What's New 2012

 

    • Affordable acupuncture: Community model brings treatment to working folks
      Community acupuncture as a movement began in Oregon in 2002, starting the idea of offering low-cost treatments in a group setting. The community model takes acupuncture back to its Asian roots and makes it affordable for people who could not do it otherwise. The technique was traditionally performed in a group setting and private treatments started when acupuncture was brought to the United States, modeling it after massage and chiropractic.





    • The effectiveness of meditation in treating an array of illnesses has led to studies of how meditation can change the brain
      Since Herbert Benson, the cardiologist and author of the groundbreaking 1975 book “The Relaxation Response,” first began pioneering mind-body research 40 years ago, numerous scientific studies have offered evidence for both Bray’s hopes and Fairbairn’s experience. Researchers at universities across the world have reported positive results from meditation in a wide range of ailments, including high blood pressure, stroke risk, heart disease, weight management, chronic pain, and mental health.


    • China publishes first official acupuncture books
      The 30-volume "China Acupuncture Treasury" contains 97 ancient records on acupuncture, of which 48 were recently discovered, the GLobal Times reported. Published by the Beijing Science and Technology Press, the collection features modern clinical medicine annotations to complement the ancient documents, including overviews, clinical applications and references.

    • Yang-Sheng magazine is looking for editor-in-chief and managing editor
      Yang-Sheng is searching for editor-in-chief and managing editor. If you are interested in the general subject of Yang Sheng, or cultural communication between East and West, and are good at English writing and editing, please consider becoming a leading editor in the Yang-Sheng community. These positions are more of a partnership with Dr. Chen to build up the health community together, rather than an employment. Therefore the actual compensation and responsibilities are open for negotiation and discussion. Please send an email with your background or brief resume to kchen@compmed.umm.edu if you are interested in the following positions. Here are the descriptions of the two editor positions:

      Editor-In-Chief
      · Top editorial position responsible for directing the editorial and production staff for the publication; Works with the publisher to set editorial direction and policy; Sets priorities, schedules supplements, special sections and recurring content and columns; Supervises editorial pages, May contribute recurring or occasional columns or articles; Work with associate editor (if available), screen, select and edit submissions, and make final decision on what to be included in each issue; Work closely with layout editor and web master on design and final publication of the magazine and web site. Approves the final page layouts, dummies and page proofs – both magazine and online versions

      Managing Editor
      · Typically reports to the publisher and editor-in-chief, and is responsible for implementation of standards and daily supervision of editorial staff to ensure smooth communications and deadlines are met; Plans with the editor-in-chief on the content and layout of each Issue, including material to be published; Approves the page layouts, dummies and page proofs – both magazine and online version; Upload and update web site contents to reflect the newest contents in the community; Approves expenditures for art, manuscripts and reprints; Assist with marketing, reaching out and budget preparation

    • Yang Sheng e-magazine for November/December 2012 is now available
      Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) is an E-magazine and a network for all healthcare professionals of preventive medicine, practitioners of mind-body exercise (such as meditation, Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Reiki, and mindfulness), true health seekers, and spiritual cultivators. It promotes philosophy and methods of self-healing, positive mind and health preservation, and shares knowledge and experiences with those who are interested in the subjects and their applications in everyday life. Yang-Sheng merges traditional life-nurturing knowledge with modern scientific research and clinic evidence, and combines ancient wisdom with our own experience to support our daily practice and well-being, and to reach true meaning of health in body, mind and spirit.

    • Tai Chi: Increasing The Size of The Brain
      In a study recently published by the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, it shows that in a clinical trial, Tai Chi was proven that it actually helped seniors to grow their brain size. Improvements also were observed in several neuropsychological measures, which are indicative that the onset of the Alzheimer’s disease may be delayed with Tai Chi practice.

    • Separate & Combine in Qigong, Bagua & Tai Chi
      Separate and combine is an ancient Chinese principle for deep learning that has been used for millennia. The principle states that once a basic movement, set or form has been absorbed or established the practitioner seeks to tease out the individual components before moving on to study that movement, set or form as it is practised with all its other components. The ancient Chinese found that this was the most effective and efficient method for learning any new skill and stabilizing it in the body.





    • NCCAM Clinical Digest December 2012: Stress and Relaxation Techniques
      The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine highlights how mediation creates relaxation and reduces stress. This issue includes an introduction to stress and relaxation techniques, clinical guidelines, scientific literature, research results, and information for patients. Lots of good reasons for people to be practicing Qigong if they aren't already.

