In 1988 a new form of chi kung, called Fragrant Qigong (Xiang Gong), began to be taught openly in China after being kept secret for centuries. It has been reported that those performing this particular chi-kung will begin to smell a sweet fragrance emanating from the body. I haven’t noticed it myself because this tends to occur more often when done in a group setting. To me, there are more important physical, mental and emotional benefits to be had from it.
From the Chinese Health Website:
“Fragrant Qigong (Xiang Gong) is one of the easiest yet most powerful styles of Qigong. Fifteen simple arm movements, twice a day, no concentration required, no special breathing, can be done sitting and watching TV or chatting, yet it is known to treat almost any disease humankind may suffer from. With the exception of late stage cancer, schizophrenia and emergencies like heart infarction, poisonous snake or spider bites or rabies, which are contraindicated, there are stacks of successful case histories to support this claim. Among them, stroke, cancer, allergies, asthma, diabetes, depression, ulcers, stones, epilepsy, even deafness and blindness (including congenital).”
The story:
Around 1938, at the age of twelve, Master Tian Ruisheng was diagnosed with an incurable skin disease. A Buddhist monk happened to knock on the door and requested to stay the night. The parents agreed but explained they couldn’t attend to his needs properly because of a family matter. He asked them what was wrong and when he found out he wished to take a look at their son. They agreed to let him do so.
After he diagnosed the son, the Buddhist monk asked permission if he could do a healing session. The monk treated their son with certain hand positions, sounds and a high level of the Fragrant Chi Kung practice. The monk successfully cured the son much to the delight of his parents. Later, the monk chose to make the boy his successor in one condition.
It has been said that, if he would keep the practice hidden for fifty years he would teach him the secrets of this ancient art. Only after a half a century has passed, he should come out and help others who were suffering. And this is just what happened. In 1988 Master Tian Ruisheng started teaching this form of chi-kung to the public.
Healing levels:
There are three levels to this Fragrant Qigong. Each level has 15 different movements which takes about 10-15 minutes to execute. The practice is done once or twice a day but no more than three times a day. It also can be done either in a seated or standing position.
- On a purely functional level this practice will open up and adjust the spine.
- On an inner level it opens blockages in the body and organs.
- On the deepest level it churns the central channel in order to heal the broken channels (nadis) so that they realign and return to normal functioning.
These movements will unblock the spine in difficult or troublesome places such as the neck. It will also massage the stomach, liver and thyroid with simple arm swings. You can feel that right away. I would go on to infer that all the glands are activated within the seven chakras due to each twisting movement. This makes sense since the fragrance would be emitted from the pineal or pituitary glands.
The nadis are also healed and repaired in a unique way; as you may perceive from each movement. These nadis are energy channels in the body in which prana flows and connects to all the chakras like a network or web. Ayurveda mentions 72,000 different nadis and in Tibetan Buddhism it mentions 84,000 nadis.
Here, I found a wonderful copy of an Adobe file of the Fragrant Chi Kung with specific illustrations and explanation of all the moves. It goes hand in hand with watching the video as it fills in some remaining questions.
If you have been attuned to Reiki, the effects of this practice are multiplied greatly. This is due to the fact the palms of the hands are facing each other in most of these movements. Just as in Chinese Acupuncture, the hand can be used to diagnose disease; likewise it can be used to heal. Therefore, when the Reiki symbols in the palms activate as they face each other, all areas of the body can be infused with healing energy.
Important Results:
(1) There is an immediate increase of WARMTH in the body. Those that are depressed and suffering from a cold disease will be greatly benefited by it.
(2) Your auric field is fully CLEANSED of dirty, stagnant chi.
It is remarkable to experience this positive effect right away since we live in a time where we can more easily contract drib, or what the Tibetan Masters refer to as moral defilement, by associating with degenerate people. It will also cleanse you of computer, cell-phone or other harmful electronic frequencies that tend to mess up your natural energetic field.
It is always best to find a teacher to show you the movements directly in person in order to gather the transmission and correct any mistakes in your form. Nonetheless, here is a gentleman that shows the form fairly accurately: