An interview with Xue Zhong Zhao, the renowned Qi Gong master in Beijing

By Liu Xian-Zong

(Sports Digest – August, 1988)

Editor’s note: Since its publication in November 1985, the article “Incredible to Believe, But Absolutely True” has generated tremendous amount of interests among the readers, particularly those afflicted with various illnesses. There has been a continuous stream of patients visiting Master Xue Zhong Zhao’s renowned Qi Gong Office in Beijing, yet at the same time some readers are still skeptical about the practice and the therapeutic efficacy of Qi Gong. To answer many of the common questions and concerns brought up by the readers, such as, How does Master Zhao use Qi Gong to make clinical diagnoses? What are the diseases that can be optimally treated by Qi Gong? Our reporter had an exclusive follow-up interview with Master Zhao, the Qi Gong doctor at the Beijing Hwa-Yi Unified Clinic of the Chinese Medicine. Also included in this article are excerpts of letters from patients who had been treated by Master Zhao.

Reporter: The general public has been intrigued and puzzled by the seeming mysteriousness of Qi Gong. Would you mind explaining how you use Qi Gong to detect and diagnose diseases?

Zhao: It’s not unusual for people to mystify phenomena they don’t understand: This is a normal human response. Western doctors rely on instruments (such as laboratory tests and imaging studies) to make clinical diagnoses, while traditional Chinese doctors derive clinical diagnoses by reading pulses. But Qi Gong doctors, like myself, have a unique way to detect and diagnose diseases.

All organisms, including humans, are composed of cells, the basic unit of life. Modern scientific research has demonstrated that every cell has its own micro electromagnetic field, which sends out specific wave signals. Pathologically transformed cells have an altered micro electromagnetic field; therefore, the wave signals emitted by the diseased cells are also altered, and Qi Gong doctors make clinical diagnoses by detecting these altered wave signals.

Why is it that Qi Gong doctors are able to detect and receive the wave signals from the human body? The answer to this question actually requires further exploration and research by the modern science, and because of its complexity, here I can only provide a glimpse of the answer. There are three levels to Qi Gong: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Different levels mean different understanding and capability. A Qi Gong master who has achieved advanced level is able to emit qi (or energy). Emitting qi is not some sort of supernatural phenomenon; the emitted qi is a form of electromagnetic wave. When this wave is projected onto the patient, it can scan the human body and detect the signals discharged from the pathologically transformed cells. The Qi Gong master’s brain can receive, analyze the signals returned from the patient, and from this information proceed to make clinical diagnoses. This “Qi Gong scan” can often be completed in just seconds or tens of seconds. In other words Qi Gong docto rs utilize the basic function of the human brain, which is to send and receive signals.

Letter from Chen Qu, Changchun, Jilin Province:

In this magazine I’d read about Xue Zhong Zhao, the renowned Qi Gong master in Beijing, and about how Master Zhao is unbelievably accurate in making clinical diagnoses. I came a long way from home to visit Master Zhao in the Capital city, hoping to get my illnesses diagnosed by this Shen Yi (doctor with godlike gift). When I arrived at his house, and before I had the chance to describe what symptoms I’d had, Master Zhao immediately pointed out that something was wrong with my liver and gallbladder. His diagnoses completely coincided with the results of the ultrasound. And since I’d also heard that Master Zhao is able to detect diseases from the residuals signals left on a person’s photograph, I proceeded to show Master Zhao my husband’s picture. Master Zhao looked at the photo with a piercing gaze and said after a short moment: “Your husband has slightly elevated blood pressure as well as atherosclerosis, the most affected being his cerebral arteries. Also, he has kidney problems.” I was completely taken aback by the accuracy of his diagnoses. Undeterred, I then showed him my daughter’s picture. Master Zhao scanned it briefly and said, “She has a weaker constitution. She has adnexitis, more severe on the right side, and she often has headache, dizziness, and weakness.” I was nodding incessantly as I listened to Master Zhao’s comments. What Master Zhao had just described completely coincided with our daily symptoms, and I was utterly awed by the profound diagnostic power of his Qi Gong.