    • Mind-Body Week 2013
      On October 13-16, 2011, The Mindfulness Center (TMC) hosted Mind-Body Week D.C. (MBW-D.C.) 2011—a ground-breaking public health initiative designed to increase awareness about the science and practice of evidence-based mind-body therapies for health and well-being. MBW-D.C. 2011 was a huge success with over 1,000 attendees participating in lectures and classes featuring pioneering researchers and practitioners in the field of mind-body medicine including Dr. Herbert Benson, Director Emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) for Mind-Body Medicine, and Mr. John Schumacher, Founder and Director of Unity Woods—one of the first and highly respected local yoga studios in the D.C. Metropolitan area. On the heels of this success, TMC is looking forward to MBW-D.C. 2013 with a focus on the role of mind-body therapies for the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic disease.

    • The Scientific Basis of Qigong and Energy Medicine
      Qigong and Energy Medicine complement conventional health care models by regulating biological processes at their energetic foundation. Practices and interventions that utilize the mind and energy enhance health, prevent illness, deal with chronic illness, and enable healthy, active aging. Newly revised Qigong Institute web page.








    • Buddhism and medical futility
      Health care providers need to understand the spiritual needs of patients in order to provide better care, especially for the terminally ill. Compassion from a health professional is essential, and if medical treatment can decrease suffering without altering the clarity of the mind, then a treatment should not be considered futile.

    • Meditation Appears to Produce Enduring Changes in Emotional Processing in the Brain
      A new study has found that participating in an 8-week meditation training program can have measurable effects on how the brain functions even when someone is not actively meditating. In their report in the November issue of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston University (BU), and several other research centers also found differences in those effects based on the specific type of meditation practiced.


    • Meditation finds an ommm in the office
      Managers are promoting mental-awareness techniques to help employees cut stress and improve communication. And executives are finding meditation helps them stay cool under fire.

    • Acupuncture used in treating ADHD
      Medication and behavioral therapy are traditional methods of treatment. Now, an alternative form of medicine with ancient roots is being used to ease the symptoms of ADHD.






    • Tai Chi for Martial Arts
      Bruce Frantzis: "I just wrote a post about using tai chi for martial arts that includes a video at the end showing a short introduction and demonstration. I know many of you do different martial arts and want to learn the fighting applications for tai chi. Even those who practice tai chi for health are often interested in learning how to use tai chi for self-defense. My view is that the traditional way that tai chi was taught and learned is becoming a lost art. Unfortunately few train with the same intensity and dedication that they used to. My hope is more practitioners will go through the classic training methodology so that the fighting arts of tai chi are not lost. In this post I share with you the four stages of learning tai chi as a martial art. This can be helpful whether you study directly with me or with another teacher. "




    • Tai Chi on PBS
      The national Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has produced a one-hour Tai Chi show T’ai Chi for Health & Happiness with David-Dorian Ross, which will be aired in late November and mid-December this year by at least 36 stations.


    • Qigong found effective for burnout in physiotherapists
      Qigong is an effective tool for the self-management of burnout. It is easy to integrate into a daily routine as it takes only 2×5 min per day. This research is an example of a new trend that has emerged in the last last couple of years: Western, in this case Portugese, researchers are being published in a Chinese journal. We are starting to see more of this, as well as Chinese researchers showing up more in western scientific journals.







    • 'Tai Chi Zero': Martial-arts epic offers a whomping good time
    • Take time out with Tai Chi
      Tai chi, the slow-motion meditation being practised in a park near you, can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, improve brain function and provide many other health benefits, according to scientific studies. The ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi chuan has evolved into a series of mind-body exercises performed in a slow, focused and flowing manner designed to keep your body in constant motion and promote serenity.








    • The Insider’s Guide to Tai Chi
      Bruce Frantzis: "In The Insider’s Guide to Tai Chi I hope to provide you a practical understanding of what tai chi is, what makes it work so well, and how to choose a style, teacher and practice regimen. I created this report and have given it away because I believe that it contains essential information that will be useful on your tai chi journey, whether you end up studying with me or another teacher."

    • Tai Chi and green tea improve bone health in women with osteopenia
      Tai Chi and green tea polyphenols were effective in reducing the levels of oxidative stress, a putative mechanism for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and more importantly, working in an additive manner, which holds the potential as alternative tools to improve bone health in this population.




