Functional Analysis of the Brain at Rest Studied by PET and EEG

Masatoshi ITOH¹, Hiroshi MIYAZAKI², Manabu TASHIRO¹, Xu-Zhan XIANG³, Makoto HIGUCHI¹, Ren IWATA⁴, and Tatsuo IDO⁴

¹Division of Nuclear Medicine and ⁴Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Cyclotron Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University, (Sendai, Japan)

²Laboratory of Neuroinformation Science, Tohoku-Gakuin University (Sendai, Japan)

³Department of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku Univ. Graduate School of Medicine, (Sendai,Japan)

(Received on May 19, 1997, Final Revised and Accepted on July 30, 1997)

Abstract:

A regional correlation between EEG fractions and cerebral blood flow (CBF) was investigated by pixel-based statistical analysis. Eight right-handed normal male volunteers were measured twice at the same mental condition, i.e., at rest with eyes closed in a quiet examination room. Regional CBF(rCBF) was measured by positron emission tomography with using H215O slow-bolus injection. Brain rCBF images were then transformed into a standard brain configuration which is based on a sterotaxic brain. There were marked intersubject variations in EEG fractions with negligible intra-subjects difference. Regional CBF differences were noted as relative reduction of rCBF in the second scan mainly in the right hemisphere. Significant correlations were found between rCBF and certain EEG fractions. In particular, regional asymmetry in rCBF (left>right)was found in the frontal and temporal cortices which correlated with fractions of EEG higher than 8Hz. The occipital brain rCBF correlated positively with theta and negatively with alpha and beta-2. It was concluded that the EEG-PET correlation study may be useful for understanding of the human brain.

Keywords:

Positron Emission Tomography, EEG, Cerebral Blood Flow, Brain, Imaging

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Effects of External Stimulation on the Human Body as Analyzed with a Square-Wave Voltage Pulse Method

Kiminori ITOH

Inst. of Environmental Science and Technology, Yokohama National University (Yokohama, Japan)

(Received on May 7, 1996, Final revised and Accepted on July 28, 1997)

Abstract:

A square-wave voltage pulse method (i.e., application of a square-wave voltage pulse to a human's skin and analyses of resultant electric currents based on Chinese medicine) was applied to evaluate the effects of weak external stimuli on the human body. Besides the conventional parameters that show Qi flow or activity of the autonomic nervous system, a "balance" parameter was introduced to represent the balance of all meridians. Several kinds of stick-on-type metallic stimulators were examined in terms of these parameters.

Keywords:

square-wave voltage response, meridians, AMI, external stimulation, Qi, autonomic nervous system, balance of the meridians

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Physiological Measurement and Chaos Analysis for Qigong Practice and Acupuncture Treatment

Yoshihiro UEDA, Hitoshi KASHIBA, Masaaki ISHII and Takayuki NAKAYOSHI

Dept. Physiology, Kansai College of Oriental Medicine (Osaka, Japan)

(Received on October 14, 1996 , Final revised and Accepted on July 14, 1997)

Abstract:

It is well-known that the human body is in a balanced state of fluctuations or vibrations. Therefore, chaos analysis was used to investigate these changes. Visualization of the fluctuation waves was attempted using (1) the change of a sphygmogram during meditation or concentration, (2) the change of a sphygmogram during acupuncture stimulation at the Hoku point, and (3) the change of the H-wave repetitive-evoked electromyography (RE-EMG) under the influence of acupuncture anesthesia (A.A.). Each fluctuation could be represented by an attractor, and the Lyapunov exponent was calculated as the parameter of the attractor, making it possible to show the effects of the mental state and acupuncture on the state of the human body.

Results showed acupuncture could influence the fluctuations of the human body and could restore balance in its. A.A. blocked control from the central nervous system and affected the reflex system. Meditation practice showed a chaos state similar to that of qigong practice, but the chaos state during visualization differed from that of meditation practice or qigong practice.

