More Studies Confirm that T’ai Chi and Qigong Heal and Prevent Disease

More Studies Confirm that T’ai Chi and Qigong Heal and Prevent Disease

Centuries’ worth of anecdotal evidence attests to the medical benefits of qigong and t’ai chi, two closely related Chinese health and fitness practices. And now the clinical evidence Westerners like to see is piling up as well.

What are t’ai chi and qigong?

T’ai chi is better known in the U.S. than qigong is. “But t’ai chi is actually a form of qigong,” says Francesco Garripoli, president of the Qigong Institute and producer of the PBS-aired documentary Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century. “It came out of several families of qigong practice — that’s why they go together.”

Both practices look sort of like karate in slow motion. They combine gentle, meditative physical movements and breathing techniques that help stimulate the flow of qi or chi (life force or vital energy), promoting better physical, mental and emotional health. For thousands of years, people in China have been practicing qigong (chee-gung) to improve and maintain their health and well-being.

There are thousands of styles of qigong and t’ai chi. Some focus on overall health, but practitioners can also prescribe forms or specific qigong exercises to detox or heal specific organs, muscles or parts of the body. “Some families in China historically would pay a lot of money to some master to get their own qigong forms,” says Garripoli.

The healing power of qigong and t’ai chi

These ancient approaches to fitness and wellness have brought positive health changes to people all over the world. Many have testified that qigong cured them of chronic pain, improved their balance and focus, boosted their immunity, helped them manage stress, fought cancer, lowered blood pressure or relieved insomnia. The New York Times even published an essay recently by a woman claiming qigong helped her regain her health after a stroke.

“I suffer from a lot of headaches, mostly caused by tension in my neck muscles,” says Cathy Bueti, a 39-year-old breast cancer survivor from Brewster, N.Y. “Doing qigong instantly loosens my muscles and helps relieve the headache pain. I also suffer from panic attacks, which increased in frequency after my cancer experience. When I perform the qigong exercises, it makes me feel calm and returns me to the moment, which helps me break out of the panic and anxiety.”

Studies confirm the medical benefits of chi practices

With so much anecdotal evidence of qigong’s benefits, it’s not surprising that formal studies have been done as well — more than 2,000, according to the Qigong Institute, which maintains a database of such research.

“There is enough research to convince the general public of the benefits of qigong and t’ai chi, validated by systematic reviews of literature on these modalities,” says Dr. Kevin Chen, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Integrative Medicine.

Highlights of recent studies include:

A review of clinical trials of t’ai chi and qigong in older adults reported in the March 2009 issue of the Western Journal of Nursing Research notes that qigong improves physical functioning, limits fall risk, alleviates symptoms of depression and anxiety, and lowers blood pressure in older adults. Last year, that same journal reported that qigong improved the physical health of middle-aged women.

According to the February 2009 issue of The Journal of Nursing, “evidence-based research supports the argument that qigong improves cardiovascular-respiratory function and lipid profile, decreases blood sugar, and relieves anxiety and depression.”

Meanwhile, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health, has funded many studies related to both practices, linking t’ai chi to improved sleep quality in older adults, increased immunity to shingles virus in older adults, and healthy bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

Clinical trials are underway investigating the use of t’ai chi for fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis of the knee and rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers are studying t’ai chi’s benefits for cancer survivors and patients with bone loss, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other conditions.

How to choose between qigong and t’ai chi

“Different people like different things. That’s why there are different flavors of ice cream,” says Garripoli. For people who like structure and want to learn a structured sequence of forms, there’s tai chi. It tends to be taught in a committed way over a sequence of time, targeting discipline and focus. For someone who doesn’t have that kind of time commitment and is more health-oriented, there’s qigong. “With qigong, people can take a few classes and walk away with something valuable,” he says.

Tips for getting started with qigong or t’ai chi

If you’re the kind of person who wants flexibility and the ability to exercise in the privacy of your own home, a DVD is probably your best bet. Gaiam has produced several award-winning instructional qigong DVDs and t’ai chi DVDs with beautiful production quality and easy-to-follow how-to’s; and others are available through the Qigong Institute, the National Qigong Association and the American T’ai chi Association.

If you prefer the social interaction and expert face-to-face instruction, you can take a class. Check out local martial arts schools, health clubs, recreation departments, community centers and/or YMCAs. Observe a class and meet the instructor before signing up, and be sure to discuss any physical limitations or health concerns you might have prior to beginning.

Original article and pictures take www.corespirit.com site

Meridian Shiatsu

Meridian Shiatsu

What is Shiatsu? Over 5000 years ago, India and China placed emphasis on massage using hands for therapeutic purposes. Shiatsu is a Japanese “finger pressure” healing therapy based on ancient Chinese medical practices.

There are several styles of Shiatsu that arise from various founders of Shiatsu – one of whom is Shizuto Masunaga, who created meridian based shiatsu or also called Zen Shiatsu.

