Qi Gong and Autoimmune Conditions: Inflammation Evidence 2020–2025

Qi Gong and Autoimmune Conditions: Inflammation Evidence 2020–2025

Qi Gong At The Bright Beings Academy
November 17, 2025•10 min read

Autoimmune conditions can leave you feeling like your body has “turned on itself” – sore joints, unpredictable flares, bone-deep fatigue and a nervous system that never quite settles. It’s normal to ask whether gentle, mind–body practices like Qi Gong can support the immune system without pushing you into a crash.

This page is a plain-English evidence hub for autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. It looks at research (roughly 2020–2025) on Qi Gong, Tai Chi and related traditional Chinese exercises, especially where they touch:

  • Joint and spine inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis)

  • Immune markers and inflammatory cytokines

  • Fatigue, pain and quality of life

If you want “how-to” routines and pacing guidance, start with:

Then come back here to see what the research actually says.

Learn Qi Gong at home at the Bright Beings Academy

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How this page fits into the Bright Beings evidence cluster

This autoimmune hub sits under your main reference piece Qi Gong Evidence (2025): What Studies Actually Say and alongside:

And it supports practical condition pages like:

The overall pattern across the cluster is:

Practical pages show how to practise; evidence hubs show why it may help – and where the limits are.

Big picture: can Qi Gong influence inflammation or immunity?

A 2020 systematic review on Tai Chi and Qigong and immune responses pooled 19 randomised trials (1,686 participants). It found that traditional Chinese exercises were associated with favourable changes in immune markers (such as certain T-cell subsets and antibody responses), and in some cases reductions in inflammation-related markers, though results were mixed and study quality varied.

More recently:

  • A 2025 paper validating a Qigong quality-of-life questionnaire noted that repeated Qigong practice was associated with reduced inflammatory markers, supporting the idea that the practice can influence low-grade inflammation over time.

  • A 2025 review of mind–body therapies and pro-inflammatory cytokines concluded that interventions such as meditation, yoga and related practices can reduce IL-6 and other inflammatory markers, likely by shifting the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system towards a calmer state.

While many of these trials are not in classic autoimmune diseases, they support a cautious, consistent message:

Qi Gong may help modulate immune and inflammatory tone, especially around stress, sleep and low-grade inflammation – but it is not a stand-alone treatment for autoimmune disease.

Disease-focused evidence: joints, spine and immune activity

Rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory arthritis

For rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and similar inflammatory joint conditions, the evidence is small but growing:

  • A 2024 randomised controlled trial of Yijinjing (a traditional stretching/strengthening form closely related to Health Qi Gong) in RA patients with low disease activity found that 12 weeks of practice improved hand function, grip strength, flexibility and quality of life, and did not worsen joint inflammation.

  • A 2023 meta-analysis of Tai Chi in RA concluded that Tai Chi is safe for RA patients and reduced withdrawal rates in trials, but found no clear improvements in pain or overall physical function – underlining that benefits may be modest and more research is needed.

  • A 2025 systematic review on exercise in RA suggested that traditional Chinese exercises (including Tai Chi/Qigong) may help reduce disease activity as part of a broader exercise programme, again emphasising them as supplements, not replacements, to standard treatment.

On your site, these findings underpin:

Ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and related axial spondyloarthritides affect the spine and sacroiliac joints, with strong inflammatory drivers:

  • A 2021 trial of traditional Qigong exercises in AS reported that a 12-week Baduanjin programme improved symptoms, physical measures and disease activity scores compared with controls.

Alongside general exercise guidance for AS, this supports the use of gentle, spine-aware Qi Gong as a realistic option, particularly when paired with chair or wall support as described in:

Lupus and other systemic autoimmune diseases

Evidence in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other systemic autoimmune diseases is still very early:

  • Clinical trial registrations and abstracts suggest that Qigong or Tai Chi programmes in SLE are feasible and may reduce inflammatory cytokine secretion, pointing to potential immunomodulatory effects.

  • Observational work in autoimmune populations highlights that mind–body and exercise programmes are often used as complementary therapies and may be linked with better symptom control, though causality is hard to prove.

Right now, we can say:

For systemic autoimmune disease, Qi Gong looks promising but under-studied. It should be approached as a gentle, regulation tool, with your rheumatology team’s blessing – not as a way to change disease course on its own.

Broader inflammation and immune-related fatigue

Many conditions sit in a grey zone between classic autoimmunity and chronic inflammation: prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, chronic fatigue, post-viral states. These share inflammatory markers (like CRP and IL-6) and immune imbalance.

Relevant findings include:

  • A 2023 trial of a traditional Thai mind–body exercise (Ruesi Datton) in people with prediabetes showed reductions in fasting glucose, HbA1c, BMI, CRP and IL-6 over 12 weeks compared with controls.

  • A 2021 meta-analysis on Qigong exercise and fatigue across various conditions found that Qigong reduced fatigue scores compared with controls, with authors suggesting cautious optimism and calling for better trials.

These kinds of results support what you’re already doing in your cluster:

What this evidence doesn’t show

It’s just as important to be clear on limits:

  • Most studies are small, often 30–100 participants.

  • Diagnoses and activity levels vary widely.

  • Interventions range from classic Baduanjin to other traditional sets; not all are strictly “Qi Gong” as your readers would recognise it.

