In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use qigong for cold sore prevention. But first, I need to lead up to how I discovered this extraordinary and life-changing ancient form of Chinese exercise. A little over six years ago, I decided to become extremely healthy and fit.
I had been fit as a teenager and again in my 20’s, but now I was 32, a single dad, and totally out of shape.
I quit partying and even quit smoking. Then I began eating lots of organic whole foods and cut out most of the junk. Soon, I started working out, and quickly became healthy and fit and felt GREAT.
My forms of exercise were:
- Weight-training
- Jogging
- Swimming
- Circuit-training
- Bodysurfing
- Surfing
Things were going very well for about a year. Then, one evening at the gym, I was pressing a little more weight than I should’ve, and I both heard and felt a “snap.” I hurt my shoulder pretty bad and thus wasn’t able to do my normal forms of exercise for several months.
Discovering Qigong
During this time, I started seeing a massage therapist who helped work on my shoulder as well as my overall posture and health. I told him how much I was missing working out, and he recommended that I start doing something called “qigong.”
I had never heard of qigong before this, but my massage therapist likened it to tai chi and demonstrated a few qigong moves. The moves were beautiful, graceful, slow, and aligned in synch with slow breathing patterns and mindfulness.
It looked cool!
I went home and purchased a few qigong DVDs online, and when they arrived a few days later, I began a daily practice of qigong.
I was instantly hooked!!! After not being able to exercise for a few weeks, I was becoming anxious, depressed, restless, and my once strong mindset was weakening by the day.
But from my first 20-minute beginning qigong routine, I felt more:
- Relaxed
- Centered
- Balanced
- Energized
- Positive
Qigong was absolutely amazing at reducing stress, enhancing my immune system, and helping me feel centered throughout the day. And since I wasn’t able to weight train or surf or swim, I relied upon it heavily for feelings of mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
I loved qigong so much that I ended up becoming a Certified Level 2 Qigong Instructor. Now I’m Cold Sore Specialist and the founder of this website, HowToGetRidOfAColdSore.com, and I frequently recommend qigong to my clients as a highly-effective method of preventing cold sores.
Qigong Overview
Qigong (chi kung) is an ancient form of exercise that originated in China thousands of years ago. This name literally translates to “Life Energy Cultivation.”
Qigong is a moving meditation that focuses on breathing and slow, deliberate movements as a way to cultivate and balance qi (chi). In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), qi is described as “life energy.”
In Chinese medicine, there is a belief that many of the physical and psychological health issues stem from issues with qi, such as too little qi or blockages (stuck qi) where this life energy cannot move freely throughout the body in the way it naturally does.
Qigong is a practice that can help these issues, and it’s a very powerful form of exercise for anyone that wants to prevent cold sores.
How Qigong Can Help With Cold Sore Prevention
Qigong is able to effectively boost your immune system and reduce stress, which is arguably the top two cold sore triggers. In a study from 2013, qigong was found to be effective in the treatment and prevention of mental disorders, and these mental disorders can easily lead to recurring cold sores.
In the study, Qigong was found to be helpful for the following:
- Psychological Well-Being
- Stress Management
- Sleep Disturbance
- Substance Abuse
- Cognitive Functioning
- Mood, Anxiety, and Depression
How To Use Qigong For Cold Sore Prevention
If you like what you’ve read so far, let me just say that I didn’t even scratch the surface of how many benefits you can experience from the regular practice of qigong. If you want to give it a try, simply go to YouTube and type “qigong” in the search bar and you’ll find a superabundance of free qigong moves and routines.
Additionally, you can also find some great qigong DVDs for beginners on Amazon.com (my favorites are the ones by Lee Holden such as Qigong for Self-Healing and Qi Workout Am/Pm).
Here is a cool 9-minute YouTube video of Lee Holden teaching beginners qigong:
Qigong For Cold Sore Prevention – Final Thoughts
I simply cannot recommend qigong enough as a natural way to increase mental and physical health, and thus prevent cold sores. I wouldn’t recommend qigong as a stand-alone form of cold sore prevention treatment, however, when added to a holistic treatment plan, qigong can improve your life in many extraordinary ways.
If you have any comments or questions on using qigong for cold sore prevention, please post them in the comment box below.
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