Keywords:

qigong, acupuncture, chaos theory, repetitive evoked electromyogram, attractor, arterial pulse.

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Endocrine and Immune Changes during Guolin' New Qigong

Yuzo HIGUCHI¹, Yasunori KOTANI¹, Hironobu HIBUCHI², Yukiko MINEGISHI³, Jinrou ITAMI⁴, Taigen UH⁵ and Yasutake MANDA⁶

¹Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo, Japan)

²College of Tohoku Medical Technology (Sendai, Japan)

³Kokushikan University (Tokyo, Japan), Shibata Hospital (Kurashiki, Japan)

⁴Beijing Guolin' New Qigong Research Association (Beijing, China)

⁵Guolin' New Qigong Association in Japan (Tokyo, Japan)

(Received on May 16, 1997, Final revised and Accepted on August 5, 1997)

Abstract:

In China, Guolin' New Qigong (GNQ) has been used for treating cancer patients. Favorable results have been achieved and it is believed that this is because GNQ is effective in alleviating stress and improving immune responses. In order to elucidate the mechanism, Qigong was practiced for 40 minutes, using the Shizenkoukou and Chukaikou Technique. The endocrine and immune responses were measured before and after qigong movements had been practiced. The level of plasma cortisol and adrenaline decreased, but beta-endolphin, dopamine, noradrenaline, CD4/CD8 and Natural Killer (NK) cell activity had a tendency to increase. Based on the fact that plasma coritisol and adrenaline deceased, it is presumed that GNQ alleviates stress and decreases the sympathetic nerve activity. Also, based on the fact that the level of CD4/CD8 increased and there was improvement to the NK cell activity, it is presumed that Qigong elevates immune responses. The respective results achieved from Shizen-Koukou and Chukaikou were compared, but there were no significant differences.

Keywords:

Qigong, Beta-endolphin,dopamine, cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, NK cell activity, CD4,CD8, CD4/CD8

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Electrophysiological Study of Untouched Healings on the Autonomic Nervous Function Under Both Suggestive and Non-suggestive Conditions

Itsuo KURAMOTO, Seiya UCHIDA, Yasutami TSUDA, Hisanobu SUGANO

MOA Health Science Foundation, Life Science Institute (Fukuoka Japan)

(Received on June 4, 1997, Final revised and Accepted on August 5, 1997)

Abstract:

The present study was performed to evaluate the relationship between measurements done by the rectangular pulse current method and the autonomic nervous system. The indexes of autonomic function, perspiration and blood flow were continuously measured together with the initial maximum current (BP: before polarization) and the stable current after polarization (AP: after polarization), and the correlation between them was investigated. The AP was related to perspiration, while the BP was correlated to blood flow. Moreover, to evaluate the effects of untouched healing more strictly, four variations of an experiment were performed, namely under suggestion, without suggestion, entrance and resting. Analysis of the changes in the BP and AP during healing showed that the effects experienced by the receiver by remotely operated untouched healing differed from those of the placebo effect.

Keywords:

rectangular pulse current, AMI, untouched healing, suggestion, autonomic nervous system, perspiration, peripheral blood flow, conscious, subconscious, Qi-gong

Progress and Achievements of Research on the Phenomena f Psi in China

Jianyu CHAI and Wenyong LIU

Shanghai Qigong Institute (Shanghai, China)

Abstract:

This article reviews progress and achievements of research on the phenomena of psi in China in the last twenty years. Studies show that psi is a degenerated function common in human beings. Any kind of ESP and PK function depends of a sort of unknown radiant energy. From plenty of primary test data, we can draw four laws of psi: a law of opposites, meeting, accompaniment and entirety.