    • CCTV4 presents "Journey of Cultural and Art" featuring Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang (CXW) on the history, philosophy and the essence of Taiji
      Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang is the National Treasure and Taiji Champion in China. He was never defeated in any public Taiji Push-hands tournaments and private challenges. He was officially handpicked to represent Taiji in China for many decades before he moved to Australia and started his World Tour in the 80s. There are 5 major Taiji families in China and they all directly or indirectly derived from Chen Style Taijiquan. Grandmaster CXW’s great grand ancestors created Taijiquan system in a small village in Henan Providence (south of Yellow River) China. The 43:07 video has English subtitles.

    • Pulsing the Joints of the Body in Qigong, Tai Chi & Bagua
      Pulsing is a naturally occurring phenomenon replicated time and again throughout the universe as an essential aspect of every living organism, including human beings. Pulsing (also known as “opening and closing”) is little more than a synchronised, alternating rhythm of expanding and condensing energy. In terms of qigong, tai chi and bagua, the concept of pulsing is simple: You want your entire body and its energy to pulse as one coherent whole throughout your form (set, style or palm change).


    • Acupuncture may ease dry mouth after cancer 
      NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with chronic dry mouth related to cancer treatment reported some improvement in symptoms like sticky saliva and dry lips after eight weeks of group acupuncture, in a new study from the UK.




    • Development of traditional Chinese medicine in United States
      The United States government established Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) to meet the public needs. In 1991, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved the first acupuncture clinic for their patients. The National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) was founded at NIH in 1998 to sponsor and develop CAM research. In 2001, the budget for NCCAM had grown to 130 million USD. Of the 3 300 papers on CAM published in the past ten years, 520 were funded by NIH. NCCAM goals are to focus on "mind and body medicine" and "herbals" for future research. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the major components in CAM. From 1998 to 2012, NCCAM funded 248 research subjects on TCM, with a total budget of 236 million USD. The subjects were as follows: 160 for acupuncture, 36 for Chinese medicine, 33 for Tai Chi, and 19 for Qigong. The American public is increasingly supportive of CAM, including TCM. According to the national survey in 2008, nearly 40% of American used CAM, 11% of them were children, self-spending 33.9 billion USD in 2007. In the same year, 3.7 million people received acupuncture in the United States. The data also indicate that women, higher income and higher educated people used CAM more frequently. An increasing number of allopathic medical professionals are open to CAM, and recommend their patients to use acupuncture and other modalities. TCM, as an important part of CAM, has become a new option for patients in improving their healthcare services in conjunction with allopathic medicine. TCM will have more potential to be utilized in the United States.







    • Tai Chi helpful in the Treatment of Rheumatologic Diseases
      Tai Chi enhances cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, balance, and physical function. It also appears to be associated with reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improved quality of life. Thus, Tai Chi can be safely recommended to patients with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis as a complementary and alternative medical approach to improve patient well-being.










    • Practice Makes Perfect: Common Grounds in the Practice Paths of Chuan Chen Tao and Dzog Chen Dharma
      Interesting article on two different types of meditation and on fundamental tenets of meditation practice. Chuan Chen Tao and Dzog Chen Dharma can be classified as lineage-based forms/schools of meditation in the sense that a guru or master is required to ensure that the practitioner learns and follows traditional guidelines for practice. Learning a qigong practice can certainly be facilitated by personal interaction with a knowledgeable instructor and role model, but it's not a requirement.








    • Acupuncture works, one way or another 
      Many people with chronic pain swear by acupuncture, but skeptics of the ancient needle-based treatment have long claimed that it's little more than an elaborate placebo.
      A new study published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine appears to at least somewhat vindicate the acupuncture believers.




    • First Annual National Qigong Association Day - October 6, 2012
      The NQA's Regional Committee is excited to announce the First Annual NQA DAY, being held Saturday October 6, 2012 at locations around the country. Events are already scheduled in Florida, New York, Illinois, Colorado, and California. The intention behind an Annual NQA DAY is to keep the Qi flowing throughout the year by spreading the word about the benefits of Qigong and the energetic arts. The NQA is committed to helping people at all levels of interest to get actively involved on a local/community level.










    • Regular Yoga Practice Improves Pulmonary Function in Healthy Individuals
      Pulmonary function appears to improve with a minimum of 10 weeks of regular yoga practice, and the magnitude of this improvement is related to fitness level and/or the length of time the subjects spend practicing pranayama (i.e., breathing exercises). In other words, greater improvements in pulmonary function are more likely to be seen in less-fit individuals and/or those that engage in longer periods of pranayama.









    • Buddhist Meditation: A Management Skill?
      A handful of executive MBA programs around the country — from Harvard to Michigan's Ross School of Business — are teaching students Buddhist meditation techniques. It's not necessarily about teaching spirituality, but focus. There's no way to quantify whether learning how to be centered during a stressful business meeting is balancing the bottom lines at companies. But students say slowing down does help them be more effective.









