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The immune-enhancement effect by Falun Gong cultivation

  • Jeong, Hyun-Ja (College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, and KI Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Kang, Ji-Seok (Donggudaang Oriental Clinic) ;
  • Kim, Hyung-Min (College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, and Ki Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Lee, Ki-Nam (College of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University)
  • Published : 2002.08.30

Abstract

Falun Gong (FG) is an advanced system of cultivation and practice, which is beneficial for both mind and body. In this study we investigated the effects of FG on the production of cytokines in FG practitioner (FGP). To study whether plasma cytokines levels were affected by FG, their levels were analyzed. The amount of $interferon-{\gamma}$ $(IFN-{\gamma})$, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-6 (2.5-fold for $IFN-{\gamma}$, 1.2-fold for IL-2, 2.1-fold for IL-4 and 2.5-fold for IL-6, respectively) were significantly higher in the FGP group than normal group (P<0.05). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from normal healthy control and FGP were cultured for 24 h in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide. The amount of $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 in culture supernatant was quantified. However, there were no significant differences in the level of the same cytokines between the normal and FGP group. These data suggest that FG cultivation may contribute to immune-enhancement in vivo.

Keywords

References

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