Zhineng Qigong therapy does not have side-effects. However, because Zhineng Qigong has very powerful healing effects, reactions occur more frequently than with other forms of healing. It is therefore especially important for Zhinengong practitioners to understand about reactions and know how to deal with them.

Reactions occur when sick Qi within the body begins to transform as part of the healing process, and impurities that have built up (often over a long time) are discharged. While health can improve without one necessarily experiencing any reactions, most people do have some reactions at some point on their path to better health.

Reactions frequently take the form of worsening ongoing symptoms or health problems or a recurrence of a previous illness or problem. Other common reactions are a fever or flu-like symptoms, sweating, a cold or cough, a discharge from any part of the body, rashes, sores, nausea or vomiting and diarrhoea. In fact reactions can take almost any form, but they differ from a real illness in that they are a sign of unhealthy Qi that has been sitting in the body being expelled from it, whereas illness occurs as sick Qi penetrates the body or manifests within it.

Reactions are not only of a physical nature and it is common to have emotional or mental reactions.

Two things are very important when dealing with reactions: one should try to stay calm and relaxed and to recognise them as a temporary phenomenon, and one should do as much Qigong practice as possible so as to clear the sick Qi from the body as rapidly as one can. Two exercises that are especially helpful are squats and bow body (as taught in the Introductory Workshop).

Some reactions occur when a former illness or trauma has not been completely eradicated, even though the problem seemed to have disappeared. The sick Qi field that remained hidden in the body is brought to the surface as it is dispelled, bringing back old symptoms. These could be illnesses from any time in one's life, from babyhood onward or even problems one is born with.

Reactions also occur amongst healthy practitioners as their Qigong level goes up, for impurities are discharged as they move to higher levels of practice and of health.

Because reactions are a manifestation of unhealthy or impure Qi being dispelled, once they have passed, practitioners find themselves at a higher level of health and wellbeing than previously and at a higher level in their Qigong practice.