Saskatoon Nine Dragon Baguazhang
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Baguazhang and Health
Jiulong found to improve vascular circulation
By John P. Painter (© IAM Co. 1999)
The following information in excerpted from Dr. Painter's forth-coming book. Baguazhang Qigong and Health. © All information in this article is copyrighted under international law.
Once oxygen, nutrient laden blood has deposited it's life giving substances to the cells and tissues of our body it proceeds into the blood vascular system seeping through the small capillaries, exchanging oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between blood and tissue cells. By the time blood reaches this point most of the pressure of the hearts contractions and arterial pressure has been expended. Now it must pass through venules (small veins) joining to become larger veins in the venous system whose job it is to return it to the heart for re-circulation. The venous system has the important job of returning the fluid to the heart, lungs and other organs to pick up a fresh load of life giving nutrients. The more efficiently and quickly this is accomplished the better one's entire system functions. The major contributing actions responsible for these return actions are:
- One Way Valves: A series of unidirectional (one-way) valves located along the walls of the veins. These prevent the back flow of blood.
- Muscular Contraction: External and internal muscular contraction helps to squeeze the vessels and drive blood along the venous system upward toward the heart in the legs and thoracic cavity. Contraction of the external abdominal muscles will also cause blood in the abdominal veins to move upward toward the heart. Baguazhang has been found to incorporate a very unique flexing of the torso that facilitates and improves this type of circulation.
- Respiration: Respiratory movements especially the rhythmic abdominal breathing used in Jiulong Baguazhang has also shown to adequately increase abdominal and intra-thoracic pressure during aspiration. The downward pressure forces blood in abdominal veins upward towards the heart there by hastening the return circulatory process.
- The Venous Foot Pump: Recently Dr. Michael Gardner and medical researcher Roger Fox brought a fifth method of increasing the venous flow to the attention of the medical community.
The pair working in England with paralyzed patients subjects suffering from thrombosis and other related lower limb disorders discovered the "Plantar Heart Pump mechanism:" Medical science has for some time known that the action of walking or running aids in the return circulation through the venous system. No one had suspected that under the arch of the foot covered by the plantar fascia was a bio- mechanical pump activating an entire system of deep veins responsible for the re-circulation of venous blood to the heart. The pump consists of a collection of veins composed of the external and internal plantar veins united with the posterior tibial vein joined by the peroenal veins. This pump is responsible for dramatically increasing venous blood flow in the lower extremities.
Walking, not running in a manner that allows the heel to touch down first with the weight of the body rolling over the arch of the foot onto the toes will compress the Plantar heart pump in the feet in the most efficient manner. The method of walking used in some styles of Baguazhang acts as a most effective stimulation to this area. Test results using their theory have yielded remarkable results in healing and the prevention of thrombosis. Paralyzed patients and patients suffering from fractures of the tibia were placed on a machine which flexed the feet in the correct way. The results, in the words of Roger Fox were: "Astounding we never realized this bio-mechanical pump existed."
Jiulong Qigong Circle Walking Activates Foot Pump
Tests by Dr. Eugene Pope MD. and Dr. John Painter Ph.D. ND. at the Life Science Institute using the Jiulong Baguazhang exercise of walking the circle have shown that not only does the venous flow improve but also the arterial flow to the feet and legs increases when the walking style is correctly applied.
This produces an overall increase in oxygen and nutrient exchange by the tissues and promotes more effective circulation in general throughout the entire system. More circulation means better oxygen and nutrient exchange and waste toxin elimination within the total circulation system. This of course translates into improved health, stamina and fitness throughout the entire body.
Baguazhang Walking for Health
To really effectively activate the Plantar Heart Pump in walking the heel of the foot should touch town first with the toes arched upward slightly. As you roll the weight forward on to the arch of the foot it needs to be allowed to flatten against the ground and then flex upward from the middle as the weight is transferred to the ball of the foot and toes.
Walking in shoes that do not allow the foot to flex or shoes that have a high instep prevents correct pumping action from taking place. Therefore it is recommended that for best stimulation of the Plantar Heart Pump comfortable shoes with no arch supports be worn.
All walking exercises should be performed on a firm but never hard surface. The ideal surfaces are thick grass, or sand. Second best surfaces are gym mats, followed by thick pile carpeting over a wooden floor. Do not practice this exercise on concrete or hard unyielding surfaces as damage to the ankle, instep or knee cartilage may result.