Keywords:

ESP, PK, invisible state, radiant energy, psi laws

[Project Report] Study on Analyzing Methods of Human Body Functions Using Various Simultaneous Measurements(VSM)

-The Second Year Report of the 5-Year-Project Supported by Science and Technology Agency(STA), Japan-

Mikio YAMAMOTO¹, Masahiko HIRASAWA¹, Hideyuki KOKUBO¹, Hideaki SAKAIDA¹, Kimiko KAWANO^2,1, Tsuyoshi HIRATA³, Tomoko KOKADO¹, Mieko KURANO¹, Junko TANIGUCHI¹, Nakahiro YASUDA¹, Akira FURUKAWA¹, and Yoshio MACHIM^4,1

¹National Institute of Radiological Sciences(NIRS)(Chiba, Japan)

²Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

³C&C Media Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation (Kawasaki, Japan)

⁴Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

The 5-year-project "Study on analyzing methods of human body functions using various simultaneous measurements(VSM)" started in September 1995 in the Bio-Emission Laboratory, Division of Physics, National Institute of Radiological Sciences(NIRS), Science and Technology Agency(STA) of the Japanese Government. The project is related to the realm of consciousness, spirit and mind-phenomena and has a budget (roughly one million dollars/5years) awarded from STA. This report describes the purpose of the project, activities and the studies, in the first two years and collects abstracts of papers and proceedings of the project.

Keywords:

qigong, sense shielding, extrasensory perception(ESP), subconscious, anomalous cognition, consciousness, concentration, electroencephalogram(EEG), auditory evoked potential, mammalian cell, Science and Technology Agency of Japan(STA)

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Difference of EEG in Methods of Qigong Practice and in Length of the Training Period

Kimiko KAWANO^1,2, Mikio YAMAMOTO², Hideyuki KOKUBO², Hideaki SAKAIDA², Tsuyoshi HIRATA³, Jian HUANG⁴, and Jianyu CHAI⁴

¹Centre for Informatics and Sciences, Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

²National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)

³C&C Media Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation (Kanagawa, Japan)

⁴Shanghai Qigong Institute(Shanghai, China)

Abstract:

EEGs were measured to study the differences in the various methods of Qigong and in the length of the Qigong training period. The experiments were performed during an internal Qigong (Zhan-zhung-gong) and an external Qigong (Kong-jin-gong) by Qigong masters and during an internal Qigong (Zhen-qi-yun-xing-fa) by four trainees, whose training periods were from 17 months to 3 years. During the external Qigong, alpha waves on the occipital region decreased on the masters but increased on the Qi-receivers, and they also increased on the trainees during the quiet internal Qigong. A ratio of the effective amplitude of the alpha waves on the frontal to the occipital regions was calculated. The ratios of masters were larger, especially during Zhan-zhung-gong, ie. the frontal alpha waves were larger than the occipital ones. On the trainees, the longer their training periods were, the larger the ratio tended to be. The frequency of the alpha waves became faster during the external Qigong and slower during the quiet Qigong. On the subjects whose alpha waves became much slower, theta waves appeared around the frontal-midline position, Fz.

Keywords:

EEG, external Qigong, internal Qigong, frontal alpha wave, occipital alpha wave

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[Special Lecture 1]

Scientific Research Today on Qigong in China

Jian HUANG

Shanghai Qigong Institute, Vice President

Abstract:

This report describes, in brief, scientific study on qigong in China. Qigong research groups are also introduced.

Keywords:

China, Qigong, training method, external qigong, organization, history

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Analysis of Intellectual Resonance (or Synchronization) Comparison between Positive Trials and Neutral Trials

Masahiro KURITA

The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

In our previous study, we proposed a method to quantitatively analyze intellectual resonance based on a concrete message. This method allows us to analyze how and to what extent intellectual resonance occurs in a group though the use of digital information such as numbers and characters. In this method, participants take their seats and fill out special cards according to instructions. The degree of coincidence among neighboring participants is then examined and scores are assigned to the results. The scores are evaluated by mathematical tools within a framework of probability theory. In this study, we analyzed the data of 412 participants (12 groups) who carried out two trials on the same day for the first time, one with an aim for resonance ("positive trial") and the other without any aim toward resonance ("neutral trial"). In both trials, the degree of resonance of the digital information fell into the theoretically expected range. The degree of resonance in the positive trials was higher than that in the neutral trials. It was speculated that participants changed the heterogeneity of the probability distribution of information selection mainly in the range of respective groups, thereby increasing the degree of coincidence. The data may also be useful for evaluating different kinds of trials.