    • Foot Forces Induced through Tai Chi Push-Hand Exercises
      This study indicates that push-hand exercises generate lower vertical forces than those induced by walking, bouncing, jumping and Tai Chi gait, and that the greatest plantar force is located in the toe area which may have an important application in balance training particularly for older adults.


    • In the News: Acupuncture for Chronic Pain
      A recent NCCAM-funded study, employing individual patient data meta-analyses published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, provides the most rigorous evidence to date that acupuncture may be helpful for chronic pain. In addition, results from the study provide robust evidence that the effects of acupuncture on pain are attributable to two components. The larger component includes factors such as the patient’s belief that treatment will be effective, as well as placebo and other context effects. A smaller acupuncture-specific component involves such issues as the locations of specific needling points or depth of needling.



    • Essential Neigong Exercises
      The physical and energetic system of internal power for generating health, healing and well-being that has existed in China for at least 4,000 years is driven by 16 neigong components. Each one represents cosmic potential for developing your body, mind and chi—capable of producing seemingly mysterious and enigmatic results.


    • 15th World Congress on Qigong & TCM: San Francisco, California, USA May 17th – 19th 2013 and Chendu, China June 21-25th 2013
      In partnership with Asian Heritage Street Celebration, East West Academy of Healing Arts will help host the World Congress on Qigong and TCM, attracting attendance from the worldwide natural health communities, including Qigong, Tai Chi, acupuncturists, herbalists, martial artists, physicians, clinical researchers, as well as other healthcare professionals. The 15WCQ aims to advance the education of Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine, support the development of clinical research, and facilitate the delivery of high-quality healthcare worldwide. In partnership with Chendu University, East West Academy of Healing Arts wil host an international 15th World Congress in Chendu, China. More info. 

    • What is Qigong: Renegade Dad website interviews Qigong Institute President Tom Rogers
      The interview covers: What Exactly Is QiGong? What Scientific Proof Do We Have That QiGong really works? What are the 3 Critical Components of True Health? What Are the 3 Components of Qigong? How To Do Qigong anywhere and anytime (even while stuck in traffic)? and How we can save our country a TRILLION dollars in health care expense and much more!

















    • American Academy of Neurology extolls virtues of Meditation as Medicine
      Millions of people all over the world claim that meditation transformed their lives. But for centuries, only anecdotal reports about these benefits were available as proof. Now, scientific evidence from well-designed studies—including images of the brain—is emerging. Some of these studies suggest that meditating for as little as 20 minutes daily can affect the function and structure of the brain in a positive way. Researchers have found that meditation increases attention span, sharpens focus, improves memory, and dulls the perception of pain.








    • Scientific Results of Yoga for Health and Well-Being
      The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has created a new video on yoga: Scientific Results of Yoga for Health and Well-Being. This video features the current scientific evidence for yoga as a complementary health practice, particularly for symptoms like chronic low-back pain. Viewers will also learn about research that explores the safety of yoga and how certain yoga poses can specifically affect a person’s body. The video also provides valuable “dos and don’ts” for consumers who are thinking about practicing yoga.












    • Tai Chi positively affects cardiac autonomic activity
      • The effect of Tai Chi on cardiac autonomic function was assessed using non-invasive heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. More information can be found in a 
Master's thesis
      and 
peer-reviewed research report
      . 

















    • Tai Chi is a brain exercise
      Chinese seniors who practiced tai chi three times a week increased their brain volumes and scores on tests of memory and thinking, according to a study by scientists from the University of South Florida and Fudan University in Shanghai, published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's disease.

    • Meditation Method a Matter of Taste
      People who want to learn to meditate should select a method that makes them feel comfortable, rather than choose a technique just because it's popular, a new study indicates.




























    • New Qigong Institute Web Page
      In recognition of the 500th Like of Qigong Institute on Facebook, there is a new Qigong Institute web page: The Bioenergetic Basis of Life.







    • UCLA researchers recommend study of stress management and meditation to modulate stress triggered cardiovascular events
      It is encouraging to see that mainstream medical researchers are recognizing the relationship between emotions and health and realizing the benefit of moving beyond only using pharmaceuticals to avoid or treat serious health conditions.Emotional stressors trigger cardiovascular events.















    • Chinese government endorses TCM amid qigong mastery claims
      A government spokesman on Thursday responded to a recent outburst of scepticism over traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by saying that China encourages "theoretical exploration and innovation in the practice" of medical science to improve healthcare.








