You’ve likely heard that Tai Chi and Qigong offer holistic health benefits for both body and mind. But if you’ve ever wondered what science says about their effects on specific illnesses, look no further than the Qigong and Energy Medicine Database™, created by the Qigong Institute. This is where evidence-based science meets ancient healing wisdom.
The Visionary: Dr. Kenneth M. Sancier (1920–2013)
Dr. Ken Sancier was a visionary and a true pioneer. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and enjoyed a distinguished career at several universities and esteemed SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute). His research led to 10 U.S. patents in areas such as materials science, magnetic properties, solar conversion, ESR spectroscopy, and semiconductor surface reactions, and he authored about 70 technical papers in the field.
Upon retiring in 1984, Dr. Sancier wanted to find something to satisfy his intellectual curiosity and shifted his focus to the healing art of Qigong. He traveled to China to deepen his knowledge and soon began conducting scientific studies on their health effects. Over time, he published more than 20 papers on medical Qigong, therapeutic benefits, and energy medicine.
Recognizing that most early Qigong research came out of China, Dr. Sancier presented his findings at international conferences in Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, and San Francisco. To centralize and share this growing body of knowledge, he created the first-ever Qigong research database.
As interest grew in other complementary healing modalities—such as Yoga, Reiki, Acupuncture, and other mind-body therapies—Dr. Sancier expanded the database. It was fittingly renamed the Qigong and Energy Medicine Database™ to reflect its broader scope.
Dr. Effie Chow, often called the Mother of Qigong in the West, played a pivotal role in supporting Dr. Sancier’s vision. With her East West Academy of Healing Arts as a foundation, she helped launch the Qigong Institute in 1988. In 1997 it became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
In its early days, the database was only available on physical disks—a barrier to public access.
The Innovator: Tom Rogers
Enter Tom Rogers, a computer scientist with a Master’s degree from Stanford University and more than two decades of experience in Silicon Valley, where he specialized in mission-critical database management systems. He created the first multimedia database user interface and was awarded the prestigious Sun President’s Award as Manager of Database Engineering.
Outside his career, Tom has always been active. He is an accomplished rock climber. Tom’s passion for internal martial arts spans over four decades, beginning with Shotokan Karate and evolving into deep study of Tai Chi and Qigong. He’s traveled to China seven times, including three Qigong and Tai Chi study trips with multiple masters, is a certified Qigong and Tai Chi instructor, and has developed curriculum to train instructors. In 2008, he succeeded Dr. Sancier as President of the Qigong Institute.
Tom has transformed the database into a powerful online tool accessible to researchers, practitioners, and the public worldwide. It supports advanced search options by title, author, content, affiliation, and time frame with multiple criteria. Tom explained the Content Management System and Database Management System technical expertise is provided by our programmers, not him. He just populate the database with research articles and put content on web pages. Users can easily view abstracts and sort results by publication date. Currently, the database contains over 19,000 research abstracts.
The website also features a rich Resources section, offering information on many subjects not limited to:
- Online classes
- Qigong in education
- Spiritual Qigong
- Workplace wellness
- Social media and professional networking
A Researcher’s Treasure Trove
My personal favorite is the Research section. It’s packed with grouped topics and scientific data such as:
- Anti-Aging Benefits of Qigong
- Qigong for Autism and Children with Disabilities
- Qigong and Cancer
- Breathing
- Energy Psychology
- Harvard Medical School’s Recommendations for Tai Chi and Qigong
…and many more.
The depth of information is extraordinary. One could spend months—if not years—exploring everything.
A Must-Read: An Introduction to Qigong Health Care by Tom Rogers
Tom’s ebook, An Introduction to Qigong Health Care: Meditative Movement Exercise for Whole Person Health, is a concise yet comprehensive guide—only 50 pages long, but dense with value. It’s not just for instructors or practitioners; it’s for anyone seeking a clear, science-backed understanding of Qigong.
He reframes Qigong not simply as treatment but as education for whole-person health, positioning it as a form of biopsychological and lifestyle medicine.
What sets this ebook apart is that Tom analyzes Qigong through the lens of Western medical science, incorporating cutting-edge information in the research of:
- Heart Rate Variability
- Polyvagal Theory
- Mindfulness and cognition
- Homeostasis
- Functional neuroanatomy
- Interoception and predictive modeling
His clear explanations and deep insights—both in writing and in our interview (linked in the video)—are enlightening and inspiring.
And best of all? This powerful resource is FREE with a tax-deductible donation of $25 or more to the Qigong Institute. It’s a generous gift from Tom Rogers to the global community.