Meridian Shiatsu Massage

Characteristics of Meridian Shistsu

Relaxation **

Therapeutic ****

Intensity: Moderate – Strong

Lubrication: No

Undressing: No

Tip: Depends on facility

Shiatsu Meridian Exercises

By Emily Crown-Robinson, RMT, Dipl.ST (Hon),

CST, CR

In the ancient oriental healing arts, ‘meridians’ are thought to be the pathways for the circulation of Qi (energy) which exist in everyone. The central concept in oriental medicine incorporates the belief that all physical problems are a result of an obstruction in Qi flow. Restoring circulation can ‘cure’ disease. Meridian exercises integrate the body and mind and are designed to strengthen Qi in their corresponding meridians. They also aid in creating body awareness. In doing these exercises one can learn to release tension and increase flexibility in order to increase Qi circulation, therefore, balancing basic body function. Shiatsu Master Shizuto Masunaga said, “The most important feature in life is not the external form but the internal dynamics which create and sustain the form.

A few things to keep in mind while doing these exercises:

1. The stretches are best done in a peaceful/ calm atmosphere.

2. The focus should be on the slow quiet out breath without effort (like air leaking out of a balloon).

3. When breathing in during a stretch be aware of the lines of tension that will occur along a meridian – detecting Qi flow obstruction.

Lung / Large Intestine = exchange and elimination

The Lungs take in the Qi of nature and the Large Intestine eliminates unnecessary substances. Meridian imbalances often start to occur during depression and grief. This deceased zest for life usually leads to lack of physical exercise that promotes insufficient Qi intake and elimination.

Decreased exercise often causes constipation, chilled limbs due to poor circulation, chills in the lower abdomen causing diarrhea, respiratory tract disease, excessive sighing, heaviness in the head, back and shoulder stiffness.

The Large Intestine meridian is supposed to clear Qi obstruction. Imbalances here often include: lack of motivation, with-holding emotions, difficulty in psychological release usually paired with shallow breathing. A release of gas can be a symbol of emotional release.

Lung / Large intestine meridian exercise:

Stand with feet one shoulders width apart (knees unlocked), and link your thumbs behind your back. Breathe deeply into your belly and as you stretch your fingers out – imagining your body filling with energy to your fingertips. Bend into the illustrated position as you exhale. Relax and keep the fingers stretched out. Focus on letting go of all tension and thoughts for another cycle of breath in this position. Feel your body letting go – the stretch will deepen naturally. As you breathe in once more deeply into your belly imagine your body taking in new energy, as you breathe out you ‘let go’ further. Once more, breathe in deeply again slowly coming to an upright position as you exhale.

More Meridian Exercises cab be Found Here

Original article and pictures take www.massageprocedures.com site

Mega study on ayurveda’s healing powers

Mega study on ayurveda’s healing powers

Perhaps for the first time leading research and medical institutions in the US-Harvard University, Scripps Clinic, University of California San Diego, Mt Sinai University , University of California San Francisco and Duke University -are collaborating on a project to study ayurveda’s healing powers.

Called the `Self-Directed Biological Transformation Initiative (SBTI) Research Study’, the study is being conducted at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California. The center, run by wellness expert Deepak Chopra, had earlier conducted a smaller study to examine the effects of meditation and yoga on gene expression.

“The findings from the older study showed that a week of meditation and yoga practice led to an increase in expression of genes that support rejuvenation of the body , a reduction in expression of genes associated with the stress response, and a large increase in telomerase levels (an enzyme that helps maintain structural identity of genes),” says Chopra.

In the SBTI study , researchers will be analyzing the impact of ayurvedic treatments on participants’ genes, certain hormones as sociated with metabolism and mood change, bacteria present in the gut and on the skin, inflammation markers, weight, stress makers etc. “The body’s healing system is still little understood because of the complex inputs -thoughts, emotions, diet, stress, exercise, immune response -that affect healing. The picture is further clouded when isolated findings overlap or contradict one another. In the context of ayurveda, therapies and practices aren’t done in isolation. Instead of focusing on local symptoms, the diagnosis is systemic.Only now is Western medicine beginning to understand that a blanket condition like `stress’ or `inflammation’ connects many diverse disorders, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes,” says Chopra.

Ayurveda is widely practised and followed in India. There are 2,458 ayurveda hospitals running in India under the government’s directorate of Ayush (Ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homoeopathy). However since there have been few scientific studies on the safety and efficacy of the system in the West, it is often perceived as a pseudoscience there. Dr Rudolf Tanzi, a professor at the Harvard University and a co-researcher at the SBTI study , says that this perception is now changing.

“Any scientist of worth will admit that most of time we are wrong. Just look back at science 100 years ago and ask how much is still correct today. Why would this not continue to be the case 100 years from now? Thus, it makes sense to look back to ancient remedies and wisdom, for example, as prescribed in ayurvedic medicine. So far, the results ranging from the effects of meditation on beneficial gene activity to ashwagandha on Alzheimer’s pathology are certainly looking sufficiently promising to continue,” says Tanzi who specializes in researching gene mutations linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.

The study also has the potential to throw light on which brain-function related genes and chemicals are turned “on” or turned “off ” by an ayurvedic diet and lifestyle.”That type of information can help us not only better establish how ayurveda works at a cellular level but also how best to integrate it into a modern healthy lifestyle,” says Dr Murali Doraiswamy , professor at Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and coresearcher on the study .

Original article and pictures take www.corespirit.com site