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Research Archive

Welcome to our Chinese medicine and acupuncture research news pages. We add to the content of these pages continuously as more research news comes in. Browse through the complete archive below or use the category links on the right.

Please note that the most twenty recent research archive items are free to view but access to the thousands of items in the archive require a journal subscription.

How does qigong improve balance?

Categories: Qigong

The mechanisms by which tai chi can improve balance were investigated in a randomised controlled trial of 49 healthy older adults. The investigators found that that a widening of stance and improved use of vestibular input (sensory information from the inner ear which informs us how the body is moving in relationship to space and gravity) are two mechanisms by which tai chi may improve balance. (E ...

Qigong for metabolic syndrome

Categories: Qigong

A 12-week programme of tai chi and qigong prompted a significant fall in blood glucose levels and significant improvements in other indicators of metabolic syndrome in 11 middle-aged to older adults. At the end of 12 weeks, they had lost an average of 3kg in weight and their waist size had dropped by an average of 3cm. Their blood pressure and insulin resistance also improved significantly. Partic ...

Qigong improves chronic fatigue symptoms/2

Categories: Fatigue, Qigong

A British pilot study suggests that qigong can be used to manage the symptoms of chronic fatigue. Eighteen female participants were recruited, taught a qigong routine during weekly classes over six months, and asked to practise it daily for 15 minutes. Participants completed a questionnaire measuring health-related quality of life and a sleep diary during a two-week baseline control period, and at ...

THIRTY MINUTES OF QIGONG IS ENOUGH TO IMPROVE MOOD

Categories: Qigong

Forty-one regular qigong practitioners engaged in either 30 or 60 minutes of qigong exercise within a randomised cross-over design. Measures of mood, anxiety, activation, and hedonic tone were obtained pre- and post-exercise. Results showed benefits of the same magnitude in the two groups: more positive mood states, reduced state anxiety, and enhanced perceived pleasure. Thirty minutes of qigong e ...

MORE MOTIVATION MEANS MORE QIGONG AND BETTER CONCENTRATION

Categories: Qigong

A study from Sweden has investigated whether self-determined motivation and perceived stress are related to concentration during qigong exercise, and to the amount of exercise carried out. Qigong exercisers were assessed using the Sport Motivation Scale, Stress and Energy Scale, and by self-rated concentration. Number of exercise sessions per week, session time, ability to set a time for exercise, ...

QIGONG FOR STRESS

Categories: Qigong

A small American study has investigated the effectiveness of a qigong training program in reducing stress in hospital staff. Thirty-seven subjects were randomly assigned to a six-week intervention of either qigong practice or a waiting list. The qigong group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of perceived stress compared to the control group and also experienced a significant reduc ...

Tai chi and qigong for metabolic syndrome

Categories: Qigong

An Australian pilot study (11 people) suggests that a twelve week tai chi and qigong training programme results in significant improvements in four of the seven indicators of metabolic syndrome, including BMI and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as in glycosylated haemoglobin levels, insulin resistance, stress, depressive symptoms, general health, mental health and vitality. (A preli ...

Psychophysiological outcomes of qigong

Categories: Psychological / emotional, Qigong

In Hong Kong, investigators have attempted to unravel the clinical benefits and underlying psychophysiological mechanisms of qigong based on information from published RCTs. Their meta-analysis of 26 RCTs showed that qigong had positive effects on blood parameters (increasing the numbers of lymphocytes, lowering total cholesterol), cardiac function (increasing stroke volume, peak early transmitral ...

EFFECT OF QIGONG ON SALIVA

Categories: Qigong

An Iranian team has analysed the effects of a qigong program on various saliva parameters, including volume, pH and secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) levels. Twenty-three healthy volunteers aged 22-24 performed special qigong exercises and self-acupressure (of points to increase Water energy) twice a day for six months. Salivary parameters were recorded at baseline before the individuals began qi ...

Qigong enhances sleep and psychological wellbeing

Categories: Psychological / emotional, Qigong

Spanish scientists have assessed the effects of qigong practice on serum cytokines, mood and subjective sleep quality. Experimental participants underwent a qigong training program for one month. Blood samples for the quantification of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, and several instruments to assess anxiety and depression symptoms, were obtained before and after the program. The findings revealed that w ...

