Qigong therapy--its effectiveness and regulation.

Qigong has become increasingly popular as a modality in traditional Chinese medical care. It may be effective in treating diseases. However, it is not uncommon to hear complaints about the ineffectiveness of such treatment. This paper attempts to look at the recent promotion of Qigong as an effective form of health care and the regulation of Qigong practitioners in China by a review of literature and interviews with key informants. Although it is premature to conclude that Qigong is another therapeutic modality in traditional Chinese medicine, it is also premature to rule out the possible therapeutic efficacy of Qigong, in particular, internal Qi. Even if medical Qigong is effective, the establishment and enforcement of standards of practice and codes of ethics amongst Qigong masters will remain unresolved as there has not yet been any effective way to assess the competence of a Qigong master. Although a number of control measures have been proposed in this paper, a better understanding of the educational, professional and ethical standards and efficacy of such a practice is required.