Asian medicine offers an alternative path to health
By David Lee Special to the Acorn
Asian medicine is gaining popularity as the Baby Boomers age and look for more natural ways to improve their health.
Although Asian medicine has been practiced for more than 3,000 years, people in the U.S. are only recently learning about the benefits it has to offer.
One branch of Asian medicine is called constitutional medicine, which is based on the concept of a person's body type and the roles of yin and yang.
Yin and yang is a system used to define and establish equilibrium. Everyone has a combination of yin and yang. It exists at every level of the body, but one factor will always be more dominant. Health problems such as food sensitivities, hormonal imbalance, skin conditions, weight issues, digestive problems, sleep disorder, anxiety or depression, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer, gallstones, or musculo-skeletal pain can result when yin and yang are out of normal range.
Understanding a person's body type is the most important step in treatment protocol. Body type is defined by the combined physical, psychological and physiological makeup of a person.
For example, on a physiological level there are people who are lactose intolerant and those who are not. There are people who can go into anaphylactic shock smelling a peanut and those who can eat a whole jar undisturbed.
On a physical level this might show up as extreme muscularity and athleticism or small bones and frailty. On a psychological level some people are very organized while others thrive in chaos. Each body type and its specific health needs require individual attention and customized treatment.
During the course of treatment, a person's unique health concerns may improve. Their mood and outlook may change. Their pain may recede, their asthma may be healed, but their body constitution remains the same throughout life. Knowing your body type and how it works can be used not only for treatment, but also for prevention. When you know your body type, you will understand yourself better and live a healthier, more fulfilling life.
David Lee, Ph.D. is a Koreanborn licensed acupuncturist and herbalist specializing in constitution medicine. For information, call (805) 497-6200, e-mail meditreeclinic@yahoo.com or go to www.davidleeacupuncture.com.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
US Catholic bishops take a theological stand against Reiki
U.S. Catholic bishops take a theological stand against Reiki
9:56 AM Thu, Mar 26, 2009
By:Jeffrey Weiss
I wonder how they feel about chiropractic? Anyway, from my e-box:
The U.S. bishops have issued guidelines that call Reiki therapy, an alternative medicine originating in Japan, unscientific and inappropriate for Catholic institutions.
They outlined the position in "Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy." The guidelines were developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, chaired by Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Connecticut. They were approved by the USCCB Administrative Committee, March 24, during its spring meeting in Washington. The Administrative Committee is the authoritative body of the USCCB to approve committee statements.
The document can be found at http://www.usccb.org/dpp/doctrine.htm
The U.S. bishops have issued guidelines that call Reiki therapy, an alternative medicine originating in Japan, unscientific and inappropriate for Catholic institutions.
I'll post the rest at the jump. But no kidding: I wonder if the bishops have taken positions on other unscientific "treatments" like naturopathy, homeopathy, iridology, etc.?
The Guidelines describe Reiki as a healing technique "invented in Japan in the late 1800s by Mikao Usui, who was studying Buddhist texts." The guidelines state that "according to Reiki teaching, illness is caused by some kind of disruption or imbalance in one's 'life energy.' A Reiki practitioner effects healing by placing his or her hands in certain positions on the patient's body in order to facilitate the flow of Reiki, the 'universal life energy,' from the Reiki practitioner to the patient." The Guidelines state that "Reiki lacks scientific credibility" and "has not been accepted by the scientific and medical communities as an effective therapy." "Reputable scientific studies attesting to the efficacy of Reiki are lacking, as is a plausible scientific explanation as to how it could possibly be efficacious," they state. The Guidelines note that "Reiki is frequently described as a 'spiritual' kind of healing as opposed to the common medical procedures of healing using physical means." They assert, however, that there is a radical difference between Reiki therapy and the healing by divine power in which Christians believe: "for Christians the access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the essence of Reiki is not a prayer but a technique that is passed down from the 'Reiki Master' to the pupil, a technique that once mastered will reliably produce the anticipated results." In sum, Reiki therapy "finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief," the Guidelines state. "For a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems," the Guidelines state. "In terms of caring for one's physical health or the physical health of others, to employ a technique that has no scientific support (or even plausibility) is generally not prudent." The guidelines warn that in using Reiki for one's spiritual health, "there are important dangers." "To use Reiki one would have to accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki theory, elements that belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science. Without justification either from Christian faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science," they state. "Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious feeling and practice in a false direction," the Guidelines state. "While sometimes people fall into superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in the name of the Church to eliminate such ignorance as much as possible." "Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy," the Guidelines said.
