Qi-Gong as a therapy for managing premenstrual syndrome?

Qi-gong is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine that employs meditation, exercise, deep breathing and other techniques with a view of strengthening the assumed life force ‘qi’ and thus improving health and prolong life. Qi-gong has ancient roots in China and has recently also become popular in other countries. There are several distinct forms of qi-gong which can be categorized into two main groups, internal qi-gong and external qi-gong. Internal qi-gong refers to a physical and mental training method for the cultivation of oneself to achieve optimal health in both mind and body. Internal qi-gong is not dissimilar to tai chi but it also employs the coordination of different breathing patterns and meditation. External qi-gong refers to a treatment where qi-gong practitioners direct their qi-energy to the patient with the intention to clear qi-blockages or balance the flow of qi within that patient. According to Taoist and Buddhist beliefs, qi-gong allows access to higher realms of awareness.

The assumptions of qi-gong are not scientifically plausible. But this does not stop enthusiasts to submit it to clinical trials.

A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was conducted with 231 adolescent girls aged 13-17 years suffering from premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Participants underwent a 4-week Qi Gong therapy program, with five 45-minute sessions weekly. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Modified PMS Scale, analysing pre- and post-intervention symptoms through descriptive statistics, paired t-tests and chi-square tests.

The intervention significantly reduced PMS severity, with mild PMS cases increasing from 48 (20.78%) to 166 (71.86%) post-intervention. Paired t-tests revealed a highly significant mean difference in PMS scores (T = 12.251, p < 0.001).

The authors concluded that Qi Gong therapy offers a holistic, non-invasive approach for managing PMS by addressing both physiological and emotional dimensions to the condition. Its ability to balance hormones, alleviate stress and improve overall quality of life makes it a valuable addition to PMS care. 

This study originated from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, Nootan college of Nursing, Sankalchand Patel university, Visnagar, Gujarat, India; the Department of Pediatric Nursing of the same institution and the Department of Psychiatric Nursing of the same institution. One would have hoped that its authors know better than to draw such conclusions from such a study. Here are some points of concern:

• There is no reason why the treatment should be holistic.
• The study did not have a control group; causal inferences are thus not waarranted.
• The study did not produce any evidence to show that the treatment addressed either physiological or emotional dimensions.
• The study did not produce any evidence to show that the treatment did anything to hormones.
• The study did not produce any evidence to show that the treatment alleviated stress.
• The study did not produce any evidence to show that the treatment improved quality of life.
• I see no resason why the treatment should be promoted as a valuable addition to PMS care.
• The PMS severity changed after the treatment and not necessarily because of it.
• The true reasons it changed might be multifold, e.g.: placebo, regression towards the mean, social desirability.
• Misleading the public by drawing far-reaching conclusions has the potential to do untold harm.

I have said it often, and it saddens me to have to say it again:

If the quality of research into so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) does not improve dramatically, nobody can blame the public to not take SCAM seriously any more.