Letter from Zhi-Hua Guo, staff officer at the Air Force Academy of the Liberation Army, People’s Republic of China:

When I slept at night, I used to have severe convulsions developed in my head, left arm, and left leg. I’d also noticed that the affected limbs had chronic soreness and coldness, as well as muscular atrophy and weakness. I sought treatment from various sources to no avail, since my condition had never been properly diagnosed. When I first met Master Zhao, he pointed out that the left side of my cerebellum had been injured in the past just by scanning me head to toe with his eyes. I was rather surprised, and I then asked, “What does it mean to have a cerebellar injury? How long ago did it happen? What does this injury have to do with the convulsions I have in my limbs?” Master Zhao answered immediately that “cerebellum is often injured as a result of violent forces impacting the head; this had occurred at least more than thirty years ago. On top of the physical injury, the cerebellum had also caught a chill, leading to convulsions.” Just then I remembered an accident that had happened thirty-five y ears ago. I fell off a frightened horse and lost consciousness after I was kicked by the horse on the back of the head. When I was younger, the complications from that fall (convulsions) were not apparent; however, as I got older, the symptoms became more pronounced and severe. This is the first time someone has actually come up with a diagnosis of my condition, and Master Zhao has accomplished that by Qi Gong.

Reporter: The qi emitted from Qi Gong doctors cannot be seen or touched by patients. Why is it that the emitted qi can treat or even cure various diseases?

Zhao: Here I can only talk a little bit about what I know. Like all fields of the natural sciences, the medical science has undergone rapid advancement in recent years. Many new medical or therapeutic technologies have been developed, including mechanical therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and physical therapy. Qi Gong is a form of physical therapy.

The qi emitted from Qi Gong masters is a form of electromagnetic wave; it has energy, which can reduce inflammations, clear up clogs within Jing Luo (so that qi can flow smoothly within the body), regulate qi and blood (improve blood flow, dissolve blood clots and bruises), improve metabolism, expel unclean and unhealthy qi (negative energy), and return qi to its most fresh and healthy state. When the blood and qi are able to circulate smoothly within the body, diseases can be alleviated or even cured — this basic principle summarizes how Qi Gong is used to treat diseases.

For instance, stomachache can result from catching a chill in the stomach; if a Qi Gong master emits qi to expel the coldness, the achy sensation in the stomach can immediately go away. If a stroke patient suffers from hemiplegia (paralysis in one side of the body) due to a clogged blood vessel in the brain, a Qi Gong master can emit qi to clear up the clog in the blood vessel, leading to symptomatic relief and cure. Some form of the emitted qi is very similar to laser in its density and intensity; it can even “vaporize” certain form of tumors in the human body. Of course, there are still a lot of unknowns in this fiel — the medical therapeutics of Qi Gong, which await further exploration and research of the modern science.

Letter from Chuan-Qi Ma, Factory 202, Hanzhong, Shanxi Province:

I’d suffered from epilepsy for more than a year. Every time I had an epileptic attack, I lost consciousness, my whole body convulsed, and my face turned cyanotic and purple. I went to many different doctors and was put on more than thirty dollars worth of medications every month. But these medications didn’t help; instead, they caused swelling-type pain in my head, in both eyes, and in the right upper quadrant (hepatic region) of my abdomen. Highly skeptical of Qi Gong, I nevertheless came to Beijing to visit Master Zhao, and strangely, after ten sessions of Qi Gong therapy, my epilepsy was miraculously cured. I didn’t believe in Qi Gong therapy in the past; however, after experiencing first-hand this miraculous cure, I had become a complete believer.

Letter from Zhi-Lin Han, Mo Jia Fen 3rd Street, Zhao Yang Men Wai, Beijing:

Because of a slipped disk in my lumbar spine compressing on the sciatic nerves, I had lost the motor function of my lower extremities, and the pain had gotten so unbearable that I couldn’t sit or lie down every day and night. My family took me to many different doctors, and the doctors at several big hospitals had unanimously recommended surgery as the only treatment option, but because of my diabetes, I was not a suitable surgical candidate. I became severely depressed because I felt completely hopeless: I cried uncontrollably, inconsolably, and thought perhaps I was better off dead. Luckily, one of my relatives read about Master Xue Zhong Zhao in an article of this magazine and recommended that I tried Master’s Zhao’s Qi Gong therapy. At first, a family member had to drive me to Master’s Zhao’s clinic in a rental car. After three sessions of Qi Gong therapy however, I was able to go to the clinic on my own by bus. Never in my wildest dream did I dream that just after eleven sessions of Qi Gong ther apy I would completely recover and was able to go back to work. Witnessing and experiencing this miracle, my family and I became extremely emotional, and at the same time were eternally grateful to Master Zhao and his assistant, Gui-Qing Guo; these two Shen Yi (doctors with godlike gift) had brought me new hope and had lifted the clouds of depression from my family and me.

