Such practices as yoga and qi gong re-establish this energy flow, which can, he said, cure asthma, allergies and even more serious conditions. Along with more traditional faiths such as Christianity and mainstream Buddhism, Falun Dafa has skyrocketed in popularity in China over the past few years as Communist ideology has weakened. The group has an estimated 100 million followers. Falun Dafa poses a particular challenge to leaders, because they welcome the group's emphasis on peace and forbearance, but are also wary of its rapid spread. Whether Falun Dafa is a religion or a form of medicine is an important distinction, said Dr. Adam Sohnen, an internist at St. Francis Medical Center who has done a lot of research on alternative health practices.
Medicine is falsifiable, meaning any claim medicine makes has to be supported by continued evidence.
If it cannot be supported, the practice is dropped by Western practitioners. Religion starts with an article of faith, and everything flows from that. People who practice this have to understand that they're dealing with a religion and not a science. It's a very big failing of any activity that hopes to promote spirituality. The Zhangs say they are just trying to improve their overall health, and that they're experiencing mental as well as physical benefits.