Keywords:

synchronization, card game, information transfer, resonance, subconsciousness

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Physiological Effects of Black Vinegar on the Human Body

Fumio AKASAKA¹, Kimiko KAWANO²

¹Physical Philosophy Institute (Tokyo, Japan)

²Centre for Informatics and Sciences, Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

Black vinegar has been used as a cooking seasoning within traditional Japanese cuisine throughout its long history. It features a unique type of sourness and the ability to preserve food against deterioration. It is also known as being good for medicinal purposes, by relieving the symptoms of hypertension, heart diseases and the like. Against the above background, we performed a series of experiments to confirm the medicinal efficacy of black vinegar. The black vinegar used for the tests is from Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, of the same sort that has been produced for hundreds of years. This black vinegar product is categorized as a functional drink according to the relevant Japanese laws, and the additives include oligo sugar and fine pieces of gold foil. Experiments to confirm the effects of black vinegar were of two types: 1) The subjects drink directly a certain amount of black vinegar, and 2) the subjects did not drink the black vinegar, instead bottles of black vinegar were simply placed around each subject. Changes in brain waves generated, changes in the measured values of the AMI parameters, and shifts in the position of the physical center of gravity, were observed in the subjects.

Keywords:

EEG, alpha-wave, AMI, GSR, relaxation

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Endocrine Changes During Zazen

Yuzo HIGUCHI¹, Yasunori KOTANI¹, Hironobu HIGUCHI², Yukiko MINEGISHI³, and Jinrou ITAMI⁴

¹Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo, Japan)

²College of Tohoku Medical Technology (Sendai, Japan)

³Kokushikan University (Tokyo, Japan)

⁴Shibata Hospital (Kurashiki, Japan)

Abstract:

One of the important issues we face in today's stressful society is how to control our thinking. Zazen is considered as one control method. Before and after 40 minutes' zazen, the change occurring in the levels of cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenalilne, dopamine and beta-endolphin in venous blood were measured. The respective levels of cortisol and adrenaline showed a decrease, but noradrenaline increased. beta-endolphin level showed a tendency to increase. The levels of plasma cortisol and adrenaline each showed a decline from which it was concluded that stress was alleviated by practicing zazen, and that the sympathetic nerve activity also declined. The increase in the noradrenaline level seemed to indicate a high level of consciousness. This point is being examined in further experiments.

Keywords:

zazen, cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, beta-endolphin, dopamine

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Brain Imaging of Patients Suffering from Cancer

Manabu TASHIRO^1,6, Maki KAMADA², Masatoshi ITOH¹, Hiroaki KUMANO³, Kazuo KUBOTA⁴, Youichi NAKAGAWA⁵, Takeyasu FUKUSHIMA⁶, Katsutoshi NAKAYAMA⁶, Makoto HIGUCHI⁶, Hidetada SASAKI⁶

¹Div. of Nuclear Medicine, Cyclotron Radioisotope Center, Tohoku Univ. (Sendai, Japan)

²Laboratory of Neuroinfomation Science, Tohoku-Gakuin Univ. (Sendai, Japan)

³Dept. of Human Behavioral Science, Tohoku Univ. School of Medicine (Sendai, Japan)

⁴Dept. of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer

⁵Dept. of Ophthalmology, Tohoku Univ. School of Medicine

⁶Dept. of Geriatric Medicine, Tohoku Univ. School of Medicine

Abstract:

Brain data obtained from 19 lung cancer patients by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18-F-FDG-PET) were compared with those of ten inpatients with a benign disease. Reduction of regional brain metabolism was found in cancer patients mainly in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortices and putamen. Activated regions were the posterior parietal and visual cortices. The hypothalamus did not show changes in the glucose metabolism.

