Endocrine and immune effects of Qi-training

Abstract

Psychoneuroimmunological approaches have shown that Qi-training influences the holistic health state in men. We found that Qi-training increased the plasma level of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I. In addition, the respiratory function and adhesion capacity of neutrophil was increased after Qi-training. In an in vitro analysis, GH primed and increased the respiratory function and adhesion of neutrophils through tyrosin kinase passway. Taken together, in vivo and in vitro data suggest that the beneficial effects of Qi-training on immunological functions are mediated via neuroendocrine responses.