  • Many rely on self-reported outcomes, and blinding is difficult.

So this page is not saying:

  • “Qi Gong cures RA, AS, lupus, or any autoimmune disease.”

  • “You can stop biologics, DMARDs or steroids if you do enough Qi Gong.”

  • “Inflammation will automatically normalise if you practise.”

A fair, honest takeaway is:

Qi Gong can be a low-risk, potentially helpful add-on for pain, fatigue, mood and possibly inflammatory tone – especially when integrated into a broader, medically-supervised plan.

For a full explanation of how you read and weigh studies, send detail-seekers to Qi Gong Evidence (2025): What Studies Actually Say.

Turning inflammation evidence into a real-life plan

Most autoimmune-adjacent trials use something like:

  • Frequency: 2–5 sessions per week

  • Length: 30–60 minutes

  • Duration: 8–12 weeks or more

For sensitive autoimmune systems, that’s usually too much at the start. A kinder translation for your readers is:

  1. Start far smaller than the research.

  2. Choose joint-safe and spine-safe forms.

  3. Work with, not against, the nervous system.

  4. Respect flares and lab results.

    • On high-inflammation days, strip practice back to breath, micro-movements and rest.

    • Always interpret inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR, etc.) with your rheumatology team. Qigong may support trends but cannot replace regular monitoring.

  5. Review with your clinicians every 2–3 months.

    • That mirrors the timeframe in many trials and helps you adjust practice safely.

If someone wants guided support, you can gently nudge them toward:

Join Bright Beings Academy

If you’d like practices shaped specifically for tender joints, sensitive immune systems and post-viral fatigue – not generic exercise – you’re welcome to practise with us in Bright Beings Academy.

Here, you’ll show your three membership options so readers with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions can choose support that feels safe and sustainable.

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Related evidence hubs

If inflammation is part of a wider picture that includes mood, fatigue or heart health, these focused evidence hubs may help:

For tiredness related to cancer treatment, explore Qi Gong and Cancer-Related Fatigue: What the Studies Say

FAQs – Qi Gong & Autoimmune / Inflammation Evidence

Can Qi Gong calm an “overactive” immune system?
Research suggests Qi Gong and related mind–body practices can modulate immune markers and reduce some inflammatory markers, especially around stress and low-grade inflammation. But the evidence is early and not disease-specific enough to claim that Qi Gong can “switch off” autoimmunity. It’s better to see it as a way to support regulation, not to replace disease-modifying treatment.

Is Qi Gong safe during an autoimmune flare?
Most trials involve people with stable or low-activity disease, and high-quality research in active flares is limited. In practice, that’s why your Qi Gong for Autoimmune Conditions: Pacing, Breath, Regulation page emphasises: very short, low-effort, breath-led movements (or full rest) during flares, and only extending practice once inflammation settles – always with clinician guidance.

Can I use Qi Gong instead of biologics, DMARDs or steroids?
No. All exercise and mind–body reviews in RA, AS and other immune-mediated conditions treat these practices as supplements to standard care, not as alternatives. Any decision to change or stop medication must be made with your rheumatology or specialist team.

Will Qi Gong help my pain and fatigue, or just inflammation numbers?
Trials in RA, AS and mixed chronic conditions often report improvements in pain, fatigue, function and quality of life, even when changes in inflammatory markers are modest or mixed. That’s why your cluster also includes symptom-focused guides like Qi Gong for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain: Gentle Relief and Qi Gong for Long-COVID Fatigue: A Breath-Led Reset.

Which style of Qi Gong is best for autoimmune conditions?
Most trials use standardised Health Qi Gong sets like Baduanjin, Yijinjing or other simple routines, plus Tai Chi. For your readers, the “best” style is one that:

  • Respects joint and spine limits

  • Can be adapted to seated or supported standing

  • Feels calming rather than overstimulating

You can point them to Qi Gong Forms Library: Popular Sets Explained and joint-aware advice in Qi Gong for Arthritis and Joint Pain: Ease Stiffness, Protect Your Joints.

If Qi Gong lowers inflammation, do I still need to focus on sleep, stress and heart health?
Yes. Inflammation is shaped by many factors – sleep, mood, movement, diet, medication, infections and more. Evidence that Qi Gong can influence inflammatory markers doesn’t mean it can shoulder the whole load. This is why the autoimmune hub is tightly linked to:

The combination of these supports is what usually makes the biggest difference.

Learn Qi Gong at home at the Bright Beings Academy

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I look forward to connecting with you in my next post.

Until then, be well and keep shining.

Peter. :)

Peter Paul Parker is a Meraki Guide and Qi Gong Instructor who helps empaths, intuitives, and the spiritually aware heal emotional wounds, embrace shadow work, and reconnect with their authentic selves. Through a unique blend of ancient practices, modern insights, and his signature Dream Method, he guides people towards self-love, balance, and spiritual empowerment.

Peter Paul Parker

Peter Paul Parker is a Meraki Guide and Qi Gong Instructor who helps empaths, intuitives, and the spiritually aware heal emotional wounds, embrace shadow work, and reconnect with their authentic selves. Through a unique blend of ancient practices, modern insights, and his signature Dream Method, he guides people towards self-love, balance, and spiritual empowerment.

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