QIGONG FOR BRAIN INJURY

Categories: Qigong

A randomised pilot study has examined the effects of qigong on individuals with traumatic brain injury. Twenty individuals with traumatic brain injury attended either a qigong exercise session or a non-exercise-based leisure activity, for one hour per week over eight weeks. After the intervention, mood was improved in the qigong group when compared with controls. Improvements in self-esteem and mo ...

QIGONG STUDIES

Categories: Qigong

A randomised pilot study has found that eight weeks of qigong improved self-esteem and mood in individuals with traumatic brain injury compared with controls. (Exercise intervention in brain injury: a pilot randomized study of Tai Chi Qigong. Clin Rehabil. 2009 Feb 23. [Epub ahead of print]). Meanwhile Spanish scientists have found that a month of qigong enhanced psychological wellbeing, including ...

LASTING BENEFITS OF QIGONG MEDITATION

Categories: Qigong

Brain scans of meditators show that the effects of long-term meditation practice are carried over into non-meditating states. Many meditation techniques aim to increase awareness of ongoing experiences through sustained attention and detachment - observation of these experiences with the intent not to analyse or judge them. With long-term practice, meditators report that these qualities of increas ...

QIGONG BENEFICIAL FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE

Categories: Qigong

A small, uncontrolled UK pilot study has found evidence of benefit for qigong in treating chronic fatigue. Eighteen women were taught a qigong routine during weekly classes over six months, and asked to practise it daily for 15 minutes. Participants completed a medical questionnaire and a sleep diary during the two-week baseline control period, and at three and six months following the start of th ...

QIGONG DECREASES INFLAMMATION IN CANCER PATIENTS

Categories: Qigong

In Australia, a team investigating the use of medical qigong therapy (MQ) has found that it can improve cancer patients' quality of life (QOL). In a randomised controlled trial, 162 patients received either MQ (gentle exercise, relaxation, meditation and breathing exercises based on Chinese medical theory) or usual care. The MQ group benefited from significant improvements in overall QOL, fatigue ...

Qigong for knee osteoarthritis

Categories: Qigong, Geriatric

Forty-four elderly subjects (mean age 69) with knee osteoarthritis were randomised to an eight-week tai chi qigong training programme or a waiting list control group. The tai chi programme involved twice-weekly tai chi qigong sessions lasting 60 minutes. The tai chi group showed statistically significant improvements in quality of life and time taken to complete a six mile walk. WOMAC scores for t ...

Tai chi for the elderly

Categories: Tai chi, Geriatric

A group of elderly Tai Chi practitioners (with several years of practice experience) were compared with a similarly aged group of sedentary subjects. The Tai Chi practitioners showed higher peak oxygen uptake in comparison with their sedentary counterparts, higher oxygen uptake at the ventilatory threshold, greater flexibility and lower percentage of body fat. The study concluded that Tai Ch ...

TAI CHI AND BALANCE

Categories: Tai chi

A small scale study on 24 volunteers over the age of 55 who performed Tai Chi only once a week for 60 minutes found that after 10 weeks their balance was significantly superior to a control group. Considering the suffering and cost resulting from falls among older adults, it is clear that Tai Chi can offer great benefits (J Gerontol Nurs 1996 Oct;22(10):12-7).

Tai chi and the elderly

Categories: Tai chi, Geriatric

In a US study, 94 healthy but physically inactive older adults were assigned to either learn Tai Chi twice a week or to a waiting list. A significant benefit was found in the Tai Chi group in terms of self-reported movement efficacy and physical function. (Prev Sci 2001;2:229-34).

TAI CHI & PARKINSON'S

Categories: Tai chi

A small study of 30 patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease has revealed the benefits of Tai Chi. At the 7th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders 2002, data from the University of Florida in Jacksonville was presented which showed weekly Tai Chi classes appeared to reduce the number of falls by a factor of 18, in comparison with a control group. (Report of Seven ...