Study & Research
  "Experiment 1"

The report of scientific experiments
in Wujijinggong

Journal of International Society of Life Information Science (ISLIS)
J. Intl. Soc. Life. Info. Sci. Vol.16, No.1 March.1998
The Fifth Symposium on Life Information Science
March14-15 1998, Tokyo Denki University, Tokyo

Influences of Wujijinggong
On blood serotonin
and β-endorphin concentrations

Yukiko MINEGISHI^*1, Tsuyoshi WATANABE^*1,
Toshio KOBAYASHI^*2, Sachio YAMAGUCHI^*3,
Yuzo HIGUCHI^*4

^*1 University of Kokushikan (Tokyo, Japan)
^*2 Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine (Tokyo, Japan)
^*3 Hujisawa City Health & Medical Center (Kanagawa, Japan)
^*4 Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to measure the endocrine responses caused by "wujijinggong" training which is one kind of health-qigong. Blood samples were taken three times, right before and the qigong training and 30min later. In the trained group the concentrations of noradrenaline, serotonin and β-endorphin increased significantly. On the other hand in the untrained group the measured hormone concentrations did not show any significant change. These results suggested that wujijinggong might have an effect on both physical conditions and mentality in the trained.
Keywords: health-qigong, catecholamine, cortisol, serotonin, β-endorphin


SUMMARY

1. Introduction

"Wujijinggong" is one kind of health-qigong. This qigong has 12 kinds of movements; 8 are practiced from a standing posture, and the others, while sitting on a chair or walking. All the movements are slow and gentle with spontaneous abdominal breathing. It is said that carrying out wujijinggong training for a long period can bring about a harmony and unification between a person's mind and physical body. We measured some kinds of hormones and physical conditions.

2. Method

The trained subjects were 11 women (49-66 years old) who had practicing this qigong for 5-9 years and untrained subjects were 4 women (49-63 years old) who had no experience with qigong. The first blood samples were taken when the subjects were ready for qigong after a 30min rest in a chair. Then they practiced 8 kinds of wujijinggong from a standing posture for 50 minutes. Just after the finishing this, the second blood samples were taken. Next subjects rested for 30 minutes, then the third samples were taken. The blood concentrations of 4 kinds of hormones (catecholamine, cortisol, serotonin, β-endorphin) were determined the samples.

3. Results

1)

Plasma noradrenaline concentration increased significantly in the subjects after qigong. (Before: 0.602±0.247ng/ml; after: 0.717±0.288ng/ml; p<0.001) In the untrained woman noradrenaline increased but not significantly. (Before: 0.760±0.226ng/ml; after: 0.815±0.217ng/ml) Plasma adrenaline and dopamine concentration did not change in either group.

2)

Serum cortisol concentration increased in bother group, but not significantly. (Trained: before: 8.00±2.42μg/dl; after: 9.32±3.28μg/dl. Untrained: before: 8.70±2.87μg/dl; after: 12.05±9.30μg/dl)

3)

Blood serotonin concentration increased significantly in the trained woman after qigong. (Before: 71.05±25.60ng/ml; after: 79.28±26.26ng/ml; p<0.05) In the untrained, serotonin increased, but not significantly. (Before: 69.60±27.77ng/ml after: 76.83±32.20ng/ml) (Fig.1)

4)

Plasma β-endorphin concentration increased significantly in the trained subjects after qigong. (Before: 6.82±2.93pg/ml; after: 8.00±2.79pg/ml; p<0.05) In the untrained, β-endorphin decreased, but not significantly. (Before: 6.75±1.71pg/ml; after: 6.25±2.63pg/ml) (Fig.2)

4. Discussion

We supposed that these results mainly represented the responses of the physical body because the blood samples were taken from arm veins. But in the central nervous system there are some areas which are devoid of the blood-brain barrier1), for example dura mater, choroids plexus, area postrema, hypothalamus. So it might be possible to interpret these results as partly reflecting changes of some kinds of emotion. The increase of noradrenaline and cortisol concentration might reflect that the trained subjects were clear-headed and focused on the qigong. On the other hand, the increase of serotonin and β-endorphin concentration might reflect that the trained subjects felt calm and happy. Then we suggest that long time wujijinggong training may make subjects well-balanced in their mentality and physical body.

Reference

1)

AMANO, T. Nippon-Naika-Gakkai-Zasshi, 85 (5): 659-665, 1996

Yukiko Minegishi:
Assistant Professor
Jichi Medical School, school of Nursing