Introduction
The number of COVID cases is rising again (this article was published in early January 2026) and appears to be approaching (almost) epidemic levels.
The good news is that there is increasing evidence for the importance and effectiveness of qigong in the treatment and prevention of COVID and long COVID. Below I describe two studies. One dates from early in the pandemic (2020): Qigong for the Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of COVID-19 in Older Adults. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, May 2020.
“Potential mechanisms of action include stress reduction, emotion regulation, strengthening of respiratory muscles, reduction of inflammation, and improved immune function.”
The second study was published in November 2025 in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies: Experiences with Qi and changes in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.
“Approximately three-quarters of participants reported improvement in one or more …
