Qi Gong and the Parasympathetic Nervous System

Modern physiology has taught us that our peripheral nervous system is broken down into voluntary and involuntary, Somatic and Autonomic parts. The Somatic Nervous System controls all our voluntary muscles as well as sensory nerves throughout the body. The Autonomic nervous system regulates that within us that is involuntary, such as the function of the organs and some sensation. The Autonomic Nervous system is then broken down into two more parts, the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System, colloquially referred to as the “fight or flight” system and the “rest and digest” system. These two branches of the Autonomic Nervous System are the predominate focus of most research into the physiology of Taiji Qi Gong.

It turns out that Taiji and similar mindful movement based practices greatly reduce the activity of Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and increases the activity of the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). As the “fight or flight” system in the body, the SNS is responsible for all stress response and thus the cause of most inflammation in the body. It is widely accepted that an overactive SNS contributes to cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, and metabolic and hormonal disorders. Conversely, the PNS regulates all restorative functions in the body, and is widely accepted as the main nervous actor in the body’s healing process. These branches of the autonomic system are designed to balance each other. As the sympathetic nervous system begins to work, the parasympathetic nervous system goes into action to return the sympathetic nervous system back to its baseline. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand that persistent action by one branch may cause a persistently decreased tone in the other, which can lead to ill health. A balance between the two is both necessary and healthy.

Modern society faces an epidemic of stress, correlating to a marked increase in many of the diseases associated with elevated SNS activity. At the same time, over functioning of the SNS has led to severe deficiency of the PNS in so many patients suffering from mental health issues to hypertension. Many people simply feel that they cannot relax, not just because of an overactive stress response but because of a depleted relax response.

The parasympathetic nervous system, ultimately, has a quicker ability to respond to change than the sympathetic nervous system. When the SNS activates the PNS immediately begins working to counter its effects, and it can do so due to its elongated pre-ganglionic neurons which are myelinated, wrapped in a specialized conductive coating allowing nerve signals to travel through them faster. The SNS has a significantly shorter preganglionic neuron than the PNS. The rapid response of the PNS is precisely why it can become so easily depleted in those continually stuck in a stress response. However, this rapid response can also be tonified and actively called upon with proper practice, and, as we’ve said, it responds rapidly. In Taiji and Qigong we practice taking the energy within and around us and pushing, pulling, raising, and sinking it. This includes any energies or happenings that might otherwise produce a SNS response. With practice, instead of being acted upon by the energies around us, causing stress, we are active participants in the outcomes. Our functionality is enhanced in a state of alert rest. Physiologically, in this state of relaxed practice the blood vessels can expand allowing for more blood to flow and more oxygen and nutrition to reach each cell. The Vagus nerve is activated by the change in blood pressure and then in turn acts directly on the heart to lower heart rate.

Practice of Taiji and Qi Gong allows the practitioner to acquire the ability to consciously control certain involuntary physiological functions through the integration of mind body and breath, activating the parasympathetic nervous system’s healing neuro-hormones and the inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system’s action hormones. During such practice, there is a significant increase in “heart rate variation”, a known indicator of the parasympathetic nervous system. Some research has also found that during Qi Gong practice, a change in brain wave pattern is detected in EKGs. The changes in the autonomic nervous systems induced by Qigong and Taiji can also explain how such training could increase the body’s resistance to infectious agents and ability to fight diseases. It is becoming more and more widely accepted that the strength of our immune response is closely linked to our mental state. It has been shown that a positive state of mind enhances our immune system while mental and physical stress produce the opposite effect. This vital mind-body connection is mediated by the PNS and with practices such as Taiji and Qi Gong, can actually be within our control. It is remarkable to see Western research catching up with ancient wisdom regarding the immense health benefits of these simple yet powerful practices