"Wealth is in the richness of the mind and heart, not the pocket."

                      - Anay Bathia

In 2018, a team of Portuguese researchers reviewed thirteen western based scientific studies on acupuncture.  

This review was published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice and concluded that

“Overall, there is good scientific evidence encouraging acupuncture therapy to treat anxiety disorders as it yields effective outcomes, with fewer side effects than conventional treatment".

And also that “Pharmacology and psychotherapy stand for the conventional treatment for anxiety disorders but these present limited efficacy, especially in the case of chronic anxiety, with high relapse rates and often causing adverse side effects. Clinical research studies render acupuncture as a valid treatment therapy for anxiety disorders without significant adverse effects”.

In the East, Chinese Medicine – herbs, acupuncture and QiGong have all been successfully used for thousands of years to combat anxiety, depression, mood swings, stress, irritability and psychological disorders. They have been widely used for these issues of the mind and emotions on hundreds of millions of people ...

For thousands and thousands of years, Chinese Medicine has seen that the power of the mind is an incredibly potent and powerful force. It has the ability, through the medium of suggestion and belief to make the body strong and healthy or to make it weak and sick.
 
Methods of mastering, manipulating and controlling the conscious and subconscious minds have been written into and practiced in Chinese Medicine since its’ formation; from Qi Gong to meditations to Shen Gong to the art of Feng Shui.

Mind work is one of the many great pillars supporting the foundation of Chinese Medicine.
 
One of the best ways to increase your physical and mental health is to simply train your mind into a state of positivity; in this state your internal reactions, such as the building and upkeep of cells are performed at peak and productive levels.
 
You could imagine that if you have the opposite, a negative depressed mind, your body will slump and feel tired. Everything from your concentration to your digestion will become sluggish. And even the reproduction of your cells will be less efficient, causing weaker cells to be created, which in turn will cause you to slump even further and lay the grounds for possible future illnesses. 

To clearly see the power of the mind in action, all we have to do is look at the placebo and nocebo effect in western science …

"The past is not clinging to you;
you are clinging to the past.

Once you are not clinging,
the past simply evaporates."

                 ~ Osho

In the simplest form, Qi means energy and Gong means work. Qi Gong is the art of cultivating energy.
 
It's primarily a set of exercises which have the aim to increase the amount of energy in the body, mind and spirit.

This energy powers up all living parts, enhancing their functioning. This increased energy will further help to process food and air more effectively to help create more blood and nutrients to nourish and protect our physical bodies and calm and stimulate our minds. It will help to preserve cells, slow down ageing and increase general health and well-being.

During menopause many women in Western countries experience negative symptoms;  such as hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, insomnia, vaginal dryness, poor concentration and memory, nausea, depression, mood swings, irritability, feelings of anger, loss of libido, urinary tract infections, dry skin and hair, thirst, brittle nails, and loss of bone density.

Surprisingly in China, most women do not endure these discomforting symptoms at all. In the West it is estimated that approximately 75% of women are affected, whereas in China it is a mere 10%. The reasons behind this are believed to be from differences in diet and from the use of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicines.

"Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life,
the whole aim and end of human existence."

– Aristotle

The Common Cold ...
 
Western Medicine sees colds very differently to the way Chinese Medicine does. They believe that colds are solely to do with exposure to bacteria and viruses.
 
Whereas Chinese Medicine believes that if a bug is really virulent, many people may succumb to it and become infected. But in most cases for ordinary bugs that create common colds, the internal strength of the body, in particular the energy, is far more important to prevent them. If your energy is very strong you may even be able to avoid getting them altogether.