Prince qigong

Alice McInerney goes along for a session with the Master Ji Shifang, one of the world’s leading qigong experts

Master Ji Shifang is the twentieth successor of Shaolin Inner Therapy ‘One Finger’ Zen Qigong. And while this might sound a bit Monty Python, he has been the private doctor to members of royal families, government officials, influential politicians and even presidents.

When we meet, he is about to fly off to Abu Dhabi for a month to be the private doctor of a group of powerful sheikhs. Yet at no point does he feel the need to name-drop his impressive client list / emphasise his A-list credentials.

The basic philosophy according to Master Ji is that every human has inner energies. If a person can feel and control this energy, then they can focus it on one point and heal. Most people have heard of or seen ‘hard’ qigong, where Shaolin monks perform remarkable stunts, but Master Ji practices the soft style, in which he uses his inner energy to heal others.

Chinese medicine dictates that most problems are due to poor circulation, preventing oxygen from reaching all of the organs, and Ji incorporates acupuncture and massage into his treatments.

He believes that Western medicine only treats the symptoms but not the root of the problem. Master Ji actually started training quite late at 25, but since then he’s had to train for at least five hours a day to maintain his skills, and has been doing so for the last 30 years.

He can only treat around five people per day before he must restore his energy. A researcher of Chinese regimen and ancient texts, Master Ji is well versed in ways in which we can all live that bit longer.

A common belief in TCM for over 1,000 years is that pressing down on certain acupuncture points can improve circulation, which in turn stimulates the nervous system and improves our channels.

One is the point between our thumb and index finger, while the others are the wrist, below the knee and on the back. He believes that by applying continuous pressure to these areas for two to three minutes every day, or by lighting herbal acupuncture sticks that penetrate the skin around these areas, you will soon notice a difference.

I meet Master Ji in his nondescript apartment with his son, who translates for him. Master Ji is a modest man and has shunned all publicity.

His son tells me, though, that his father has cured terminal cancer patients and helped infertile couples, and can heal broken bones in 10-15 days through the application of herbal medication he has inherited from old recipes.

While Master Ji is the first to admit there are people with more amazing skills than himself, he also comments on the vast number of fraudsters out there trying to cash in on desperate people.

Perhaps this is why he insists that people only pay him if they feel they have been genuinely cured. Despite influential people flying him all around the world, he wants to be available to all, regardless of their finances. When he diagnoses someone, he only needs to be in the same room as them.

He ‘outputs’ his body energy, which then surrounds the person in question, creating a reflection of their energy so he can ascertain their problems. Perhaps knowing his story prior to arriving means I am more susceptible to feeling strange, but there is no denying he has an air about him.

He describes every minor ailment I have, including past problems, which takes me completely by surprise. He wants me to experience the qigong, so I lie on a bed determined not tofeel a thing as he hovers his hands over me.

Patients often describe heat, coldness or even electricity. Against my expectations, I do feel some heat. However, as patients usually have a course of treatments, I would rather experience these before commenting further.

The odd tingling sensation is accompanied by him applying intense pressure to various acupuncture points around my body, which leaves me with a pounding heart. Master Ji is a disconcerting character.

Despite his almost mystical presence, he is something of a comedian, with a down-to-earth sense of humour. He deadpans that, if he had been more commercially minded, he could have made a fortune in Oman treating those suffering back pain from praying five times a day.

Having devoted his life to training, and having to continue to maintain this for up to five hours a day, there is no questioning Master Ji’s commitment.

He has spent months at a time, in countries where he cannot communicate, trying to help others. From my limited time with him, I still haven’t fi gured out quite how I feel about what he does, but the fact that the jury is at least deliberating is more than I expected.

You can get in touch with Master Ji through his son Ji Meng on 139 1179 1931 or at meng.ji@redcapital.ch.