中醫運動養生氣功之理論與實務

The Theory and Practice of Health Cultivation Qigong Exercise in Traditional Chinese Medicine

中醫運動養生氣功是指運用調心、調息、調身的功法，促使氣血充足、經絡暢通及臟腑和調，以達強身保健及預防疾病的傳統養生方法。早在古籍及中醫典籍中，就有關於以【氣】養生的概念、練功原則、練功要領、練功方法及臨床運用等多方面的內容。此外，傳統養生氣功並以中醫的陰陽、臟腑、氣血、經絡和精氣神學說等理論，做為解釋生命現象、闡述氣功的功理功法，及探討治病原理的依據。中醫運動養生氣功與中國人傳統思想「天人合一」的觀念相似，強調氣功鍛鍊應順應自然及時節。鍛練氣功首要了解養生機理、練功要領及注意事項，方能達到養身氣功的真正目的。近幾年研究指出氣功鍛鍊對生理及心理皆具有正向效果，且氣功是一種適合各種年齡層鍛鍊的緩和運動。建議護理人員可將中醫運動養生氣功，列入健康促進及預防疾病計畫的活動設計；然由於中醫運動養生氣功的流派繁多，諸家功法各異，故仍亟需護理專家進行更多嚴謹的研究，方讓護理工作能有更多可以參考的實證依據。

The health cultivation qigong exercise in traditional Chinese medicine refers to a traditional, integrated method of illness prevention and body strengthening, which promotes the functions of qi and the blood, smooths the meridians (energy channels), and balances the viscera and bowels through the regulation of the mind, the breathing, and the body. The concept of using qi to cultivate human life is part of the health cultivation practices of ancient Chinese codes and of Chinese medicine. This concept includes the principles, methods, essences, and clinical applications of the practice. In addition, traditional health cultivation references the concepts of yinyang, viscera and bowels, qi and blood, meridians, and essential energy spirit theory in order to explain the human biological phenomena, the theoretical and practical perspectives of qigong, and the basis of the treatment principle. The health cultivation qigong exercise of Chinese medicine utilizes the concept of the “unity of nature and human beings” in traditional Chinese thinking in its practice, which emphasizes the conformity to nature and seasons. In order to fully leverage the benefits from the purpose of health cultivation in qigong practice, the priority is to understand the health cultivation mechanism, the essentials/matters, and the precautions of qigong practices. Recently, the evidence regarding both the biological and the psychological benefits of qigong practices have been demonstrated in numbers of research articles. In particular, qigong is currently considered to be one of the best mild exercises that is suited to all age groups. Professional nurses are suggested to include the health cultivation qigong exercise as part of activities that target health improvement and illness prevention. Due to the diversity in qigong as practiced by different health cultivation qigong exercise sects, it is essential to accumulate more clinical evidence by conducting greater numbers of rigorous studies that may be referenced in evidence-based nursing practices.