mother supporting the son”.  For special needs, of course, you can practice a single movement for a period of time to the exclusion of the others. For example, someone who had just undergone a heart procedure might want to concentrate on the Heart/Fire element exercise and skip the others while they are recovering.

You can use this knowledge to your advantage to prepare for each season. For example, Autumn is the season associated with the Lung/Metal element and has the quality of dryness. This means the lungs are especially vulnerable to dryness during the fall. During Autumn as the days start to get darker and colder, practice the Five Element movement associated with that season; in this case the Lung/Metal movement.  Forget about the other movements for a week or two and just concentrate on Lung/Metal. If you know the Tu Na tonifying meditation, this is a good time to practice it as well. Concentrating on the element associated with the season will help prepare your energetic body for the changes in the “Heavenly Qi” that occur during each season. By regulating and tonifying your lung Qi you will be better prepared to deal with the dryness associated with Autumn. This is just one example how an in-depth knowledge of Five Element theory can affect your life in a positive manner and allow you to tailor your practice to your individual and immediate needs.

Remember, in Chinese medicine coughs can have a variety of causes so you need to be properly diagnosed by a professional before using an over the counter herbal formula. However, practicing Five Element Daoyin exercises can be used for all types of cough. Just remember not to do the Tu Na tonifying meditations for any externally contracted diseases in order to avoid “trapping the robber in the house”.

I still have the cough though it is getting better.  Thanks to Five Element Qigong, I have the tools to cure the condition and so do you. It is now just up to us to make use of them.

Good-bye Pema

At 10 PM Tuesday June 7, 2016 we said a final goodbye to our beloved Lhasa Apso companion, Pema. During the day, she seemed tired, which we attributed to the unseasonably warm weather. Around 4 PM she sort of collapsed. Her pulse and respiration were extremely rapid and she quickly became unresponsive. We rushed her to the local veterinary hospital where they worked hard to stabilize her. Ultrasound showed that she was bleeding internally from a large mass on her liver. A couple of hours later, we got the bad news; detailed ultrasound showed that her abdomen was riddled with cancer. She was in a lot of pain and the doctor put her prognosis at mere hours. This was a shock because she had been perfectly normal just hours before- eating, pooping and walking normally. She never exhibited any behavior that would make us think something was wrong. In the end we had no choice but to let her go. Margaret was a rock and stayed with her to the end while I sobbed like a baby in the lobby. Needless to say, we are devastated. It all happened so fast. She was only eleven years old.

We knew she was special when we found her at the humane society and we felt blessed that she allowed us to spend the last six years with her. We treasured every minute. She was the best dog ever and the light in our lives when things got dark. The last few months have been extremely difficult and losing her is almost more than we can bear. We did our best to try and bring her as much happiness as she brought to us. Our only consolation is the the knowledge that, somewhere, there is a new star in the heavens tonight.

Thank you, Pema. We love you and will miss you always.

Cleaning and Protecting Your Practice Area

While it is generally preferred to practice Qigong outdoors, it is not always practical. We all know that practicing during stormy weather is contraindicated, but it is also a good idea to avoid practicing outside during extreme weather; i.e.  when it is too hot, too cold, too sunny (standing in the direct sun with no shade available) or too rainy. Sometimes, particularly in urban areas, there may be no natural area nearby. And let’s face it, even practicing in a public park can be a little uncomfortable. While someone standing perfectly still outdoors for up to an hour may not seem strange in China, here in the US it can raise a few eyebrows. Sometimes it is just more convenient and practical to practice indoors, in your own home. So, how do you create a practice area and keep it clean and safe?

If possible, it’s best to establish a dedicated Qigong practice area in your house. It doesn’t have to be large; a corner will do as long as you have room to sit, stand or move, depending on the type of Qigong you are practicing.  It’s important to have a quiet space so try to find a place where you won’t be disturbed,(if that’s not possible, you may have to practice at a time when everything is quiet). Speaking of being disturbed, if you use an alarm of some sort to signal the end of your practice session, make sure it has a quiet and pleasant-sounding tone. Being jarred out of meditation by a loud noise can destroy the peaceful feeling you just worked so hard to achieve and, if it happens often enough, could cause a Qi deviation. Needless to say, make sure you turn off all electronic communication devices while practicing.

If you have room, it’s nice to have an “altar”in your area. It doesn’t have to be an actual piece of furniture- a small space on the floor or a small shelf on the wall will do. In your altar space you can place meditation objects. These can be, but are not limited to, a statue of a deity you hold sacred, a picture of a respected person or loved one, flowers, plants, or even rocks or crystals. A Qigong altar is not about worship. An altar helps focus your intention and can help energize and purify the space.