    • Tai Chi helps women with fibromyalgia
      A 28-week Tai-Chi intervention showed improvements on pain, functional capacity, symptomatology and psychological outcomes in female fibromyalgia patients.





    • NIH selects 11 Centers of Excellence in Pain Education (CoEPE) 
      The CoEPEs will act as hubs for the development, evaluation, and distribution of pain management curriculum resources for medical, dental, nursing and pharmacy schools to enhance and improve how health care professionals are taught about pain and its treatment. What might be most interesting about this press release is the following: "Chronic pain affects approximately 100 million Americans, costing up to $635 billion in medical treatment and lost productivity, and producing immeasurable suffering for people of every age. Yet, pain treatment is not taught extensively in many health professional schools, and clinical approaches can be inconsistent."







    • Tai Chi found effective for management of three pain conditions: lower back pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia
      Tai Chi and Chronic Pain.




















    • Putting the placebo effect to work
      Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publications: "Randomized trials, some of them led by researchers at the Harvard-wide Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter, have deepened the understanding of the placebo effect and its various components. Researchers have also used brain scans and other technologies to show that there may be a physiological explanation for the placebo effect in many cases. There is some danger that uncritical acceptance of the placebo effect could be used to justify useless treatments. But more important is the growing recognition that what we call the placebo effect may involve changes in brain chemistry — and that the placebo effect may be an integral part of good medical care and an ally that should be embraced by doctors and patients alike."





    • Acupuncture Can Improve Skeletal Muscle Atrophy
      A team of Japanese researchers revealed study results at the Experimental Biology 2012 meeting that show how acupuncture therapy mitigates skeletal muscle loss and holds promise for those seeking improved mobility through muscle rejuvenation.









    • !!! WORLD TAI CHI AND QIGONG DAY HAS STARTED !!! (in the South Pacific)
      Where are you going to be at 10AM Saturday April 28, 2012? The healing wave is coming.... You have to admire Bill Douglas, founder of WTCQD. In the last year he has expanded the scope of this event to be more inclusive, for example, adding the yoga community and much more. WTCQD is now part of World Healing Day.


    • NEW QIGONG INSTITUTE PODCAST: Primordial Qigong
      A Discussion with Dr. Roger Jahnke: Primordial (or wuji) Qigong is a portal to discovering and exploring your relationship with your true self. Included in this podcast is a discussion of the different types of Qigong; what constitutes the foundation of Qigong practice and mind-body energetics; what is our "true nature" and how do we connect with it; and what happens at a Primordial Qigong 5-day retreat.




    • COUNTDOWN TO World Tai Chi and Qigong Day - This Saturday, 10AM in your timezone
      More info: www.worldtaichiday.org. Founder Bill Douglas was guest of honor in a 119:48 conference call . Monday's radio program had participants and reports from: Egypt, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, California, Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Harlem New York, and other cities ... including NQA co-founder, Roger Jahnke, explain how we can end world hunger, prevent disease, and treat illness by doing Tai Chi and Qigong. The show doesn't really start until 8:07; hearing about events being planned around the world generates some great energy.





















    • Yoga found helpful for schizophrenia
      Although the number of RCTs included in this review was limited, results indicated that yoga therapy can be an useful add-on treatment to reduce general psychopathology and positive and negative symptoms. In the same way, health-related quality of life improved in those antipsychotic-stabilised patients with schizophrenia following yoga. Yoga in schizophrenia: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.


    • NEW QIGONG INSTITUTE PODCAST
      Professional Qigong and Tai Chi Teacher Certification: A Discussion with Dr. Roger Jahnke. The main topic of this podcast is what it takes to achieve professional certification as a Qigong and Tai Chi Teacher and the content of the training. However, many topics are discussed, including limitations of the current healthcare system; how to teach Qigong and Tai Chi based on fundamental principles; the National Expert Meeting on Qi Gong and Tai Chi and the Consensus Report; accessing the power to heal yourself; introduction to nei-gong and internal alchemy; the qualities of a good teacher; the role of Qigong and Tai Chi in your life and healthy longevity; and the personal effects of a mind-body practice.







    • Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga becoming practices of choice for recovery from major illness and cancer 
      UCSF’s Osher Center for Integrative Medicine combines conventional medicine with evidence-based practices from other healing traditions, including meditation, yoga, tai chi and qigong. This approach has become a popular way for cancer survivors and others who are recovering from debilitating illnesses to regain strength and balance after chemotherapy and surgery. Integrative Medicine Classes Help Breast Cancer Survivors Recover.









