From Institutional Knowledge to Hybrid Cognition: Toward the Augmented University

by George B. Stefano¹

¹Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 11, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic.

Inspirations from a research visit: A sociologist in an integrative medicine research community

by Pia Vuolanto¹

¹Research Center for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland

Healing by Context: Placebo Effects Across Psychological and Somatic Dimensions

by Karin Meissner¹

¹Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences and Health, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany

Tailoring a Mind–Body Intervention to Outpatient Healthcare Settings: Insights from Qualitative Interviews

by Jule Uhl¹, Maren M. Michaelsen¹, and Tobias Esch¹

¹Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion (IGVF), Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany

Patient Preferences for the Promotion of Healthy Nutrition in Primary Care: A Fokus Group Analysis

by Larissa Franzen¹, Jil Herker, Maren M. Michaelsen,¹ and Tobias Esch¹

¹Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany

Yoga, Biomarkers, and the Current Role of AI

 by Pascal Büttiker ¹ and Tobias Esch ¹

 ¹Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, Witten/ Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany

Revisiting the Omega-3 Paradox in Cardiovascular Prevention: A Precision Medicine Perspektive within the discipline of Mind-Body-Medicine

by J George Landers¹, Anna Görkers¹, Karla Vogelsang¹, Tobias Esch¹, and Nicole Jankovic ¹

¹Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, Witten/ Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany

Six pillars of lifestyle medicine within the Integrative Oncology Consultation and its potential role of modern scientific oncology

by Hannah M. Figura¹, Paul G. Werthmann¹, Ann-Kathrin Lederer¹ and Klaus Kramer¹

^{¹Section Integrative Medicine, Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Germany}

Key Messages from the 13th Symposium of the Competence Network for Integrative Medicine in Baden-Württemberg

by Hannah M. Figura¹, Rolf Heine², Ann-Kathrin Lederer¹ and Klaus Kramer¹,²

¹Section Integrative Medicine, Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Germany

²Institute KIM Network, Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Germany

Student's Corner

European Union Funding Opportunities in Behavioral Sciences and Mind– Body Medicine (2026)

Column on Renowned Mind-Body Neuroscientists

Bruce Sherman McEwen, PhD

Exercise Corner

Qigong – Circling Arms, Parting the Clouds

by Gerold Gerber¹

¹Qigong Teacher (BVTQ / SGQT), Wolkenhände – Qigong am Bodensee, Feldstraße 6/1, D-78315 Radolfzell am Bodensee, Germany (www.wolken-haende.de) 

 
Background of the routine
Clouds are classical for meditation, a powerful metaphor to cultivate peace and mindfulness. Mountains are used to foster an atmosphere of stillness and stability. Both images, clouds and mountains, are combined in a wonderful Qigong exercise called “Circling Arms, Parting the Clouds”. In Chinese the routine is called lún bì fēn yún. It is the fourth movement of Shibashi – Taiji Qigong 18 movements, created by Professor Lin Hou Sheng in Shanghai in 1979. The first of the four characters, 轮 lún, means “wheel” or “circle”, but includes also the connotation of “method”. In addition, we may associate a “mountain” on which we stand, as lún, for instance, is part of Kunlún Mountains, the center of heaven and earth in China. 臂 bì is the second character, meaning “arm”. The third character, 云 yún, stands for “cloud”, yet referring also to a feeling of freedom and change. Finally, 分 fēn means “to divide”, “to separate”, “to part”. All together we have the image of a person standing safely on firm ground on top of a mountain circling the arms and parting the clouds, sensing self-confidence and versatility.

Step-by-step description of the routine
Ready position. 0 a) Take a moment on your spot, smooth the breathing, calm your mind. Stand straight, be centered, feet together, arms hanging loosely at the sides. 0 b) Move the body weight onto the right foot, then take a step to the left. Stand like a tree, shoulder-width apart, firmly grounded and rooted, ankles and knees softened, waist and hips relaxed, the crown of your head feels as if suspended by a golden thread to the sky. The sensation is one of solidity below, mobility and flexibility above. 0 c) Slightly bend over, while breathing out close the wrists in front of you, palms (Laogong, acupuncture point Pericardium 8) facing towards your lower belly (Dantian, energy center). Feel your feet going down into the earth. 

Upward movement. 1 a) Turn your wrists so that palms are pointing upwards like a bowl, wrists still crossed. 1 b) On your slow inbreath, rise up gently as you straighten your knees and lift your hands in front of you above your head, with your wrists crossed. Look straight ahead. The top of your head reaches a little towards the sky, extending yourself. However, do not stretch your knees through or raise your shoulders. Imagine your hands on the upward movement scooping water with a bowl. You are pulling yin energy from earth up the center of your body to heaven.