People should be allowed to try alternative medicines US Catholic bishops take a theological stand against Reiki
9:56 AM Thu, Mar 26, 2009
By:Jeffrey Weiss
I wonder how they feel about chiropractic? Anyway, from my e-box:
The U.S. bishops have issued guidelines that call Reiki therapy, an alternative medicine originating in Japan, unscientific and inappropriate for Catholic institutions.
They outlined the position in "Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy." The guidelines were developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, chaired by Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Connecticut. They were approved by the USCCB Administrative Committee, March 24, during its spring meeting in Washington. The Administrative Committee is the authoritative body of the USCCB to approve committee statements.
The document can be found at http://www.usccb.org/dpp/doctrine.htm
The U.S. bishops have issued guidelines that call Reiki therapy, an alternative medicine originating in Japan, unscientific and inappropriate for Catholic institutions.
I'll post the rest at the jump. But no kidding: I wonder if the bishops have taken positions on other unscientific "treatments" like naturopathy, homeopathy, iridology, etc.?
The Guidelines describe Reiki as a healing technique "invented in Japan in the late 1800s by Mikao Usui, who was studying Buddhist texts." The guidelines state that "according to Reiki teaching, illness is caused by some kind of disruption or imbalance in one's 'life energy.' A Reiki practitioner effects healing by placing his or her hands in certain positions on the patient's body in order to facilitate the flow of Reiki, the 'universal life energy,' from the Reiki practitioner to the patient." The Guidelines state that "Reiki lacks scientific credibility" and "has not been accepted by the scientific and medical communities as an effective therapy." "Reputable scientific studies attesting to the efficacy of Reiki are lacking, as is a plausible scientific explanation as to how it could possibly be efficacious," they state. The Guidelines note that "Reiki is frequently described as a 'spiritual' kind of healing as opposed to the common medical procedures of healing using physical means." They assert, however, that there is a radical difference between Reiki therapy and the healing by divine power in which Christians believe: "for Christians the access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the essence of Reiki is not a prayer but a technique that is passed down from the 'Reiki Master' to the pupil, a technique that once mastered will reliably produce the anticipated results." In sum, Reiki therapy "finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief," the Guidelines state. "For a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems," the Guidelines state. "In terms of caring for one's physical health or the physical health of others, to employ a technique that has no scientific support (or even plausibility) is generally not prudent." The guidelines warn that in using Reiki for one's spiritual health, "there are important dangers." "To use Reiki one would have to accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki theory, elements that belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science. Without justification either from Christian faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science," they state. "Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious feeling and practice in a false direction," the Guidelines state. "While sometimes people fall into superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in the name of the Church to eliminate such ignorance as much as possible." "Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy," the Guidelines said.
People should be allowed to try alternative medicines US Catholic bishops take a theological stand against Reiki
Friday, March 27, 2009
Stem Cell Research: New Way To Make Stem Cells Avoids Risk Of Cancer
The new work was accomplished using a plasmid, a circle of DNA, and cells from the foreskins of newborns. "The plasmids carry all the needed transgenes, but don't integrate into the host DNA, they just float around as episomes" in the cell, Thomson says.
The plasmids replicate, but they do so somewhat inefficiently, Thomson explains, so that after they perform the job of reprogramming, they can subsequently be weeded out, leaving the induced cells free of any exotic genetic material. "Once the transgenes have done their job and are no longer needed, one can merely recover induced pluripotent stem cells that have lost their episomes."