    • The effect of exercise on aging 
      Much has been written lately about the beneficial effect of exercise on aging, and exercise has been called aerobics for the immune system. This research discusses the relatively new term "immunosenescence", which describes aging associated with a decline in the normal functioning of the immune system. Note that a main effect of Qigong and Tai Chi practice is a healthier immune system. Exercise and the aging immune system.









    • Learning lineage-based Qigong and Tai Chi
      Zhongxian Wu and Damo Mitchell are two pretty well known Qigong teachers. In this short video they talk about learning the foundation of Qigong. Note that they both have a very lineage based approach to learning which usually requires disciplined practice over a period of time, maybe years. While it's true that it can take this long to learn a lineage form or the foundation of a lineage (Qigong or Tai Chi), the health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi can be much more immediate. That is, you can practice Qigong or learn enough Tai Chi in minutes or hours to be a very great health benefit, especially for modulating stress. Mastering lineage forms and practices takes much much longer.Watch a short video.



    • Nondrug interventions for treatment of hypertension
      Lifestyle modification remains a necessary part of treatment for all patients with hypertension. This article reviews the evidence behind some available nondrug interventions for the treatment of hypertension. Qigong, meditation, and acupuncture are mentioned as having shown benefit. There are many abstracts in the Qigong and Energy Medicine Database™ that show Qigong is helpful for hypertension, and it appears that the authors of this paper are not aware of this research. Full text PDF.



    • World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2012 dedicated to Qigong Institute Founder
      From the most recent World Tai Chi and Qigong Day Newsletter: WTCQD 2012 DEDICATIONS: As many of you know, we have officially dedicated World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 2012 to Dr. Effie Chow and Dr. Ken Sancier. Effie is the Founder of the World Congress on Qigong, and Ken founded the Qigong Institute. These two pioneers single handedly effected millions worldwide through their work, and paved the way for all of us to do what we are now doing to spread the benefits of mind-body arts worldwide for the betterment of humanity. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day: April 28, 2012




    • Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in musculoskeletal disorders
      This is a great example of Energy Medicine (or Frequency Therapy) that is becoming more well-known and widely used in standard medical practice. The FDA (USA) first approved ESWT for the treatment of proximal plantar fasciitis in 2000 and lateral epicondylitis in 2002. ESWT is a novel non-invasive therapeutic modality without surgery or surgical risks, and the clinical application of ESWT steadily increases over the years. This article reviews the current status of ESWT in musculoskeletal disorders. For more information on Frequency Medicine/Frequency Therapy/Energy Medicine, see Energy-Based Medical Technologies and Therapies.

    • Earthing - the benefits of direct contact with the Earth
      Emerging scientific research has revealed a surprisingly positive and overlooked environmental factor on health: direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth. Modern lifestyle separates humans from such contact. The research suggests that this disconnect may be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and unwellness. Earthing (or grounding) refers to the discovery of benefits—including better sleep and reduced pain—from walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems that transfer the Earth's electrons from the ground into the body. Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth's Surface Electrons.








    • Caution and common sense required when practicing yoga 
      Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years in India and has exploded in the U.S. in the past two decades. According to a survey by the National Institutes for Health, more than 13 million American adults did some form of the discipline in 2006, a number that has likely increased. But researchers only began taking a hard look at the discipline in the past decade. What they're finding is that while pretty much everyone could benefit from yoga, it's not the one-stop, cure-all regimen that many yogis say it is. And it can cause injuries, some quite serious. Yoga: Don’t bend until you break.

    • Christian yoga: Trading 'om' for 'amen'
    • Acupuncture activists want insurance coverage
      Lobbyists for alternative medicine are pushing Maryland legislators to force insurance companies to expand coverage of treatments like acupuncture. Under Maryland law, insurance companies aren't required to cover treatments like acupuncture, herbal remedies and traditional Chinese massage. As Maryland lawmakers work this year to overhaul regulation of health insurance coverage, lobbyists for the Maryland Acupuncture Society are working to make sure they cover alternative treatments.


    • Tai Chi helps Parkinson's patients with postural stability 
      Tai Chi was found to be more effective than resistance-training and stretching in reducing balance impairments in patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease, with additional benefits of improved functional capacity and reduced falls. Tai chi and postural stability in patients with Parkinson's disease.

