What is Medical Qigong Anmo Therapy?
Medical qigong is one of the four main branches of Chinese medicine. "Qi" means life force energy, and "gong" means skill. Medical qigong is the skillful practice of gathering, circulating, and applying life force energy to promote health and healing. Medical qigong has been a successful modality in Chinese medicine throughout the millennia.

Disruptions in the electromagnetic energy of the body occur throughout our lifetime as a result of poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, emotional and physical trauma, and environmental toxins. Medical qigong treatments and exercises correct bio-energetic imbalances and blockages that lead to pain and illness. Qigong stimulates the body's healing potential and help strengthen and regulate the internal organs, the nervous system and the immune system. Treatments consist of specific techniques that use the body's internal and external energy fields to purge, strengthen and balance the body's energy flow.

The therapeutic massage branch of traditional Chinese medicine is called "tuina" in modern times, which literally means "pushing (and) grasping." However, this term did not occur in the Chinese literature until the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Prior to this period, the term for therapeutic massage was anmo, which literally means "pressing (and) rubbing." Anmo consists of various acupoint stimulation techniques such as pressing, percussing, gliding, pushing, pulling and kneading. Our program uses medical qigong techniques with anmo techniques to redirect qi along acupuncture channels to promote healing.

Medical qigong therapy combined with anmo acupoint stimulation is less physically vigorous than tuina or traditional massage, as the practitioner relies on the conduction of energy through a point rather than using his or her strength and muscle. Because of the focus on both medical qigong and anmo therapies, students will be able to work wherever a massage therapist would work, and will possess the ability to perform energetic bodywork as well as hands-on acupoint stimulation bodywork. The combination therefore enhances hireability upon program completion.

Because our program trains students to become qigong exercise class teachers as well, they are provided with a third means of employment.

Medical qigong anmo therapy includes homework exercise prescriptions such as qigong exercises and acupoint self-massage tailored to each patient's particular condition.

Is medical qigong a new development in Chinese medicine?
Medical qigong is an ancient healing art that has had thousands of years of clinical practice.
In contrast to most “new age” energy healing modalities, medical qigong has been practiced as an integral part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Early evidence of qigong, contained in the recently unearthed Daoyin Tu, dates back to around 200 BCE. The Daoyin Tu is a colored manuscript illustrated with pictures of 44 movements practiced to to treat or cure illnesses including deafness, hernia, anxiety, knee pains, neck problems, abdominal bloating, sciatica, fever, and pneumonia, for example.

Do I have to be a qigong master to treat patients?
Most students with no prior experience are amazed by their own treatment abilities during and after completing the program. Self-cultivation practices such as qigong, meditation and lifestyle adjustments enhance one’s abilities in the qigong clinic. Our program was designed to help foster each student’s abilities by placing equal emphasis on self-cultivation and treating with qigong.

When does the program start?
Twice a year, in the spring and fall.

How do I apply for admission?
Submit the following to the AIMC Berkeley Admissions Office:
• Completed admission application
• $30 application fee
• Official sealed transcripts from all institutions attended
• 2 passport-sized photos
• Resume

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?
We do not offer financial aid, but payment plans can be arranged. Several scholarships are also available.

American Specialty Health Scholarship - A scholarship designed to aid students in further their studying in alternative healing careers.

Massage Magazine Scholarship - Five scholarships of $1,000 each are given to students who have more than 90 hours of training and are currently enrolled in a Massage/Bodywork program.