Improve Mental and Physical Health in Anxious, Depressed Patients with Mindfulness and Qigong By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “You might think ‘I’m late, I might lose my job if I don’t get there on time, and it will be a disaster!’ Mindfulness teaches you to recognize, ‘Oh, there’s that thought again. I’ve […]
Improve Mood with Tai Chi or Qigong Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “adding a mind-body exercise like tai chi that is widely available in the community can improve the outcomes of treating depression in older adults. . . With tai chi, we may be able to treat these conditions without exposing […]
Increase Self-Efficacy with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The science of Tai Chi is just now catching up with and substantiating what Tai Chi practitioners have known for centuries – Tai Chi often leads to more vigor and energy, greater flexibility, balance and mobility, and an improved sense of well-being. […]
Improve Balance in Breast Cancer Patients with Qigong Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “In terms of qigong influence on my cancer, a bone density scan carried some months ago has shown that, not only have I not lost further bone material, but, bone density has improved and there is growth of […]
Movement-Based Therapies are Affective for Rehabilitation from Disease By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Tai chi is often described as “meditation in motion,” but it might well be called “medication in motion.” There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Drugs are effective for rheumatoid arthritis, but they don’t affect the stress pathways that are so fundamental to the condition. Stress symptoms activate inflammation and even heighten the perception of pain. “A mindfulness-based intervention, which targets the multiple components of the body’s stress response, can decrease overall pain severity […]
Improve Knee Osteoarthritis with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Experts have long recommended tai chi as a low-impact workout that’s gentle on the joints. Research . . . revealed additional benefits: It may be as effective as physical therapy for knee osteoarthritis (OA).” – Sharon Liao Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative […]
Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Coronary Disease Rehabilitation with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “practicing tai chi may help to modestly lower blood pressure. It’s also proved helpful for people with heart failure, who tend to be tired and weak as a result of the heart’s diminished pumping ability. The slow […]
Reduce the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Tai chi mind-body treatment results in similar or greater improvement in symptoms than aerobic exercise, the current most commonly prescribed non-drug treatment. This mind-body approach may be considered a therapeutic option in the multi-disciplinary management of fibromyalgia.” – Wang […]
Improve Fibromyalgia with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Compared with patients who received wellness education and stretching exercises, those who practiced tai chi saw their fibromyalgia become much less severe. They also slept better, felt better, had less pain, had more energy, and had better physical and mental health.” – Chenchen Wang Fibromyalgia is a […]