The resulting cells, says Thomson, are remarkably similar to embryonic stem cells and show the same capacity to proliferate indefinitely in culture and diversify into all the cell types of the human body.
"The recent discovery that adult cells could be reprogrammed to iPS cells that resemble embryonic stem cells opened up tremendous potential for regenerative medicine," says Marion Zatz of the National Institute of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences, which partially funded the new work. "However, the early methods posed significant risks in using iPS cells in a clinical setting. This latest discovery by Thomson's group of a new method for generating iPS cells without inserting viral vectors into the cells' genetic material is a major advance toward safely reprogramming cells for clinical use."
Thomson notes that researchers have developed other promising approaches using mouse cells, and previously had removed most of the vector and exogenous gene sequences from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. However, those efforts did not succeed in removing all of the genetic artifacts of reprogramming, which could still result in mutations in induced cells.
"Given the rapid pace of the field, it won't be surprising if there are several alternative methods for producing vector and transgene free cells very soon," says Thomson. "However, it will be essential to determine which of these methods most consistently produces induced pluripotent stem cells with the fewest genetic abnormalities. Any problems would impact research, drug development and possible transplantation therapies."
Junying Yu, Kejin Hu, Kim Smuga-Otto, Shulan Tian, Ron Stewart, Igor I. Slukvin and James A. Thomson. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Free of Vector and Transgene Sequences. Science, March 26, 2009
Journal reference:
1. Junying Yu, Kejin Hu, Kim Smuga-Otto, Shulan Tian, Ron Stewart, Igor I. Slukvin and James A. Thomson. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Free of Vector and Transgene Sequences. Science, March 26, 2009
Adapted from materials provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Email or share this story:
Need to cite this story in your essay, paper, or report? Use one of the following formats:
APA
MLA
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009, March 26). Stem Cell Research: New Way To Make Stem Cells Avoids Risk Of Cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2009,
Source :http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/03/090326141547.htm
The plasmids replicate, but they do so somewhat inefficiently, Thomson explains, so that after they perform the job of reprogramming, they can subsequently be weeded out, leaving the induced cells free of any exotic genetic material. "Once the transgenes have done their job and are no longer needed, one can merely recover induced pluripotent stem cells that have lost their episomes."
The resulting cells, says Thomson, are remarkably similar to embryonic stem cells and show the same capacity to proliferate indefinitely in culture and diversify into all the cell types of the human body.
"The recent discovery that adult cells could be reprogrammed to iPS cells that resemble embryonic stem cells opened up tremendous potential for regenerative medicine," says Marion Zatz of the National Institute of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences, which partially funded the new work. "However, the early methods posed significant risks in using iPS cells in a clinical setting. This latest discovery by Thomson's group of a new method for generating iPS cells without inserting viral vectors into the cells' genetic material is a major advance toward safely reprogramming cells for clinical use."
Thomson notes that researchers have developed other promising approaches using mouse cells, and previously had removed most of the vector and exogenous gene sequences from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. However, those efforts did not succeed in removing all of the genetic artifacts of reprogramming, which could still result in mutations in induced cells.
"Given the rapid pace of the field, it won't be surprising if there are several alternative methods for producing vector and transgene free cells very soon," says Thomson. "However, it will be essential to determine which of these methods most consistently produces induced pluripotent stem cells with the fewest genetic abnormalities. Any problems would impact research, drug development and possible transplantation therapies."
Junying Yu, Kejin Hu, Kim Smuga-Otto, Shulan Tian, Ron Stewart, Igor I. Slukvin and James A. Thomson. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Free of Vector and Transgene Sequences. Science, March 26, 2009
Journal reference:
1. Junying Yu, Kejin Hu, Kim Smuga-Otto, Shulan Tian, Ron Stewart, Igor I. Slukvin and James A. Thomson. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Free of Vector and Transgene Sequences. Science, March 26, 2009
Adapted from materials provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Email or share this story:
Need to cite this story in your essay, paper, or report? Use one of the following formats:
APA
MLA
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009, March 26). Stem Cell Research: New Way To Make Stem Cells Avoids Risk Of Cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2009,
Source :http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/03/090326141547.htm
Finding my way to alternative medicine
Finding my way to alternative medicine'
By JENNIFER KEEFE
jkeefe@fosters.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Editor's note: Foster's reporter Jennifer Keefe shares her thoughts on learning to deal with and control the disease endometriosis, well-known among women but as she is learning, little discussed.
