Mind and Body: Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a mind and body exercise used for many years in Chinese medical practice. Research suggest that Tai Chi is safe and can benefit the cardiovascular health of both young and old male healthy subjects. The practice of deep breathing and slow movement in Tai Chi has been proven to increase Heart Rate Variability in both young and old males. Tai Chi has been proven to increase efficiency in myocardial oxygen use. Studies show that Tai Chi increases parasympathetic tone and decreases sympathetic tone as it relates to the heart. 

Tai Chi is a method of practice that has also been used to strengthen the body and maintain proper balance. Balance disorders can a occur due chronic diseases in elderly people. Maintaining balance as aging occurs is critical to prevent major injury from falls. Tai Chi uses deep breathing, slow movement and meditation to help increase balance. Study show that Tai Chi helps to improve balance by decreasing swaying in elderly people with their eyes both open and closed. 

Tai Chi has been listed under Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been used as an alternative to western medicine. It has been used by patients over forty to help treat and prevent Artrial Fibrillation. It has also been used to treat older adults with mental disorders. 

As discussed, Tai Chi is a aerobic low intensity exercised used in Traditional Chinese medicine. It may help treat and prevent patents with cardio vascular diseases. It's methods of deep breathing and slow movement can aid with mental health and improve the overall quality of life in people of all ages.

Lan C. Tai Chi improves natural harmony in autonomic function. North Am J Med Sci [serial online] 2012 [cited 2017 Mar 5];4:276-7. Available from: http://www.najms.org/text.asp?2012/4/6/276/97209

Rahal, Miguel Antônio, Alonso, Angélica Castilho, Andrusaitis, Felix Ricardo, Rodrigues, Thuam Silva, Speciali, Danielli Souza, Greve, Júlia Maria D′Andréa, & Leme, Luiz Eugênio Garcez. (2015). Analysis of static and dynamic balance in healthy elderly practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan versus ballroom dancing. Clinics, 70(3), 157-161. Epub March 00, 

Yan Dong, Jiangquan Liao, Kuiwu Yao, Wenrui Jiang, and Jie Wang, “Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2017, Article ID 1381732, 11 pages, 2017. doi:10.1155/2017/1381732