Scientific efforts to solve a physical mystery

Through centuries of practice, many different schools of Chinese mind and body exercises such as qigong - breathing exercises - and taichi have proven to help improve health and even possess some healing powers.

According to traditional Chinese medical theories, these exercises, which involve regulation of the mind, body and respiration, enhance the development and circulation of qi, the vital energy in the body.

However, qi has remained somewhat elusive to modern medical science, as it is yet to be measured or proven to exist. Researchers from the International Alliance for Mind/Body Signaling and Energy Research in the United States have applied the latest biomedical technologies to gain a better understanding of the physiological aspects of such effects.