Abstract
While stress associated with disease might manifest with physical symptoms, the cognitive, emotional, and spiritual or existential symptoms associated with the resulting illness might be more profound and warrant measures outside the conventional curative arm of care. They fall in the domain of the healing arm. 1 Being a staunch believer that dealing with the human experience is of ultimate importance in illness, and effective utilization of any complementary methodologies is dependent on both appropriate engagement and adherence. Development of a compassionate presence enhances this connection.
As part of my journey of self‐discovery, I studied a type of qigong, called Sheng Zhen Qigong—a style with physical, emotional, and spiritual elements. 2 Qigong is a cultivation of energy as well as a form of meditation. It provides the practitioner a sense of oneness with Heaven, Earth, and Man. 2 The latter connection with Man may bear a strong semblance to compassion. As part of my practice, I initially taught movements to hospital staff members, as a means of stress reduction, then, on a limited basis, to parents of critically ill infants. It was during the interaction with these parents that I recognized the value of compassion.
In May, 2010, I choreographed an experiential presentation on qigong for the Special Interest Group in Integrative Pediatrics at the Pediatric Academic Society (PAS) meetings, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. * Initially, to generate the sensation of energy, or qi, I sat with the gathering in a circle, facing each other. Borrowing from an experience I had with Rabbi Zalman Schachter‐Shalomi, 3 –5 I guided the participants by having some sit with palms upward and receiving blessings or energy from each other on the in‐breath, and having other participants sit with palms downward, releasing blessings or energy to each other on the out‐breath, and then to follow the breath. Several participants reported that they could feel the qi and the connections forged between those present. This sense of connection demonstrated to me that a compassionate presence is critical to sharing any alternative modality of care with another person.
It was exciting to see that a session on integrative medicine was offered at this national academic, research‐oriented conference. The group consisted of ∼20–25 people, some of whom had experience with integrative techniques and others who did not. The energy and connection within the group was palpable, especially when I began engaging the attendees with the qigong practice. I could feel my qi and the energy of others around me. It was very energizing and relaxing at the same time. I could see how using this sort of practice would be beneficial for working with patients and their families. I walked out of the serenity of that room back into the chaos of the rest of the conference, feeling completely revitalized. I had experienced something very powerful.
Parents with Critically Ill Infants
During the presentation, I shared with the group an experience I had with parents who were devastated by their critically ill infant. With all the compassion I could muster, I explored the parents’ thoughts and feelings, and also where they turned to for support: inward, outward, to each other, or any other source, including spiritual. 1 Later, I met with the mother, who had clearly detached. I guided her to reach out to her infant, or to whatever source of support she might turn to, with her own voice and touch, replete with powerful love and energy. This guidance, on my part, occurred long before I had studied qigong. This mother did not need a particular practice to share her love for her infant, but she might have benefited from the compassionate connection or relationship we established to help share her love with her infant, given that she was so devastated.
It was exciting for me to witness the impact my story of this family had on the conference attendees. Some were visibly touched and crying. Prior to this presentation, I had not envisioned a place for this practice within my usual medical discipline of neonatology. The subsection chairperson had suggested that I attempt utilizing the practice with some of my families. I did so with hesitation prior to the conference. Not many physicians practicing Western medicine are open to this sort of thing, and there could have been some risk involved in suggesting this practice to parents or colleagues. However, taking that opportunity to show compassion as I did was helpful in this specific situation, as it would be in many others.
Prior to the experiential qigong presentation in Vancouver, in order to determine how I could incorporate qigong into my clinical practice, I decided to introduce it to some parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the chairperson's suggestion. When I first sat down with one couple, I realized that I needed to forge a connection before actually introducing qigong. I engaged with the couple in a similar fashion to my experience described with the first family devastated by their infant's illness. I proceeded to sit with this couple, one who perhaps would be considered unreceptive—a young mother with numerous tattoos, not uncommon in today's young adults, and a father who was a quiet participant, due to psychotropic medications, there to support his wife—and led them through a sitting form, Awakening the Soul, 6 with both movements and contemplations, the latter of which I modified to resonate with new parents of an ill, premature infant.
Department of Pediatrics/Division of Neonatology University of California, Davis 2516 Stockton Boulevard Sacramento, CA 95817 Phone: 916-601-6005 Fax: 916-456-4490 E-mail:
For example, in one of the movements from Awakening the Soul, “Suddenly Lifting the Veil,”
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I provided a contemplation combining concepts accompanying the movement along with my own thoughts that would resonate with parents of a newborn infant: In an instant it happens. Our souls emerge—the adversities disappear—we capture a sense of wholeness—no longer a memory but our reality—so like our innocent beginnings, our first breath, your baby's first breath just days ago, when she enjoyed a state of purity, clarity and bliss.
After leading these parents through this particular form, I asked: “How was that experience?” The woman began to cry as she recalled a meditative experience that she had 6 months earlier while studying Thich Nhat Hanh, † expressing regrets that she had abandoned the practice recommended by Hanh. I encouraged her to assume a nonjudging attitude, recognizing that she could resume such a practice if she wished, but other priorities might have predominated her more‐recent thoughts and actions. To me, nonjudging was invaluable as well, given that I would not have expected that pursuing meditation or qigong would have been successful with this couple, particularly based on the wife's demeanor.
Conclusion
Finally, based on these experiences, it appears that developing a compassionate presence encompassing a sense of trust and empathy may be of paramount importance in the introduction and adherence to any complementary or alternative modality. ■