Downward movement. 2 a) Turn again your wrists above your head so that palms are pointing outwards. 2 b) On your next slow outbreath part your hands, descend slightly as you bring your hands down to your sides, finally overlapping wrists in front of you again, palms towards your lower belly. By softening your knees your tailbone will be sent down. Imagine your hands on the downward movement separating the clouds in front of you, pushing them away to each side, creating space for sunshine and clarity. Let yang energy flow from heaven to earth. 

Repeat these movements another five times, starting by turning your wrists so that palms are pointing upwards (like 1 a). You may alternate the cross of your wrists if you like.

 
Requirements and benefits of the routine
Qigong is a cosmos of peace and harmony, without excessive ambition or competitiveness. Instead of being confused with sports or gymnastics, the ancient Chinese body art can be understood as moving meditation. In China people often talk about “playing” Qigong rather than exercising. In order to get the most out of the routine, our body movements should be effortless like clouds and in perfect synchronisation with our breath. Inhaling on the upward movement and exhaling on the downward movement happen in a natural manner, slowly, deeply, and regularly. Besides body movement and breath, we also harmonise our mind. When lifting our hands, we imagine them scooping water with a bowl. When standing on a mountain and parting the clouds, we are confidently facing the wind of change, pushing away any worries, thoughts, or issues. In order to harmonise even more, we may imagine us standing in the center of a sphere, gracefully reaching on each movement with our index fingers the far end of the sphere – no less, no more. 

Health benefits are numerous, fostered mainly by the joy and lightness felt during the Qigong “exercise”. The body movements are useful in strengthening our legs and stimulating the kidneys. By keeping shoulders soft, we massage the big trapezius muscles and also the little muscles underneath the shoulder blades that often hold too much tension. Breathing deeply is a benefit for our lungs, clearing phlegm and dampness, increasing oxygen to the blood, thus awakening our brain. In brief, “Circling the arms, Parting the Clouds” connects us with heaven and earth and also with our heart. Enjoy!
 
 
References
Bondzio, Regina & Lie, Foen Tjoeng & Oberlack, Helmut: Taiji Qigong Shiba Shi. Taiji Qigong mit 18 Folgen, Beringstedt: Kolibri Verlag 2018 
Gerber, Gerold: http://www.youtube.com/@wolkenhande-qigongambodens4436 (Wolkenhände Youtube Channel with Qigong videos)

Announcements

Save the date!

under the direction of Tobias Esch, M.D.,

organized by the Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion (IGVF) at Witten/ Herdecke University, Germany

We are excited to announce that the 2nd International Scientific Conference on Innovation in Mind-Body Medicine (ISC-MBM) is taking place as a hybrid-event on the 19th and 20th November 2026 in Witten, Germany.

Delve for the second time with international experts from diverse fields into the molecular mechanisms, neurobiological correlates, artificial intelligence in mind-body medicine, and integrative approaches to holistic health.

We are now inviting abstracts especially but not exclusively on the following topics: 

Topic 1: Mind-body medicine interventions

Topic 2: Modes of action of mind-body medicine, e.g., mitochondria and microbiome

Topic 3: Artificial Intelligence in mind-body medicine research

Topic 4: Psychosomatics: the connection between mind and body

Topic 5: The role of connectedness/loneliness for health

Click here for more information, abstract submission, and updates on the conference.

Appointment: Tobias Esch joins the Advisory Board of Harvard-based Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health

We are pleased to share that Tobias Esch, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion at Witten/Herdecke University, has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Boston, USA).

The Advisory Board supports the Center’s mission to advance evidence-based mindfulness research and education in public health. With his background in primary care, neuroscience, psychology, and mind-body medicine, Tobias Esch contributes extensive expertise in health promotion, behavior change, and the scientific foundations of mindfulness-based interventions.

This appointment further strengthens international collaboration in the field of mindfulness and integrative health.

Tobias Esch will be leading a workshop at the upcoming Boston Symposium of the Center on The Science of Caring on April 8, 2026; parts of the event will be live-streamed.

Save the date!

MBMRC Guest Lecture on May 20^th at Witten/Herdecke University, 15:00h – 16:15h (CET)                                                                       

More information, soon, here!

The Mind-Body Medicine Research Council (MBMRC)

At the present time, the Council consists of the following members:

Tobias Esch, M.D. (Co-Chair)
George B. Stefano, Ph.D. (Co-Chair)

Christoph Stückle, M.D.

Monika M. Klass, M.D.

Pascal Büttiker, M.Sc.

How to become a member of MBMRC

As the MBMRC has been founded in 2022, and due to its dedication to rigorous contributions on the basic research foundations of Mind-Body Medicine, the number of members is yet small. In the future, the council aims to invite outstanding researchers in the field to become MBMRC members. Membership implies no fee.