Keywords:

psychoneuroimmunology, brain imaging, cerebral glucose metabolism, lung cancer, depressive state

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The Effects of Four Kinds of Yoga Exercises on Grip Strength

Yasuo YOSHIHUKU¹, Katsushi YOSHIDA², Takashi AOKI³ and Yoshinori ADACHI⁴

¹Dept. of Natural Sciences, Chubu University (Kasugai, Japan)

²Dept. of Health Sciences, Chubu University (Kasugai, Japan)

³Dept. of Engineering Physics, Chubu University (Kasugai, Japan)

⁴Dept. of Business Administration Science, Chubu University (Kasugai, Japan)

Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of four kinds of yoga exercises on grip strength, a good index of the functioning of a living body. The subject was a male with four years of yoga experience. The following four kinds of exercises were chosen: uddiyana-bandha, kapala-bhati, asana and sukha-purvaka-pranayama. Each exercise or combinations of them were performed, and grip strength was measured before and after the exercises than before them. The increases in grip strength were not the same for each of the four kinds of exercises when performed separately, and combinations of them did not increase grip strength any more than the individual exercises did.

Keywords:

yoga, grip strength, respiration, asana, bandha

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[Special Lecture 2]

Scientific Research Relating to Qigong, Yoga and Meditation

Yuzo HIGUCHI

Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

Even though we live in a highly materialized civilization, our interest is drawn to oriental practices such an qigong, yoga, meditation and zen. These practices have been handed down from generation by practitioners, but scientific explications based on modern methods are not complete. In order to explicate the effects of oriental practices, we believe it is necessary to make contribution through our research, which is a result of merging the knowledge of oriental civilization we inherited with information of western civilization which were absorbed through academic studies. First, I would like to introduce the medical and scientific methods we used and other related information, and then discuss future views.

Keywords:

qigong, yoga, meditation, zen, scientific research

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The Physiological Changes in Human Bodies Affected by Power Without Direct Touch

Kazutaka TERASAWA¹, Kazunori KARASAKI¹ and Haruo WATANABE²

¹Terasawa E.N.T. Clinic (Hiroshima, Japan)

²Hearing Aid Fitting Institute (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

It is difficult for human beings to recognize the power induced by other persons without direct touch. However, Qi-gong, or extrasensory information transfer has recently been proven by routine and objectively observable procedures, e.g. Electro Encephalography (EEG), thermography and so forth. The "Power of Seimei (PS)" is the power human beings can use after receiving "Houju-Kaimei (HK)" (empowerment). It can activate the organs of other persons from a distance of 15-20cm between both palms of the PS user. PS is a specific power because alpha-wave immediately and clearly emerge in all examples of PS user in the occipital area equally from both sides. In the present report, we recorded physiological changes in PS users and receivers by EEG, Echo-Monitored Cardiography (EMC), and thermography to confirm that PS can physiologically change human body condition. As an effect of PS, the function of the myocardium of the receiver was clearly activated according to the strict intention directed by the user to the heart. Also, the surface temperature of the palm skin of all ten PS users rose, and alpha-waves , in EEG appeared on all twelve PS users while the users' eyes were opened.

Keywords:

Power of Seimei (PS), Houju Kaimei (HK), alpha-wave , Left ventricle inflow, Skin temperature, Blood pressure, Power without direct touch

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A Thermographical Analysis of Influences of Emission from a 80kHz Quartz Resonance System and Exercises on Human Bodies

Yoshinori ADACHI¹, Takashi AOKI², Yasuo YOSHIHUKU³, Katsushi YOSHIDA⁴

¹College of Business Administration and Information Science, Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)

²Dep. of Engineering Physics, Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)

³Dep. of Natural Science and Mathematics, Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)

⁴Dep. of Health Science, Chubu university (Aichi, Japan)

Abstract:

Influences of emission (EQR) from a 80kHz quartz resonance system and exercises on human bodies were examined in terms of thermographics. Increasing in temperatures on surfaces of both palms of subjects irradiated by the EQR were considerably larger than those of their faces and necks. This phenomenon suggests that the EQR irradiation has a special effect to enhance the peripheral circulation of blood. The influence caused by the EQR was compared with that by exercises. Increases of the surface temperatures caused by the exercises were similar to those by the EQR. Influence of EQR irradiation was similar to that by a Qi master's irradiation, indicating the existence of healing power in EQR irradiation.