A lot has changed for me since early February when surgery revealed I have endometriosis. While this condition affects more than 5 million women in the U.S. alone, I hadn't heard of it before I was diagnosed. But I learned fast, and what I learned left me feeling uneasy.
With endometriosis, particles of tissue from the lining of the womb (called the endometrium) travel to other parts of the body and attach to other organs forming implants. These particles react each month to hormonal changes in the reproductive cycle and breakdown and bleed. But with nowhere for the blood to go, the particles develop into growths and overtime become larger. These growths commonly cause significant pain during the menstrual cycle and in more serious cases can lead to infertility.
I had gone to my doctor with abdominal pain in January, expecting it to be diagnosed as something simple. Three weeks later I found myself recovering from a laparoscopy and feeling confused. One thing I hadn't really been aware of until after I'd been stitched up was that even though doctors can remove the implants during a laparoscopy, endometriosis can return.
So instead of having invasive surgery every few years, a commonly recommended treatment is Lupron, which can relieve and prevent symptoms of endometriosis. It sounded relatively non-threatening as my doctor gently explained that he would recommend it for six months. But in reading through the packet of information he had given me, my heart began to race. This drug ceases ovulation and would put my body into menopause to "dry up" the implants, which are fed by hormones each month. An additional drug puts hormones back into the body that Lupron takes away.
Side effects include mood swings, hot flashes, decreased bone density and sleep disturbance.
For a person who barely wants to take Advil for a headache, this information was a lot to take in. But I felt as if there was no other option, especially when just two weeks after surgery the unfortunate reality hit that the pain had not gone away. I tried to ignore it at first, passing it off as the result of something I ate or a pulled muscle. But I wasn't fooling anyone, especially not my body.
I felt defeated. I didn't know what to think or what to do.
My decisions didn't happen overnight. There's been a lot of tears, a lot of frustration and a lot of anger. My boyfriend and close friends have been amazingly understanding through my ever-changing emotional state but only I could make a final ruling on what to do. I felt uncomfortable signing up for a drug that gets mixed reviews not knowing how it would affect me, but I could not do nothing. So I began to research. To my advantage, I happened to meet another woman right in the midst of this situation who had gone through the same thing. She'd tried Lupron for a while but when her endometriosis symptoms returned with a vengeance, she turned to something completely different. And she told me all about it.
Armed with books, website addresses and a bunch of personal insight, I set out on a mission. I was going to try changing my diet and using alternative medicine to combat endometriosis.
So you're looking at the new gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and red-meat free Jen Keefe. The thinking behind this diet seems sound — of course I'm not sure it will work but there's a fair amount of evidence out there substantiating that it does. The foods I'm removing from my diet have all been tied to estrogen production in the body or act as inflammatory agents. Endometriosis is tied to estrogen production, so removing foods that contain it has been linked to a reduction in symptoms.
A British woman, Carolyn Levett, seems to have a solid hand in this line of thinking as her book "Reclaim Your Life: Your Guide to Aid Healing of Endometriosis," which outlines her success over extensive endometriosis without one day of Lupron, has reached millions of people. She has since published an endometriosis cookbook and created endo-resolved.com, which explains endometriosis, treatments, and has a place for reader comments and a message board.
I was amazed at how many women are out there who suffer from endometriosis and feel overwhelmed.
I haven't ruled out Lupron. But I don't think there's any harm in seeing if the natural route works for me. There are many facets to it like herbal supplements and remedies. Yoga and acupuncture have even been suggested to me. Because my health depends on it, I'm dedicated toward watching what I eat and taking charge of my life. This is a mind-over-matter situation and I intend to follow through, even if it means saying goodbye to my favorite ice cream.
