Numenius of Apamea was a Greek philosopher who lived in Syria.
Qigong , qi gong , chi kung , or chi gung is a holistic system of coordinated body posture and movement , breathing , and meditation used for health , spirituality , and martial arts training .. holistic. holistic. martial arts. Chinese martial arts. With roots in Chinese medicine , philosophy , and martial arts , qigong is traditionally viewed as a practice to cultivate and balance qi -LRB- chi -RRB- , translated as `` life energy '' .. medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine. philosophy. Chinese philosophy. martial arts. Chinese martial arts. According to Taoist , Buddhist , and Confucian philosophy , qigong allows access to higher realms of awareness , awakens one 's `` true nature '' , and helps develop human potential .. philosophy. Chinese philosophy. Taoist. Taoism. Buddhist. Buddhism. Confucian. Confucianism. Qigong practice typically involves moving meditation , coordinating slow flowing movement , deep rhythmic breathing , and calm meditative state of mind .. Qigong is now practiced throughout China and worldwide for recreation , exercise and relaxation , preventive medicine and self-healing , alternative medicine , meditation and self-cultivation , and training for martial arts .. medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine. martial arts. Chinese martial arts. recreation. recreation. exercise. Physical exercise. relaxation. Relaxation technique. preventive medicine. preventive medicine. self-healing. self-healing. alternative medicine. alternative medicine. meditation and self-cultivation. Meditation. training for martial arts. Chinese martial arts. Over the centuries , a diverse spectrum of qigong forms developed in different segments of Chinese society .. Traditionally , qigong training has been esoteric and secretive , with knowledge passed from adept master to student in lineages that maintain their own unique interpretations and methods .. Qigong practices were brought to the public beginning in the 1950s , when the Communist Party institutionalized and began research into traditional Chinese medicine .. medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine. Although the practice of qigong was prohibited during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s , it was once again allowed after 1976 .. Cultural Revolution. Cultural Revolution. On account of the political climate at the time , the emphasis of qigong practices shifted away from traditional philosophy and cultivation , and increasingly focused health benefits , medicine and martial arts applications , and a scientific perspective .. medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine. philosophy. Chinese philosophy. martial arts. Chinese martial arts. Since a 1999 crackdown , practice of qigong in China has been restricted .. Over the same period , interest in qigong has spread , with millions of practitioners worldwide .. Research concerning qigong has been conducted for a wide range of medical conditions , including hypertension , pain , and cancer treatment .. hypertension. hypertension. pain. pain. cancer. cancer. Most systematic reviews of clinical trials have not been conclusive , and all have been based on poor quality clinical studies , such that no firm conclusions about the health effects of qigong can be drawn at this stage .