Tai Chi gets thumbs-up for psychological health
May 22nd, 2010 - 12:19 pm ICT by IANSWashington, May 22 (IANS) Tai Chi, a gentle martial art, is believed to cut down stress, anxiety and depression and enhance mood in both healthy and sick people.
A systematic review of the subject does support the perception that Tai Chi has positive psychological effects.
Chenchen Wang, associate professor of the Tufts University School of Medicine and colleagues pooled the results of 40 studies, including 17 randomised controlled trials, into the mental health effects of Tai Chi.
“It is believed to improve mood and enhance overall psychological well being, but convincing evidence has so far been lacking,” said Wang.
Wang and colleagues found that practising Tai Chi was associated with reduced stress, anxiety, depression and mood disturbance and increased self-esteem, said a Tufts release.
Wang said: “More detailed knowledge about the physiological and psychological effects of Tai Chi exercise may lead to new approaches to promote health, treat chronic medical conditions….”
These findings were published in the open access journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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