Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Cautious thumbs up for Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a low-impact mind-body exercise that has been practised for centuries in the East and is currently gaining popularity in the West. It is believed to improve mood and enhance overall psychological wellbeing but convincing evidence has so far been lacking. Dr Chenchen Wang from Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts reviewed 40 studies into the use of Tai Chi for mental health. The review found that practising tai chi was associated with reduced stress, anxiety, depression and mood disturbance and increased self-esteem. However, the quality of the studies was generally modest and there is a need for more rigorous well-controlled randomised trials.

You can find out more about this at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/05/24/tai-chi-for-mental-health/14015.html

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