Tom Shea PhD1, Donald Wong2*, Ryan Gilbert3*
April 25, 2007
1University of Massachusetts - Lowell; Lowell, MA01850
2Nam PaiAcademy; Boston, MA02228
3 University of Massachusetts - Lowell; Lowell, MA01850
Email:
EFFECTS OF CHI ENERGY EMISSION ON NB2a CELLS
ABSTRACT
The medicinal benefits of chi, or the body’s inherent natural healing energy, have been used in Asia for many years. Therapeutic anti-cancer effects remain somewhat unclear due to placebos with humans. Here the placebo effect was negated through use of neuroblastoma cells (NB2a). The purpose of this study was to identify phenotypic effects in vitro on NB2a cells after several minutes of chi emission by a Chi Gung Sifu. A Chi Gung Sifu performed energy emission to 9 plates of equal confluency using two methods: Open Palm and Fingertip. Time intervals of 6 and 12 minutes were used to evaluate any deviation among emission time. After all plates were counted via hemacytometer and compared to controls. Results showed time difference (6 vs. 12 minutes) did not have any significant impact. Open Palm-type emission rendered to be non-statistically significant, showing an overall 2.87% decrease from control plates. Fingertip emission, however, showed an overall decrease of 50.23%. The change in cancer cell plates receiving Fingertip emission compared to controls suggests there may be direct in vivo anti-cancer benefits from this modality of substanceless medicine.
INTRODUCTION
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The medicinal form of treatment researched here originates from ancient Chinese medicine, using the bioelectromagnetic energy of the body to drive out imbalances disrupting homeostasis. This is similar to the theory of meridians used by acupuncturists. Chi Gung, or working with the body’s energy, is a fundamental part of Traditional Chinese Medicine often overlooked due to complexities of the placebo effect questioning its true efficacy. Here we eliminated the placebo factor by using NB2a cells. 13 Plates were prepared from the same source and passaged to consistent confluency two days prior to the experiment.
A Chi Gung Sifu performed the technique Fa Chi, or chi energy emission (CEE). In the practice of working with energy, there is often a connotation of “positive” and “negative” energy manipulated by experienced practitioners. For the entirety of this experiment negative energy was emitted to note destructive phenotypic effects on the cancer cells. CEE was performed at time intervals of 6 minutes and 12 minutes to ascertain any deviation in effect, which there appeared not to be.
Two common methods of emission were used: Open Palm and Fingertip. In Open Palm and Fingertip methods, the Chi Gung Sifu placed his hand within 3 inches of culture plates. The last plate received Distance Healing, where the Chi Gung Sifu used intent alone to manipulate negative energy on cancer cells. This action was performed consistently for every plate tested. 4 Plates were used as control, 4 for Open Palm, and 4 for Fingertip. 2 Control plates were left out of the incubator for 6 minutes and 2 for 12 minutes to match the plates receiving some form of CEE. All cells were counted via hemacytometer 2 hours after receiving negative CEE and analyzed for percent change.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
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Cells were kindly donated by Ambar Ahmed and reagents by Deepali Gotur of University of Massachusetts Lowell. Two days prior to the experiment NB2a cells (P0) were passaged. Media was removed and cells rinsed in PBS buffer. After, 1 ml of trypsin was added and cells were incubated for 8 min at 37 degrees Celsius. Cells were then pipetted out into a centrifuge tube and serum-containing media was added to reach 3 mls. Cells were spun at 3000 rpm for 5 min and passaged out in a 1:15 dilution into 14 sterile plates with 1.8 ml serum-containing media added. Cells were kept incubated at 37 degrees Celsius. On the third day cells were taken out only for the time period needed for CEE (6 – 12 min) and control plates as well. Each plate was taken out individually for its set time of energy exposure. After CEE was completed for a plate, 2 hrs later hemacytometer cell counts were performed. Serum-media was removed and plates were rinsed in PBS buffer then incubated with 2 mls trypsin at 8-10 min each. Counts were performed using trypan blue in a 1:2 dilution with NB2a cells.
RESULTS
SAMPLE / AVG / W. AVGControl Plates / 52250
Fingertip Emission / 26000
6 min exposure / 26000
A / 34000
B / 18000
12 min exposure / 26000
C / 9000
D / 43000
Open Palm Emission / 50750
6 min exposure / 54000
E / 41000
F / 67000
12 min exposure / 47500
G / 44000
H / 51000
Distance Healing
I / 33000 / 33000
Figure 2 – Percent Change of Plates Receiving CEE
Plates were analyzed in percent increase or decrease
relative to the control average.
Figure 1 – Averaged Cell Counts
Plates were counted twice via hemacytometer using a 1:2 dilution of trypan blue to help visualize cells. Average cells derived from four control plates came to be 52250. Fingertip-tested plates averaged at 26000 and Open Palm-tested
plates 50750. Plates were also averaged grouped by time exposure to CEE as well as a single sample taken for Distance Healing.
Percent Change to ControlsFingertip - 6 min / 50.23% Decrease
Fingertip - 12 min / 50.23% Decrease
Overall Fingertip / 50.23% Decrease
Open Palm - 6 min / 3.34% Increase
Open Palm – 12 min / 9.09% Decrease
Overall Open Palm / 2.87% Decrease
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Figure 3 – Averaged Cancer Cell Counts After Chi Emission
DISCUSSION
CEE given by Open Palm method proved insubstantial in manipulated the cells phenotype in any way, and no cell death was inferred as the percent change decreased only by 2.87% (Figure 2). While there may still be therapeutic effects in regards to human patients, none was shown through in vitro activity. The Fingertip emission method, however, provides interesting results. NB2a cells decreased by 50.23% and all four plate samples (A-D) resulted in statistically significant lower counts then the cumulative average of the four control plates that remained non-CEE treated. The Distance Healing plate (sample I) cannot be rendered statistically significant as only one plate was tested however it too provides a significant decrease from the control average of non-treated CEE plates (seen in Figure 1).
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Duration of chi exposure proved weak in terms of cell death efficacy of CEE as some averages were higher for cells receiving 12 minutes as opposed to 6 minutes. More importantly, it seems the modality of emission plays a larger role in effectively killing cancer cells. On average, twice as many cancer cells were killed using Fingertip Fa Chi emission method than did Open Palm. While not all counts were consistent with level of cell death, certainly more of a trend appeared in cancer cells receiving CEE via Fingertip method. Thus, chi’s ability to kill cancer cells directly has been shown here to a degree in Figure 3. Being a form of substanceless medicine and lacking any side effects, Chi Gung’s importance of manipulating this inherent energy of the body as an anti-cancer practice must be further researched and evaluated.
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