Managing Depression With Qigong by Frances Gaik

“Managing Depression with Qigong” by Frances Gaik is a very well researched book on the “what” and “why” of qigong, rather than on the “how.” Gaik describes what qigong is and offers many studies and examples of why qigong can be used to treat depression successfully. It also appears that Gaik looked for studies to reinforce the belief of qigong, and if you want “proof” that qigong works, this book sets out to prove it.

The book is fairly short, but definitely well researched. There are ten pages of sources listed in the back. Some of the book gets a bit technical with the “why” qigong works. There are various charts showing things such as the change of blood serotonin, changes in plasma endorphins, and EEG topographies to name a few.

The chapter that is an action plan seems a bit more like suggestions to incorporate qigong into your routine, but I don’t know if it is detailed enough to really be a complete action plan.

I do agree with Gaik that we need to take personal responsibility for our own health, and I believe qigong can be incorporated into one’s lifestyle as a way to prevent certain disease and ailments. I also found the clinical research study reported in chapter 7 to be interesting. It helps reinforce that qigong practice can have many positive benefits.

In the Appendix, there are descriptions and pictures of how to perform certain Spring Forest Qigong as taught by Chunyi Lin. These are taken from Lin’s manual and tapes, so getting those resources would most likely provide much deeper instruction. The amount presented here is not as much as many other sources.

Overall, this is an interesting study of why qigong is beneficial. If you need some reinforcement of why you should practice, this book can give it to you. If you are looking for instruction on how to actually perform qigong exercises, there are much better resources out there. I am giving it four studies because of the research done, and it ads to the qigong information available. (Ten pages of references for further study if you so wish) I do want people to know that if you are looking for a guide to help you perform qigong, rather than an academic study on qigong illustrating or reinforcing the belief that it works, this book won’t be for you. If you want an academic study of why to practice, get this book.

Managing Depression With Qigong by Frances Gaik