Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Acute Effects on the Counts of Innate and Adaptive Immune Response Cells After 1 Month of Taoist Qigong Practice

  • Published:
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Qigong is an ancient form of health maintenance, dating back thousands of years, which is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Numerous physical as well as mental benefits have been classically ascribed to this traditional mind-body method which integrates slow body movements, breathing, and meditation. Albeit we have already reported an immunomodulatory action of qigong in other investigations, measures were then assessed 1 day after the qigong program ended.

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to assess the acute effects of Taoist qigong practice on immune cell counts in healthy subjects 1 h after training.

Method

Forty-three healthy subjects participated in the study of whom 25 were randomly allocated to the experimental group and 18 to the control group. The experimental subjects underwent daily qigong training for 1 month. Blood samples for the quantification of immune parameters (number and percentage of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, total lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells) were taken the day before the experiment commenced and 1 h after the last session of the training program ended. As statistical analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed.

Results

Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group showing higher values in the number (p = 0.006) and the percentage (p = 0.04) of B lymphocytes, as well as lower values in the percentage of NK cells (p = 0.05), as compared to control.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that Taoist qigong is able to exert acute immunomodulatory effects on components of both innate as well as adaptive immune response.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wang F, Man JKM, Lee E-KO, Wu T, Benson H, Fricchione GL, et al. The effects of Qigong on anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/152738.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dorcas A, Yung P. Qigong: harmonising the breath, the body and the mind. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 2003;9:198–202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kemp CA. Qigong as a therapeutic intervention with older adults. J Holist Nurs. 2004;22:351–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Jahnke R, Larkey L, Rogers C, Etnier J, Lin F. A comprehensive review of health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi. Am J Health Promot. 2010;24:1–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Wang C-W, Chan CH, Ho RTH, Chan JSM, Ng S-M, Chan CLW. Managing stress and anxiety through qigong exercise in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Altern Med. 2014;14:8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zeng Y, Luo T, Xie H, Huang M, Cheng ASK. Health benefits of qigong or tai chi for cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Complement Ther Med. 2014;22:173–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Manzaneque JM, Vera FM, Rodriguez FM, Vadillo M, Bendayan R, Blanca MJ, et al. Effects of Taoist Qigong on immune cells count: is this classical Chinese exercise and effective immunomodulatory tool? Int J Behav Med. 2012;19 Suppl 1:S72.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Maldonado EF, Vera FM, Manzaneque JM, Carranque GA, Cubero VM, Pérez I, et al. Efectos de la práctica de Qigong sobre parámetros hormonales, síntomas de ansiedad, presión arterial y calidad subjetiva de sueño en estudiantes universitarios. Cuad Med Psicosom Psiquiatr Enlace. 2005;76/77:9–15.

  9. Vera FM, Manzaneque JM, Maldonado EF, Carranque GA, Cubero VM, Blanca MJ, et al. Biochemical changes after a qigong program: lipids, serum enzymes, urea, and creatinine in healthy subjects. Med Sci Monit. 2007;13:560–6.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Stenlund T, Ahlgren C, Lindahl B, Burell G, Steinholtz K, Edlund C, et al. Cognitively oriented behavioral rehabilitation in combination with Qigong for patients on long-term sick leave because of burnout: REST—a randomized clinical trial. Int J Behav Med. 2009;16:294–303.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jahnke R, Larkey L, Rogers C, Etnier J, Lin FA. Comprehensive review of health benefits of qigong and tai chi. Am J Health Promot. 2010;24(6):e1–25. doi:10.4278/ajhp.081013-LIT-248.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Johansson M, Hassmén P, Jouper J. Acute effects of qigong exercise on mood and anxiety. Sport Exerc Perform Psychol. 2011;1(S):60–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Oh B, Butow P, Mullan B, Hale A, Lee MS, Guo X, et al. A critical review of the effects of medical Qigong on quality of life, immune function, and survival in cancer patients. Integr Cancer Ther. 2012;11:101–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Oh B, Choi SM, Inamori A, Rosenthal D, Yeung A. Effects of qigong on depression: a systemic review. Evid-Based Complement Altern Med. 2013;1–8.

