YOU may not know exactly what medical qigong is, but know this: It's proven effective for chronic ailments like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, fatigue and backaches.

It's even been used as a complementary therapy for cancer, as well as other physical and emotional ailments, according to qigong master Tan Soo Kong, founder and chief instructor at a Malaysia-based qigong centre, Wellness Medical Qigong.

With thousands of years of history behind it, medical qigong is the oldest of the four branches of traditional Chinese medicine and provides the energetic foundation from which acupuncture, herbal healing and acupressure originated.

Master Tan, 62 - who will give a talk as part of the Yang Sheng series at the National Library - added that qigong is a mind-body practice that improves one's mental and physical health by integrating postures, movement and breathing techniques.

"Once a person understands the qi, he can activate his internal qi, then circulate and direct it for self-healing," said Master Tan.

He added that, increasingly, he is seeing patients referred to him by Western medical doctors. Still, medical qigong may not be sufficient for some health-related issues, and you must consult your physician before embarking on new therapies or medications, he added.

Master Tan also provides training for people aspiring to become professional medicalqigong practitioners.

Master Tan says half an hour of practice daily is recommended, especially for those with medical conditions.

He advises those with more acute conditions to go for healing sessions with a certified medical- qigong practitioner, in addition to self-practice. In his talk, he will speak on topics such as the scientific basis of medical qigong, its treatment techniques, and how to improve and enhance one's energy levels.

my paper asks him some questions posed by our readers.

Which age group is best suited to do qigong? Is it safe?

MS CAROLINE SUNG, 25

Master Tan: Medical qigong is suitable for all age groups and it is a very safe, effective and non-invasive form of therapy. There are no hard physical movements; it involves only slow, gentle movements and simple breathing methods.

I suffer from frequent backaches because I work long hours in an office. What do you recommend? How would medical qigong help my condition?

MRS EMILY TEO, 34

Master Tan: The backache caused by working long hours in the office is due to either a lack of movement that causes low energy flow or an incorrect sitting posture. Medical qigong would be a very good method in helping to alleviate your problem (thanks to the gentle exercise it provides and the fact that it would aid in your breathing and flow of qi). You might need to correct your posture, otherwise the same problem might recur.

joyfang@sph.com.sg

This series is brought to you by the Speak Mandarin Campaign. Master Tan Soo Kong's talk on Medical Qigong will be held at the National Library Building on March 20 at 12.30pm. See below for registration details. Go to www.razortv.com.sg for more on the Yang Sheng series of talks.

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