After you’ve established your practice area, you need to maintain it. You want to make sure that the physical space is clean and orderly. Your practice space is a reflection of your Shen or spirit/mind so it is important to keep it tidy. Vacuum or sweep the floor and dust your altar regularly. If Qi is not able to circulate freely, it can become turbid. Turbid Qi can quickly become stagnant and accumulate just like dust. Turbid Qi tends to accumulate in corners so it important to keep those areas free of dust and cobwebs. This is the premise of Fengshui; making sure that beneficial Qi flows freely and that evil or turbid Qi does not accumulate. Following the basic rules of good Fengshui will help you to create a positive practice environment.

Light and airflow can keep Qi from stagnating. Opening the shades and allowing bright Yang sunlight into your space can keep Yin Qi from accumulating. Opening the windows to allow a warm breeze to flow can keep Qi fresh and circulating. Of course, if you live in an cold Northern climate, this may not be possible most of the time. In that case, you may want to concentrate on energetically cleaning your practice area.

Practicing Qigong in your space is the best way to fill it with positive Qi and good intentions. I’m reminded of a story told to me by an acupuncturist colleague of mine who was working as a volunteer in Nepal. She and her roommate would practice Qigong in their tiny room every morning. After about a week or so, the landlady approached her. “What have you two been doing in here? The rooms seems so much more bright and cheerful”. The results of their practice was so strong that even a casual observer was able to notice the change in the environment. Practicing Qigong, or receiving Medical Qigong treatments from a practitioner, can markedly refresh and energize your living space.

Incense can be burned regularly to maintain a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere in your space. I prefer pure sandalwood over the strong perfume types but that’s just me. Tibetan incense is less sweet smelling and is made with a variety of herbs to promote meditation, relaxation and to cleanse the environment. Sage has been used by many cultures to ritually cleanse areas as well.  In the end, it’s really just a matter of taste.  Any scent that makes you feel peaceful and calm is probably suitable.

A bell can also be used to clean the Qi in an area. The vibrations emitted by ringing the bell can help break up clusters of stagnant Qi much like how a jeweler uses an ultrasound bath to clean dirty jewelry. A small hand bell or Tibetan tingsha cymbals will work well. Start in the middle of the room and ring the bell at least three times, letting the sound die out naturally each time.  Pay attention to the corners and ring the bell at least three times in each corner of the room. Finish in the center of the room, ringing the bell until you feel that the vibrations have sufficiently cleansed the space. Tibetan “singing” bowls also work well for most rooms, though you may want to use a hand bell in the corners. I’d recommend striking the bowl rather than running the striker around the edges as striking creates a stronger vibration.

Speaking of sound vibration, the human voice can also be used to break up stasis just like a bell. The Six Healing Sounds are effective in breaking up stasis both inside the body as well as the surrounding area. Sacred chanting is also very effective. A modern day shortcut is to broadcast recorded chants through speakers via a CD or from your phone or computer. Sometimes I’ll play a recording of Tibetan monks chanting directly from the internet (thanks, YouTube). You can leave it running for several hours, and, if there are no neighbors near by, you can crank it up to really break up that stagnant Qi.

Mirrors are another useful Fengshui tool that can be used to keep Qi circulating in your practice space. Ordinary mirrors of any size and shape will work, but of course not black mirrors which are normally used for scrying. Traditional Chinese bagua mirrors usually have a mirror in the center with the eight trigrams forming a circle around it and are considered powerful talismans. These are usually quite colorful and can brighten up your practice area. Place mirrors in corners to keep Qi from stagnating. It’s also useful to have a mirror on the wall facing the opening to the room. This helps keep turbid Qi from entering. It’s also said that malevolent beings hate seeing their reflections, which couldn’t hurt either. Consult a Fengshui guide for more info on using mirrors.

If you are practicing regulatory Daoyin exercises like the Five Elements, this should be all you need. However, if you are practicing the  meditative Tu Na,  Shen Gong, or internal alchemy types of Qigong, please be cautious. These practices aim to refine or transmute Qi.  As your Qi becomes more purified, it can often attract negative or turbid Qi, or even malevolent energetic beings. Of course, you should not attempt these more advanced practices without the guidance of a teacher who will show you how to protect yourself with exercises like Ren Wu Zang. Overall, practicing Qigong is very safe and if you follow the above suggestions, it is doubtful that you will ever have any problems. However, if you start to notice that you are uncomfortable or  have feelings of dread or fear while in your practice space, or are having nightmares, you should immediately take steps to purify you space. If the above are not sufficient, contact your teacher, a Qigong practitioner, or Fengshui master for help.

Having a clean and peaceful Qigong practice space is like having an oasis of light and tranquillity in your home. Practice often and keep your space clean and tidy and it benefit you, your living space, and all those who enter it.