At a particularly low point feeling overwhelmed with life in general, I called my best friend's mother who is a nurse and always has been supportive. She didn't have answers for me and wasn't even too familiar with endometriosis. But she helped me more than she probably knows. She told me that everyone has something that they deal with and the important thing is to realize there are people around you who love you and who will support you. Tomorrow is another day, she said.
It's funny how sometimes the simplest truths can evade us. Tomorrow is another day.
I might not be able to start it with my favorite cereal, but I can use it as one more step toward feeling better.
By JENNIFER KEEFE
jkeefe@fosters.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Editor's note: Foster's reporter Jennifer Keefe shares her thoughts on learning to deal with and control the disease endometriosis, well-known among women but as she is learning, little discussed.
A lot has changed for me since early February when surgery revealed I have endometriosis. While this condition affects more than 5 million women in the U.S. alone, I hadn't heard of it before I was diagnosed. But I learned fast, and what I learned left me feeling uneasy.
With endometriosis, particles of tissue from the lining of the womb (called the endometrium) travel to other parts of the body and attach to other organs forming implants. These particles react each month to hormonal changes in the reproductive cycle and breakdown and bleed. But with nowhere for the blood to go, the particles develop into growths and overtime become larger. These growths commonly cause significant pain during the menstrual cycle and in more serious cases can lead to infertility.
I had gone to my doctor with abdominal pain in January, expecting it to be diagnosed as something simple. Three weeks later I found myself recovering from a laparoscopy and feeling confused. One thing I hadn't really been aware of until after I'd been stitched up was that even though doctors can remove the implants during a laparoscopy, endometriosis can return.
So instead of having invasive surgery every few years, a commonly recommended treatment is Lupron, which can relieve and prevent symptoms of endometriosis. It sounded relatively non-threatening as my doctor gently explained that he would recommend it for six months. But in reading through the packet of information he had given me, my heart began to race. This drug ceases ovulation and would put my body into menopause to "dry up" the implants, which are fed by hormones each month. An additional drug puts hormones back into the body that Lupron takes away.
Side effects include mood swings, hot flashes, decreased bone density and sleep disturbance.
For a person who barely wants to take Advil for a headache, this information was a lot to take in. But I felt as if there was no other option, especially when just two weeks after surgery the unfortunate reality hit that the pain had not gone away. I tried to ignore it at first, passing it off as the result of something I ate or a pulled muscle. But I wasn't fooling anyone, especially not my body.
I felt defeated. I didn't know what to think or what to do.
My decisions didn't happen overnight. There's been a lot of tears, a lot of frustration and a lot of anger. My boyfriend and close friends have been amazingly understanding through my ever-changing emotional state but only I could make a final ruling on what to do. I felt uncomfortable signing up for a drug that gets mixed reviews not knowing how it would affect me, but I could not do nothing. So I began to research. To my advantage, I happened to meet another woman right in the midst of this situation who had gone through the same thing. She'd tried Lupron for a while but when her endometriosis symptoms returned with a vengeance, she turned to something completely different. And she told me all about it.
Armed with books, website addresses and a bunch of personal insight, I set out on a mission. I was going to try changing my diet and using alternative medicine to combat endometriosis.
So you're looking at the new gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and red-meat free Jen Keefe. The thinking behind this diet seems sound — of course I'm not sure it will work but there's a fair amount of evidence out there substantiating that it does. The foods I'm removing from my diet have all been tied to estrogen production in the body or act as inflammatory agents. Endometriosis is tied to estrogen production, so removing foods that contain it has been linked to a reduction in symptoms.
A British woman, Carolyn Levett, seems to have a solid hand in this line of thinking as her book "Reclaim Your Life: Your Guide to Aid Healing of Endometriosis," which outlines her success over extensive endometriosis without one day of Lupron, has reached millions of people. She has since published an endometriosis cookbook and created endo-resolved.com, which explains endometriosis, treatments, and has a place for reader comments and a message board.
