Tattoos and Qigong

[mansao]

After a bit of reading I've discovered that tattoo ink is not just oil paint the majority of ink recipes tattoo artists use have trace amounts (or more) of metals in them.

I recently read...I'm going to just quote it, "during chi kung practice any metal on your person can take on an electric charge, absorbing energy that would otherwise move through your body."
this is from a book called "Mysteries of the Life Force" by Peter Meech, he was quoting his qigong master Dr. Chow from Toronto, Canada


Any thoughts on this? I have been thinking a lot about this topic lately (been thinking of getting one, possibly more in future) but with my limited knowledge of qi development and circulation or qigong in general I can only come up with limited conclusions.

if metals do have any affect on your qi or its development, a small tattoo wouldn't do much would it?
how about big tattos? or a bunch of them?
could location be a factor? on the fingers, hands or forearms (major qi channels) for instance


I know this is not the most natural thing to do to your body (puncturing your skin and inserting ink into it) so I'm sure there won't be a natural response from the body. But what the hey, I think it will still be a good informative discussion

[Josh Young]

I don't believe it is an issue.

[mansao]

mmm interesting thought

thanks for the input

[Brian]

With regard to metal in the body...I have a replacement Hip joint...it has had no effect on my QiGong practice.

With regard to Tattoos...think long and hard about the long term effects of injecting these 'paints' under your skin, and also, the possibility that at some future time you might regret having done it and then cannot remove them.

[mansao]

its funny, I thought about it's affect on my qigong practice before it's affect on my health XD
but I guess it has some part to do with me seeing a lot of old healthy people with tons of tattoos
plus I figured it'll balance out since I am practicing everyday

[Inga]

This is almost like two topics - the merits of tattoos and the effect of tattoos on the flow of qi.

I have tattoos which have great significance for me. I have seen ink on friends that I admire, and I know they have their reasons for choosing their designs. For me, it's like jewelry I never take off, and don't want to. I have never had regret, and I don't know that I should, but if so, I've had years I've enjoyed them. And they can be removed. It's painful, and perhaps not a perfect eraser, but it can be done. I had heard urban myths about tattoos exploding in airport detectors and that sort of thing, but not considered them in terms of qi flow. Interesting. I would agree with Josh, not an issue.

I think the point about the hip replacement is relevant. I have teflon mesh in my abdomen which repaired umbilical hernias. I had this done before I was aware of my dan tien and the flow of qi. I have asked some senior students about my concerns, as far up as Master Yang, so far no one has said it's an issue. I am not an expert in qigong or the flow of qi, but I can say I feel it and I have increasing success in my attempts. Perhaps most importantly, when I go to an experienced person, say in shiatsu or acupuncture, they are able to move qi, and remove blockages, so I do not worry about it anymore.

[mansao]

my main concern was the effect of tattoo ink or metals in general with Qi ciruclation/ development, seems like the general consensus is none

yes I have also heard the horror stories about tattoos and certain machines
from what I hear, colored inks and MRIs don't mix