  15. Chan ES, Koh D, Teo YC, Tamin RH, Lim A, Fredericks S. Biochemical and psychometric evaluation of Self-Healing Qigong as a stress reduction tool among first year nursing and midwifery students. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2013;19:179–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. González López-Arza MV, Varela-Donoso E, Montanero-Fernández J, Rodríguez-Mansilla J, González-Sánchez B, González López-Arza L. Qigong improves balance in young women: a pilot study. J Integr Med. 2013;11:241–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Manzaneque JM, Vera FM, Maldonado EF, Carranque G, Cubero VM, Morell M, et al. Assessment of immunological parameters following a qigong training program. Med Sci Monit. 2004;10:264–70.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Manzaneque JM, Vera FM, Rodriguez FM, Garcia GJ, Leyva L, Blanca MJ. Serum cytokines, mood and sleep after a qigong program: is qigong an effective psychobiological tool? J Health Psychol. 2009;14:60–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Yeh M, Lee T, Chen H, Chao T. The influences of Chan-Chuang qi-gong therapy on complete blood cell counts in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Cancer Nurs. 2006;29:149–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ng BHP, Tsang HWH. Psychophysiological outcomes of health qigong for chronic conditions: a systematic review. Pshychophysiology. 2009;46:257–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rodríguez-Peña FM, Manzaneque JM, Vera FM, Godoy YA, Ramos NS, Blanca MJ, et al. Valoración de parámetros inmunitarios en pacientes con síntomas de ansiedad y depresión tras un programa de Meditación “mindfulness”: un estudio piloto. Ansiedad Estrés. 2014;20:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Morgan N, Irwin MR, Chung M, Wang C. The effects of mind-body therapies on the immune system: meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(7), e100903. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100903.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Gopal A, Mondal S, Gandhi A, Arora S, Bhattacharjee J. Effect of integrated yoga practices on immune responses in examination stress—a preliminary study. Int J Yoga. 2011;4:26–32.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Qu S, Olafsrud SM, Meza-Zepeda LA, Saatcioglu F. Rapid gene expression changes in peripheral blood lymphocytes upon practice of a comprehensive yoga program. PLOS ONE. 2013;8(4). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061910.

  25. Olejnik SF, Algina J. Parametric ANCOVA and the rank of transform ANCOVA when the data are conditionally not normal and heteroscedastic. J Educ Stat. 1984;9:129–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Lee MS, Huh HJ, Jeong SM, Jang H-S, Ryu H, Park J-H, et al. Effects of Qigong on immune cells. Am J Chin Med. 2003;31:327–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lee MS, Kang C-W, Ryu H. Acute effect of qi-training on natural killer cell subsets and cytotoxic activity. Int J Neurosci. 2005;115:285–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Whiteside TL, Herberman RB. Role of human natural killer cells in health and disease. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1994;1:125–33.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Atanackovic D, Nowottne U, Freier E, Weber CS, Meyer S, Bartels K, et al. Acute psychological stress increases peripheral blood CD3+CD56+ natural killer T cells in healthy men: possible implications for the development and treatment of allergic and autoimmune disorders. Stress. 2013;16:421–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Millard A-L, Valli PV, Stussi G, Mueller NJ, Yung GP, Seebach JD. Brief exercise increases peripheral blood NK cell counts without immediate functional changes, but impairs their responses to ex vivo stimulation. Front Immunol. 2013;4:1–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Nagao F, Suzui M, Takeda K, Yagita H, Okumura K. Mobilization of NK cells by exercise: down modulation of adhesion molecules on NK cells by catecholamines. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2000;279:1251–6.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Timmons BW, Cieslak T. Human natural killer cell subsets and acute exercise: a brief review. Exerc Immunol Rev. 2008;14:8–23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Klarlund B, Hoffman-Goetz L. Exercise and the immune system: regulation, integration, and adaptation. Physiol Rev. 2000;80:1055–81.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Yao BS. A preliminary study on the changes of T-cell subsets in patients with aplastic anemia treated with qigong. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He ZaZhi. 1989;9:341–2.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Ryu H, Jun CD, Lee BS, Choi BM, Kim HM, Chung HT. Effect of qigong training on proportions of T lymphocyte subsets in human peripheral blood. Am J Chin Med. 1995;23:27–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Packard TA, Cambier JC. B lymphocyte antigen receptor signaling: initiation, amplification, and regulation. F1000 Prime Rep. 2013;1:5–40.

  37. Tobón GJ, Izquierdo JH, Cañas CA. B Lymphocytes: development, tolerance, and their role in autoimmunity—focus on systemic lupus erythematosus. Autoimmun Dis. 2013;1–17.

Download references

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Consent to Participate

Informed consent was obtained from all participants in the study after the nature of the procedure had been fully explained to them.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de Málaga, Andalucía Tech, Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Málaga, Spain

    Francisca M. Vera, Juan M. Manzaneque & Rebecca Bendayan

  2. Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Laboratorio AGS Este de Málaga-Axarquía, Málaga, Spain

    Francisco M. Rodríguez

  3. Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avenida de Carlos Haya s/n, Málaga, Spain

    Nieves Fernández & Antonio Alonso

Authors
  1. Francisca M. Vera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Juan M. Manzaneque
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francisco M. Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rebecca Bendayan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nieves Fernández
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Antonio Alonso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisca M. Vera.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vera, F.M., Manzaneque, J.M., Rodríguez, F.M. et al. Acute Effects on the Counts of Innate and Adaptive Immune Response Cells After 1 Month of Taoist Qigong Practice. Int.J. Behav. Med. 23, 198–203 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-015-9509-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-015-9509-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation