Back in 1999, before these studies began showing that Tai Chi may actually improve bone density, or at the least dramatically slow bone loss, the "Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery's", reported that"Coupled with drug therapy should be a comprehensive approach to exercise and fall prevention. Stretching, strengthening, impact, and balance exercises are effective. Of the balance exercises, tai chi chuan has proved to be the most successful in decreasing falls.." This was because falling injuries are a grave health risk for all aging Americans, but given the dangers of osteoporosis for women, an especially important concern. In fact the sixty leading cause of death for aging Americans is complication from falling injuries. However, research has shown time and time again in major medical studies, such as John's Hopkins, that Tai Chi can reduce the incidence of falling injuries by 50% in those who practice Tai Chi. So, even before emerging research began to show that Tai Chi may contribute to stronger bones in menopausal women perhaps by reducing stress hormone levels and providing a gentle weight bearing exercise, it was know that Tai Chi was a powerful therapy to reduce falling injury.
Now, there may be even more benefit ancient Chinese health therapies can offer to relieve the discomfort of life changes. Tai Chi is known as a general therapeutic form of "Qigong"(pronounced chee gung) exercise. Qigong means"energy exercise"or "breathing exercise"in Chinese. This indicates that Qigong combines gentle motion, or physical stimulation, with breathing techniques, and visualization/relaxation techniques to achieve substantial health benefits. There are over 7,000 Qigong therapies in the Chinese Medica (the Traditional Chinese Book of Medicine). Tai Chi, again, is a highly sophisticated general health Qigong practice, therefore this Qigong research may be relevant to the Tai Chi's applications for those in menopause. An interesting study at healthy.net, revealed that sex hormone levels may be balanced by the practice of Qigong exercises . The report stated,"female sex hormone (estrogen) levels tend to increase in men and decrease in women. Three studies indicate that qigong exercise can reverse this trend. The effect of qigong exercise on plasma sex hormone levels was determined for hypertensive men and women. The sex hormones levels were measured before and after qigong practice for one year" Results showed that high estrodiol levels in men lowered to near normal, and low estrodial levels in women raised to near normal after qigong practice.
Medline Plus, a service of the National Instututes of Health's March 3, 2004 update discussed the problems with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which had been the main treatment for menopausal symptoms. But in the update, Medline Plus, explains,"the results of a major study-called the Women's Health Initiative-has led physicians to revise their recommendations. In fact, this important study was stopped early because the health risks outweighed the health benefits. Women taking the hormones did see some benefits. But they greatly increased their risk for breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots." The Medline article goes on to offer non-drug alternatives to reduce menopausal symptoms that included"yoga, tai chi, or meditation."
In a great article at webmd.com, Dr. Herbert Benson, head of hypertension studies at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital and author of"The Relaxation Response,"goes further to suggest that Tai Chi's moving meditation is"vitally important in PMS, infertility, hot flashes, insomnia," Dr. Benson's comments illustrate the vast multi-dimensional possibilities that Tai Chi offers everyone's health on so many levels. The purpose of this article is not to prescribe treatments for you, but to help you expand your dialogue with your health professional to explore more possibilities for your health. However, the purpose here is also to encourage physicians to begin demanding more focused medical research on what Tai Chi may offer their patients on many levels.