    • 14th Annual International Energy Psychology Conference - May 31 - June 3, 2012
      14th Annual International Energy Psychology Conference. May 31 - June 3, 2012. Coronado (San Diego area), CA. The event is sponsored by the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology. From the ACEP website: Energy Psychology is a family of evidence supported modalities that balance, restore and improve human functioning by combining physical interventions (using the acupuncture system, the chakras and other ancient systems of healing) with modern cognitive interventions such as imagery-based exposure therapy. Positive clinical and experimental outcomes have shown EP methods to help alleviate multitude of issues including trauma and PTSD, anxiety and phobias, depression, addictions, weight management, pain. They have also been found to support improvement in school, sports and work performance. Some of the more common forms of Energy Psychology Include: Emotional Freedom Techniques, Thought Field Therapy, Tapas Acupressure Technique , EDXTM , Comprehenesive Energy Psychology , and Matrix Energetics.



    • The March/April 2012 issue of Yang-Sheng is now available
      This publication of and for the "mind-body" community just keeps getting more amazing with each issue.

    • Qigong effective for cardiac rehabilitation patients
      A systematic review found Qigong exercise to be an optimal option for patients with chronic heart diseases who were unable to engage in other forms of physical activity. Outcome measures in these studies included subjective outcomes such as symptoms and quality of life; and objective outcomes such as blood pressure, ECG findings, and exercise capacity, physical activity, balance, co-ordination, heart rate, and oxygen uptake. A systematic review of the effectiveness of qigong exercise in cardiac rehabilitation.

    • Acupuncture has many benefits for cancer patients
      Acupuncture has many beneficial effects during cancer therapy and has proven efficacy in the management of side effects induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The role of acupuncture in cancer supportive care.






    • Yoga and stretching are equally effective for easing low back pain
      These results were originally published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (Oct 24, 2011). Yoga and stretching exercises produced similar improvements in physical function — and were much more effective than the self-care book. The impact on pain levels was less pronounced, but the number of yoga and stretching participants who reported using medications for their back pain in the week before each of the telephone interviews dropped by a quarter to a third throughout the study (medication use in the self-care group didn't decrease until the final interview).

    • Acupuncture points vary widely among acupuncturists
      German researchers report that the same acupuncture points can vary significantly between different acupuncturists. These findings have implications for standard treatments as well as reported research results. Acupuncture point localization varies among acupuncturists.

    • Yoga found helpful during pregnancy
      Yoga can significantly lower pain, discomfort, and perceived stress and improve quality of life during pregnancy. However, more well-run clinical trials are needed. Yoga during Pregnancy: A Review.


    • Long term meditators have unique brain anatomy
      Previous studies have shown increases in grey and white matter in the brains of long-term meditators. This study found significant differences in the pattern and degree of cortical folding (gyrification) of meditators in several brain regions. The functional implications of larger cortical gyrification remains unknown, but the increased size of the insula has some intriguing possibilites. The unique brain anatomy of meditation practitioners: alterations in cortical gyrification.













    • Meditation helps kids pay attention, leading researcher says
      About 200 students at four elementary schools have used breathing techniques to hard-wire their brains to improve their ability to focus on their work. "It's so widely popular and successful, the district wants us to scale it up the entire (Madison) school system."

    • Yoga brings calm to Fairmount School in Hackensack
      Fairmount Principal Joseph Cicchelli is happy to see the active practice of yoga in his school. "We try to do things holistically, and yoga can help keep both the students and the teachers healthy," Cicchelli said. "Yoga reduces stress, and when practiced effectively it really boosts relaxation. It always helps to decompress."

    • Acupuncture May Boost Pregnancy Success Rates
      Dr. Jamie Grifo, director of the New York University Fertility Center and director of the division of reproductive endocrinology at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said that "it's not a panacea, but acupuncture does help some patients have better success."





    • Acupuncture effective for chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis
      In Germany acupuncture has been reimbursed by the state insurance system for chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis since 2007. Large randomized controlled trials have shown the effectiveness of acupuncture in comparison to various control treatments for low back pain, osteoarthrosis, shoulder pain, tension type headache, and migraine.Acupuncture in orthopedics.


    • The American Meditation Institute Presents Kitchen Yoga: Understanding Food as Medicine
      According to Leonard Perlmutter, “The food we eat can help us live longer and healthier by strengthening our heart, boosting our immune system, reducing the risk of cancer and helping the body maintain an appropriate weight. When we eat with discrimination,” Perlmutter concludes, “we save money, lower our health care costs and reduce global waste, warming and air pollution.”

    • Neuroscientist touts benefits of meditation for kids
      "Simple meditation techniques, backed up with modern scientific knowledge of the brain, are helping kids hard-wire themselves to be able to better pay attention and become kinder, says neuroscientist Richard Davidson."


