According to a comprehensive review published by the National Institute for Health, consistent chigong practice improved bone density in post menopausal women, cardiopulmonary function, physical function, immune and anti-inflammatory effects, balance, self efficacy, psychological health, and quality of life. The fact that all these benefits can be contained in one exercise is a time saver to say the least.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3085832/
I have been practicing chigong for over 30 years. Consequently, I have accumulated several chigongs for different conditions. Chigong exercises can be prescribed and taught to patients to assist their healing process.
There is also a branch of chigong involving a practitioner using Chi to facilitate healing of a patient. This is known as medical chigong (as opposed to self healing Chigong). I practice medical chigong in conjunction with Brennan Healing Science, and Matrix Energetics.
Chigong refers to any number of movement sets or standing postures which serve as both physical exercise and meditation. They can be strictly health related or an integral part of Chinese martial arts as seen most notably in Taijiquan (tai chi), and Baguazhang, and Yi Chuan.
In Chinese medicine, chigong circulates and generates chi energy to the vital organs and channel pathways to increase health and vitality.
Chigong can improve balance, strengthen the connective tissue, and teaches us to use move in a unified whole rather than isolated body parts. This means less injuries and more "unified" strength.
Chigong is both a self practice for health and a system of energy therapy to help others.
Chigong (Qigong)
Emotionally, it's one of the best tools I know of to assuage the ungrounded feelings of anxiety. That's because chigong is the best grounding exercise you can get. It's like you become a tree, planted into the ground with roots, being supported and nurtured by the earth. Your legs become strong and that feeling of anxiety seems to fade away.
The basics of chigong can be learned easily but it has an endless depth to explore. And it's one of the great joys in teaching to see people's faces light up when they start to feel the chi in their hands.