05.21.09
Posted in Obesity & Weight loss, Qigong at 9:50 pm by Dr. Pharm Tao
Muscle/Tendon Change Classic (MTCC) Qigong is an exercise with simple, slow, and full-body movements. It has been found beneficial for the middle-age population. Researchers studied the effect of the MTCC Qigong program on physical status among middle-aged women (Tsai et al., 2008).
In the study, the experimental group had 37 participants with average age of 49 +/- 4.13 years. They received an 8-week MTCC qigong program. The researchers measured physiological parameters of muscular performance, body composition, and bone strength before and after the Qigong practice.
The researchers observed significant differences between the Qigong and control groups in parameters including muscular endurance, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index. The study showed that MTCC qigong could benefit muscle endurance and body composition, but not bone strength among middle-aged women. The study suggests that the Qigong practice may help improve physical status in these women.
Reference:
Tsai, Y. K., Chen, H. H., et al. (2008) Qigong improving physical status in middle-aged women. West J Nurs Res 30, 915-927.
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05.14.09
Posted in Obesity & Weight loss, Qigong at 11:18 am by Dr. Pharm Tao
Researchers in Australia evaluated the effects of Tai Chi and Qigong exercise on metabolic syndrome and glycaemic control in patients with elevated blood glucose (Xin et al., 2008). Eleven people aged 42-65 years with elevated blood glucose participated the examination.
During the study, participants had Tai Chi and Qigong exercise training for 1 to 1.5 hours, three times per week for twelve weeks. The researchers found that there was good adherence and high acceptability for the program. They observed significant improvements in four of the seven indicators of metabolic syndrome including body mass index, waist circumference, and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Small improvements were observed in HbA1c, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance.
The study indicates that Tai Chi Qigong practice is feasible and acceptable. The practice may help control metabolic syndrome and blood glucose levels. Further studies at larger scales are necessary to confirm such results and to understand the mechanisms of Qigong practice.
Reference:
Xin, L., Miller, Y. D., et al. (2008) A preliminary study of the effects of Tai Chi and Qigong medical exercise on indicators of metabolic syndrome and glycaemic control in adults with elevated blood glucose. Br J Sports Med.
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12.05.08
Posted in Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Obesity & Weight loss at 12:31 pm by Dr. Pharm Tao
[Resource: See more at Acupuncture for Weight Loss and Treatment of Obesity-Related Diseases]
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female endocrine and metabolic disorder. It is associated with ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, abdominal obesity, hyperinsulinaemia, and insulin resistance. These problems can cause type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and mental problems later in life. The sympathetic nervous system is considered an important factor in the development of PCOS.
Many women with polycystic ovary syndrome need long-term therapy. Currently pharmacological treatments often have adverse effects and are unsatisfactory. The exploration of nondrug strategies would be helpful. As an alternative therapy, acupuncture can help adjust endogenous regulatory systems. These systems include the sympathetic nervous system, the endocrine, and the neuroendocrine system.
Experimental studies in animal models and clinical therapeutic data among women with polycystic ovary syndrome have shown that acupuncture is very helpful for the disease. It has long-term beneficial effects for metabolic and endocrine systems and ovulation (Stener-Victorin et al., 2008).
For example, one of the studies investigated the effects of low-frequency electro-acupuncture (EA) and physical exercise in a rat PCOS model with insulin resistance and adiposity (Manneras et al., 2008). The researchers measured metabolic disturbances and mRNA expression of selected genes in the adipose tissue. The results of their study indicated that electro-acupuncture and exercise improved insulin sensitivity in the experimental rats with polycystic ovary syndrome.
In addition, they found that physical exercise normalized adiposity, visceral adipocyte size, and plasma leptin. Electro-acupuncture adjusted plasma IGF-I, the expression of leptin and IL-6, and the expression of uncoupling protein 2 in visceral adipose tissue of the experimental rats with polycystic ovary syndrome.
The study showed that electro-acupuncture and exercise could regulate insulin resistance, as well as adipose tissue metabolism and production. Both of the interventions could adjust the gene expression in the divergent adipose tissue connected with insulin resistance, obesity, and inflammation. Compared with exercise, electro-acupuncture may have effects through improving insulin sensitivity and adjusting adipose tissue gene expression without influencing adipose tissue mass.
This study suggests that acupuncture has great potentials to be used as a safe and effective alternative therapeutic method for healing polycystic ovary syndrome. Clinical trials in larger scales and further studies of the mechanisms would be helpful for the evaluation of the method.
References:
Manneras, L., I. H. Jonsdottir, et al. (2008). “Low-frequency electro-acupuncture and physical exercise improve metabolic disturbances and modulate gene expression in adipose tissue in rats with dihydrotestosterone-induced polycystic ovary syndrome.” Endocrinology 149(7): 3559-68.
Stener-Victorin, E., E. Jedel, et al. (2008). “Acupuncture in polycystic ovary syndrome: current experimental and clinical evidence.” J Neuroendocrinol 20(3): 290-8.
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