Letter from Sai-Wei Wang, Tianjin:

I had been a bona fide lao bing hao (old sick person) for thirty-eight years. My past medical history included a long list of diseases in heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Although I was also a medical doctor who had worked in this profession for more than forty years, regarding my own diseases I was without solutions and completely helpless. Take the example of the troubles I had with my spleen and stomach. For many years I couldn’t tolerate cold temperature; even with windows closed, I could still feel coldness attacking and penetrating into my abdomen. I frequently developed abdominal pain and diarrhea, and the symptoms got so severe that I couldn’t even tolerate fruits. I couldn’t walk with a straightened back because I constantly needed to bend down and hold my belly with my hands to somewhat reduce my abdominal discomfort. Luckily I got to know Master Zhao’s Qi Gong therapy from an article in this magazine and came to seek help from Master Zhao, the doctor with sheng shou (saintly touc h). After undergoing Qi Gong therapy, I’d noticed a remarkable improvement in my health status. Now I no longer frequently develop abdominal pain; I can walk with a straightened back, and I can eat fruits without having symptoms. In addition, I no longer have hypertension (high blood pressure); I no longer suffer from chest pain because my angina has been stabilized; symptoms of glaucoma have also disappeared. As my physical health improved, I also noticed a significant improvement in my mental health. Since now I have a more hopeful and confident outlook on life, I am able to bring joy and happiness to my family. Master Zhao’s shen shou (godlike touch) had saved me from drowning forever in the bitter ocean of suffering. I simply cannot express in words or on paper my immense gratitude to Master Zhao. Being a doctor with many years of experience, and after experiencing myself the incredible therapeutic benefits of Qi Gong, I’ve come to develop full respect for Master Zhao’s exceptional gift as a di agnostician, clinician, and healer.

Reporter: According to your clinical experience and practice, what are the diseases that can be best treated by Qi Gong or emitted qi therapy?

Zhao: This is probably the question that interests the patients the most. I’ve been treating patients by emitting qi for about 3 to 4 years, and during this time I’ve cure many different diseases. Generally speaking, the therapeutic efficacy of Qi Gong is determined by the nature of the diseases. According to my clinical experience and practice, the diseases that can be optimally treated include: neurogenic headache, sciatica, trigeminal neuralgia, arthritis, menstrual pain, amenorrhia, prostatis, stomachache, hypertension, heart diseases, asthma, chemical poisoning, cerebellar injury, and myasthenia gravis.

However, Qi Gong therapy is still in its infancy, and there is still plenty of room for improvement and development. Based on my clinical experience alone, I cannot give a thorough answer to this question, because there are also many other Qi Gong doctors who are actively studying and doing research in this area.

Reporter: Why are there different therapeutic outcomes, even though patients with the same disease have been treated with Qi Gong therapy in the same way?

Zhao: This is a simple question with an easily understood answer. You’ll have the same observation in all fields of medicine. For example, traditional Chinese doctors give the same prescription to different patients with the same disease, yet wouldn’t you expect that there will also be different therapeutic outcomes as a result? Even if different patients are diagnosed to have a specific syndrome, the severity of it may differ. More importantly, the same syndrome may have different causes. Different therapeutic outcomes basically reflect these differences (in severity or cause of the disease).

Not all people have the same response to Qi Gong therapy: some have an excellent response; some have an immediate response; some respond poorly; and some people might even be resistant to it. The difference in response mainly is determined by whether the patient’s own biological electromagnetic field can resonate harmoniously with the electromagnetic field generated from the Qi Gong doctor (when the Qi Gong doctor emits qi). A patient’s state of mind or even personality also can influence the outcome of the Qi Gong therapy. It’s a known fact that “mind and concentration” are absolutely essential to the practice of Qi Gong: “when one’s mind concentrates, blood comes, and qi comes” is a phrase that concisely summarizes a fundamental principle of Qi Gong practice. Generally speaking, people who are more open minded and optimistic, who are more cheerful and easy-going, and who are more willing to follow Qi Gong doctors’ instructions, have better outcomes. However, people with the opposite temperaments ten d to have poorer therapeutic responses, and according to my years of clinical observation, Qi Gong therapy is even contraindicated in certain individuals.

Reporter: Master Zhao’s Qi Gong therapy — without needles, without medications, without invasive procedures — has had many miraculous successes in treating various diseases. It has indeed changed or saved many patients’ lives. Today, on behalf of our readers as well as the great number of patients who had sent letters to this magazine, I thank you.

Zhao: To the best of my knowledge and ability, I would love to help and serve as many patients as I can.