Keywords:

thermography, EQR irradiation, Qi, exercise, peripheral circulation of blood

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The Influence of the Visible Light Condition of Target Samples and the Subject's Awareness of This Condition in Non-visual Color Recognition

Yoichiro SAKO and Tomoko SAKAKIBARA

ESPER Laboratory, Sony Corporation(Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

The authors conducted a series of non-visual color recognition experiments on a psychic individual T.I., using five different color sponges("red," "yellow," "green," "blue" and "black") which were covered with boxes so as to block perception by touch. Two kinds of boxes were used. One was a transparent box which did not obstruct visible light to the target sample, and the other was a black-lined box which obstructed visible light to it. The subject was notified in advance of the kind of the box used in the experiments, but in half of the cases, the subject was intentionally given the false information. Thus, four categorized experiments by combining two kinds of boxes and two types of given information (right and false) were carried out and evaluated. The subject performed 200 trials in each experiment. Every recognition rate was significantly high, but at the same time, it was observed that the recognition rate of experiments using a transparent box was higher than that of a black-lined box, and the recognition rate when the subject was notified of the existence of the transparent box in advance was higher than that of the black-lined box.

Keywords:

ESP, clairvoyance, dermat-sight, non-visual recognition, color recognition

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Simultaneous EEG Measurements of Both the Acupuncture Therapist and the Subject during Acupuncture Treatment

Yoshihiro UEDA, Hitoshi KASHIBA, Masaaki ISHII, Naoki NAKASUJI and Cai Yuan WANG

Dept. Physiology, Kansai College of Oriental Medicine(Osaka, Japan)

Abstract:

An acupuncture(A.) therapist feels subtle changes of the finger tip sense during the Acupuncture treatment. Also the subjects feel the needle insertion as "Hibiki" (literally "resonance") which means hitting the A.point. Intellectual resonance(or synchronization) in human groups is reported. There is a possibility of resonance phenomenon between an A. therapist and a subject. Therefore the EEGs of an A. therapist and subject were measured. The EEGs of the therapist and subject changed according to differences in A. techniques, and a simultaneous resonance phenomenon was observed.

Keywords:

acupuncture, EEG, resonance, Chinese needle

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Effects of Qi-gong in relation to the Capacity for Cancer cell Disorder

Takuji KATAOKA¹, Norikazu SUGIYAMA¹ and Mippou MATSUMOTO²

¹System Division, Hamamatsu Photonics KK (Shizuoka, Japan)

²Jyoyuin Laboratories (Nara, Japan)

Abstract:

This research aims at scientific clarification of what effects Qi-gong activity brings to the capacity for cancer cell disorder of lymphocytes mainly of natural killer cells (NK cells). The therapy by means of Qi-gong vital energy emitted by Mr. M. Matsumoto himself, Director of Jyoyuin (The Eastern Medical Remedy Institute) located in Yamatokoriyama-City in Nara Pref., Japan has brought good effects on a number of patients. This time experiments were conducted to clarify what actions the energy used for this therapy have on the capacity for cancer cells of lymph corpuscles taken out of human peripheral blood.The experiments certified that the Qi-gong vital energy operates on the lymphocytes, thereby raising the capacity for cancer cell disorder.

Keywords:

Qi-gong vital energy, PBS, Natural killer cell, Molt4, Calcein

Last Modified: April 27, 1999

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