    • Military Pokes Holes in Acupuncture Skeptics' Theory
      "Army doctors have been told by the top brass to rethink their "pill for every ill" approach to treating pain. For the 47,000 troops who've been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of the new options include less tried and true methods, like massage and chiropractic treatments. The military hopes to win over skeptics, many of them in uniform." The Qigong and Energy Medicine Database™contains well over 1200 abstracts on acupuncture research. Acupuncture has been found to be an effective treatment for many conditions and it has proven physiological effects. It has also been found to be non-effective for certain conditions, and how it works is still being researched and debated.


    • NCCAM Budget remains the same for 2013
      The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's budget request for FY 2013 ($127M) is essentially the same as for 2011 ($128M) and 2012 ($128M).Congressional Justification 2013.


    • Motion As Medicine
      Liquid radiance. It sounds like a potion in a boiling pot. It feels like magic. However, it comes from within. It’s how Bill Douglas describes the feeling of calm during a deep breathing and meditation exercise called QiGong (pronounced chee kung) prior to T’ai Chi (pronounced tie chee)....

    • Acupuncture-enhanced treatment performs better than standard therapies alone
      “German studies have shown that something is definitely going on, neurologically speaking, when acupuncture needles are in place: In a series of imaging experiments involving short electric zaps to the ankle, researchers found that when acupuncture needles were inserted before the zap, the pain centers in volunteers’ brains were significantly calmer.”

    • World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2012 Dedicated to Qigong Institute Founder
      Bill and Angela Douglas (co-founders of WTCQD) have dedicated World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2012 to Qigong Institute founder Ken Sancier. Sancier received the honor for his major contribution to global health through the creation of the Qigong and Energy Medicine Database™. The Database is a free online resource and contains over 7000 abstracts. The rest of the Qigong Institute website contains a wealth of information on all aspects of Qigong and Tai Chi.



    • Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy relieves chronic pain without pills and surgery 
      PEMF Therapy is coming of age. It has been featured on American television on the Dr. Oz show. NASA has been researching its effects upon bone loss and muscular degeneration in astronauts on long space voyages. Watch a 10 minute video and more: PEMF Therapy and Pain Relief.


    • Traditional Chinese Medicine as effective as hormone therapy for menopause symptoms
      The application of the combination of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture proved as effective as hormone therapy in the treatment of menopause-related symptoms, and it achieved better outcomes than herbal medicine alone. Menopause-related Symptoms: Traditional Chinese Medicine vs Hormone Therapy.



    • DNA generates photons for cellullar communication
      A Russian scientist, Pjotr Garjajev, has managed to intercept communication from a DNA molecule in the form of ultraviolet photons — in other words, light. It is well known that if you use UV light to destroy 99 percent of a cell, including its DNA, you can almost entirely repair the damage in a single day just by illuminating the cell with the same wavelength at a much weaker intensity. This phenomenon is known as photorepair. Scientists around the world have begun to consider that your body's communication system might be a complex network of resonance and frequency. The Power of Biological Light in Healing.


    • World Tai Chi and Qigong Day website features new Group, Class, and Events listing
      This new directory will enable people worldwide who become aware of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day through WTCQD media efforts to more easily find local organizers, teachers and schools ... because they can now search using "postal codes" and choosing 10, 20, or 30 miles, or kilometers, around their area to find an Event Listing for WTCQD. REMINDER: World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2012 is Saturday April 28, 2012. Find and participate in an event near you -- anywhere in the world!https://listings.worldtaichiday.org.












    • Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine recommended during cancer treatment
      "Informed oncology nurses can assist patients by making appropriate referrals to licensed acupuncturists and qualified TCM practitioners to help alleviate unpleasant symptoms associated with cancer and conventional cancer treatment." Traditional chinese medicine for cancer-related symptoms.


    • Therapeutic lifestyle changes underutilized for mental and emotional wellbeing
      Therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLCs) are underutilized despite considerable evidence of their effectiveness in both clinical and normal populations. Healthcare professionals are more likely to prescribe medications than to show their troubled, depressed, anxious and unhappy clients how to help themselves by changing the way they live. This is due to America's obsession with quick and easy fixes, like popping a pill for whatever ails you. Change Your Lifestyle and Change Your Psyche.
    • More medical schools offer 'alternative' training" The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, an association that helps medical schools incorporate CAM education, has grown to 50 members -- up from eight from when the group was founded in 1999. Among its current members are Mayo Clinic, Duke University Medicine and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine."

What's New 2011

What's New 2007 - 2010


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