I was amazed at how many women are out there who suffer from endometriosis and feel overwhelmed.
I haven't ruled out Lupron. But I don't think there's any harm in seeing if the natural route works for me. There are many facets to it like herbal supplements and remedies. Yoga and acupuncture have even been suggested to me. Because my health depends on it, I'm dedicated toward watching what I eat and taking charge of my life. This is a mind-over-matter situation and I intend to follow through, even if it means saying goodbye to my favorite ice cream.
At a particularly low point feeling overwhelmed with life in general, I called my best friend's mother who is a nurse and always has been supportive. She didn't have answers for me and wasn't even too familiar with endometriosis. But she helped me more than she probably knows. She told me that everyone has something that they deal with and the important thing is to realize there are people around you who love you and who will support you. Tomorrow is another day, she said.
It's funny how sometimes the simplest truths can evade us. Tomorrow is another day.
I might not be able to start it with my favorite cereal, but I can use it as one more step toward feeling better.
Tai Chi
Monday February 2, 2009
Tai chi helps the elderly with falling? Not so fast, says a Reuters report study that took place in the Netherlands. Going off of past ambivalent reports of how helpful tai chi is with the elderly who are prone to falling, researchers followed 138 elders, who took tai chi for an hour twice a week for 11 weeks. Tai chi is a slow-moving Chinese martial art that is said to improve balance, strength and endurance. For study participants, though, of the 138 elders enrolled in the classes, 115 falls occurred compared to 91 falls for another 131 elders who didn’t take tai chi at all. Beyond balance, researchers say, “The investigators also found no between group differences in balance, fear of falling, physical activity level or functional status.” Consequently, it was concluded that “tai chi chuan is limited in preventing falls among home-living elderly at high risk for falling.” One aspect of this study that I find problematic is the study duration: 11 weeks. I would be interested in knowing how elderly people, who have practiced tai chi as a lifestyle, meaning they have been practicing tai chi as a part of their lives for years, would fare in this study. In some ways, this study seems akin to the weight watcher who begins a new exercise routine, twice a week for an hour, and then quits after about two months (not so far from 11 weeks). How effective would that exercise regimen be? Most healthcare providers advise that exercise, for example, be observed four to five times a week. These days, any individual practicing any type of exercise for just two days a week is unlikely to see much of a difference in any aspect of their lives. I think this study has a limited scope and followed the participants for too short of a time. Finally, unless it is known how people who practice tai chi throughout their lifetimes manage with balance, I think it is improbable to really know what is the true benefit of tai chi. hi.
Tai chi helps the elderly with falling? Not so fast, says a Reuters report study that took place in the Netherlands. Going off of past ambivalent reports of how helpful tai chi is with the elderly who are prone to falling, researchers followed 138 elders, who took tai chi for an hour twice a week for 11 weeks. Tai chi is a slow-moving Chinese martial art that is said to improve balance, strength and endurance. For study participants, though, of the 138 elders enrolled in the classes, 115 falls occurred compared to 91 falls for another 131 elders who didn’t take tai chi at all. Beyond balance, researchers say, “The investigators also found no between group differences in balance, fear of falling, physical activity level or functional status.” Consequently, it was concluded that “tai chi chuan is limited in preventing falls among home-living elderly at high risk for falling.” One aspect of this study that I find problematic is the study duration: 11 weeks. I would be interested in knowing how elderly people, who have practiced tai chi as a lifestyle, meaning they have been practicing tai chi as a part of their lives for years, would fare in this study. In some ways, this study seems akin to the weight watcher who begins a new exercise routine, twice a week for an hour, and then quits after about two months (not so far from 11 weeks). How effective would that exercise regimen be? Most healthcare providers advise that exercise, for example, be observed four to five times a week. These days, any individual practicing any type of exercise for just two days a week is unlikely to see much of a difference in any aspect of their lives. I think this study has a limited scope and followed the participants for too short of a time. Finally, unless it is known how people who practice tai chi throughout their lifetimes manage with balance, I think it is improbable to really know what is the true benefit of tai chi. hi.
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