For those suffering from chronic sleep problems, who don’t want to depend on drugs as a solution, you may be very excited to hear that in 2009 Harvard Medical School’s Health Publication referred to a natural mind-body therapy known as “Tai Chi” as a “moving medication,” because it helps with so many health challenges, including insomnia, according to emerging medical research.

They reported “in a University of California, Los Angeles, study of 112 healthy older adults with moderate sleep complaints, 16 weeks of tai chi improved the quality and duration of sleep significantly more than standard sleep education. The study was published in the July 2008 issue of the journal Sleep.”

According to ConsumerReportsonHealth.org, the study involved a control group practicing only healthy life habits, and a Tai Chi group. 63% of the Tai Chi group improved their quality of sleep, while the control group practicing only healthy life habits saw only 32% improve their sleep quality.

A study reported in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society reported improvements were found in sleep quality, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency and less sleep disturbances in a Tai Chi group studied. Compared to a low-impact exercise group, the Tai Chi group fell asleep 18 minutes sooner, and slept about 48 minutes longer than the low-impact exercise group.

Another Traditional Chinese Medical exercise known as Qigong is very similar to Tai Chi using breathing and visualization techniques, and sometimes sitting meditation to elicit many of the same body responses as Tai Chi.  In fact, Tai Chi is one form of Qigong.

A study on sleep in China at the Ningbo Hospital found that out of 78 patients suffering insomnia, a variety of Qigong treatments, out of the 78, 35 were completely cured, 22 showed obvious benefit, 9 enjoyed a little improvement.  So 66 out of 78 enjoyed improved sleep at some level.

You can read more about these studies, and Medical Research on nearly 100 other common health issues at the Tai Chi Medical Research Library at www.worldtaichiday.org. It is the most popular website resource of its kind, so if you just google “tai chi medical research” it will likely appear at the top of the first page.

There you can simply click on the health challenge you, or your loved ones are facing, and it will show you the latest medical research on how Tai Chi may help with that health challenge. You can print it out and share it with your doctor, to expand your health options.

At WorldTaiChiDay.org you’ll also find free Tai Chi video and free Sitting Qigong video lessons you can enjoy and tell friends and family about. Just these free lessons have changed people’s lives.

The good news about Tai Chi is that is has no negative side effects, and you’ll see in the above medical library, that Tai Chi has dozens and dozens and dozens of very powerful good side effects.

 

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