Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

The Mystical Healing Powers of Falun Dafa: A Deep Dive

Neelam Balekar, Shivani Agrawal, Subhi Jain

Abstract


Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice rooted in ancient Chinese techniques that aims to enhance the well-being of individuals through a holistic approach encompassing the body,mind, and soul. This review focuses on current research pertaining to the physical, mental, and spiritual health effects of Falun Dafa. The objective is to explore the potential benefits associated with this spiritual practice. Emerging evidence suggests that Falun Dafa may have positive influences on various hormonal factors, including cortisol, serotonin, and dopamine. Specifically, it has been observed that Falun Dafa practice is associated with decreased cortisol levels, which are indicative of reduced stress. Furthermore, practitioners have reported increased serotonin and dopamine levels, which are associated with improved mood, emotional balance, and overall well-being. These findings highlight the potential of Falun Dafa to promote a sense of harmony and equilibrium in individuals. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and comprehensively assess the impact of Falun Dafa on hormone regulation and overall health. By gaining a deeper understanding of these effects, we can potentially unlock new avenues for optimizing individual well-being through the practice of Falun Dafa.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Trey M. The study of the health-wellness effects of Falun Gong: Applications to counseling. Spirituality and Counseling Issues: Vistas. 2016 Jul 16.

Cheetahara. 5 Miracle Falun Gong Exercises to Rebalance Your Life. Udumbara. 2023. Available from: https://udumbara.org/5-miracle-falun-gong-exercises-to-rebalance-your-life/

Tong H, Liu Y, Zhu Y, Zhang B, Hu J. The therapeutic effects of qigong in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the stable stage: a meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Sep 4;19(1):239. doi: 10.1186/s12906-019-2639-9. PMID: 31484521; PMCID: PMC6727520.

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 Jul-Aug;24(6):e1-e25. doi: 10.4278/ajhp.081013-LIT-248.

PMID: 20594090; PMCID: PMC3085832..

Lau MM. The effect of Falun Gong on health and wellness as perceived by Falun Gong practitioners. Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The University South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. 2010.

Tang YY, Hölzel BK, Posner MI. The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nature reviews neuroscience. 2015 Apr;16(4):213-25.

Black DS, Slavich GM. Mindfulness meditation and the immune system: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Annals of the new York Academy of Sciences. 2016 Jun;1373(1):13-24.

Fox KC, Nijeboer S, Dixon ML, Floman JL, Ellamil M, Rumak SP, Sedlmeier P, Christoff K. Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2014 Jun 1;43:48-73.

Lee MS, Chen K, Sancier KM, Ernst E. Qigong for cancer treatment: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials ACTA Oncologica 46 (6): 717–22.

Yeh GY, Wang C, Wayne PM, et al. Tai chi exercise for patients with cardiovascular conditions and risk factors: a systematic review. 2009. In: Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK77306/y

Liang H, Luo S, Chen X, Lu Y, Liu Z, Wei L. Effects of Tai Chi exercise on cardiovascular disease risk factors and quality of life in adults with essential hypertension: A meta-analysis. Heart Lung. 2020 Jul-Aug;49(4):353-363. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.02.041. Epub 2020 Mar 12. PMID:32171586.

Stellar JE, Cohen A, Oveis C, Keltner D. Affective and physiological responses to the suffering of others: compassion and vagal activity. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2015 Apr;108(4):572-85. doi: 10.1037/pspi0000010. Epub 2015 Jan 26. PMID: 25621856.

Kok BE, Coffey KA, Cohn MA, Catalino LI, Vacharkulksemsuk T, Algoe SB, Brantley M, Fredrickson BL. How positive emotions build physical health: perceived positive social connections account for the upward spiral between positive emotions and vagal tone. Psychol Sci. 2013 Jul 1;24(7):1123-32. doi: 10.1177/0956797612470827. Epub 2013 May 6. Erratum in: Psychol Sci. 2016 Jun;27(6):931. PMID: 23649562.

Kang DH, Jo HJ, Jung WH, Kim SH, Jung YH, Choi CH, Lee US, An SC, Jang JH, Kwon JS. The effect of meditation on brain structure: cortical thickness mapping and diffusion tensor imaging. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2013 Jan;8(1):27-33. doi: 10.1093/scan/nss056. Epub 2012 May 7. PMID: 22569185; PMCID: PMC3541490.

Tang YY, Lu Q, Fan M, Yang Y, Posner MI. Mechanisms of white matter changes induced by meditation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 26;109(26):10570-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1207817109. Epub 2012 Jun 11. PMID: 22689998; PMCID: PMC3387117.

Chiesa A, Serretti A. Mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain: a systematic review of the evidence. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Jan;17(1):83-93. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0546. PMID:21265650.

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 Jul-Aug;24(6):e1-e25. doi: 10.4278/ajhp.081013-LIT-248. PMID: 20594090; PMCID: PMC3085832.

Zeidan F, Martucci KT, Kraft RA, McHaffie JG, Coghill RC. Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2014 Jun;9(6):751-9. doi: 10.1093/scan/nst041. Epub 2013 Apr 24. PMID: 23615765; PMCID: PMC4040088.

Jin P. Efficacy of Tai Chi, brisk walking, meditation, and reading in reducing mental and emotional stress. J Psychosom Res. 1992 May;36(4):361-70. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(92)90072-a. PMID: 1593511.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.37591/omniscience.v13i1.3698

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


eISSN: 2231-0398