Acupunct Electrother Res. 2009;34(1-2):15-26.
The role of alternative and complementary treatments of asthma.

Pretorius E.

Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa. resia [dot] pretorius [at] up [dot] ac [dot] za

Asthma is one of the leading chronic diseases of our times, with millions of sufferers worldwide and can be defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is temporarily reversible either spontaneously or by treatment. Although there are many allopathic treatments including bronchodilators and corticosteroids, which either focuses on long-term control or immediate relief, there is no single medication that is effective against both the inflammatory and bronchoconstrictive components of asthma. Therefore, many sufferers turn to alternative or complementary therapies, typically in conjunction with their regular allopathic medications. The current short communication briefly reviews the disease and investigates the types of alternative and complementary treatments available to asthma sufferers. It is concluded that therapies like acupuncture, yoga, Tai Chi Chuan and hypnosis are used by many asthma patients but it seems as if many patients do not communicate the use of such therapies to their medical practitioners. Results from documented research, however, show alternative therapies for the treatment of asthma have a role to play and are effective to alleviate symptoms. However, well-organized clinical trials are needed to document efficacy and delineate the specific types of interventions most appropriate for particular asthmatic populations.

(Source: Pubmed)

J Rehabil Med. 2009 Nov;41(11):924-9.
Effect of 12-week tai chi chuan exercise on peripheral nerve modulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Hung JW, Liou CW, Wang PW, Yeh SH, Lin LW, Lo SK, Tsai FM.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital – Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung Hsiang, Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of tai chi chuan exercise on peripheral nerve modulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

DESIGN: Parallel group comparative study with a pre- and post- design.

SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight participants with diabetes mellitus and 32 healthy adult controls from communities in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

METHODS: Cheng’s tai chi chuan, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose levels, insulin resistance index and nerve conduction studies were measured.

RESULTS: A 12-week tai chi chuan programme significantly improved fasting blood glucose (p = 0.035) and increased nerve conduction velocities in all nerves tested (p = 0.046, right; p = 0.041, left) in diabetic patients. Tai chi chuan exercise did not advance the nerve conduction velocities of normal adults; however, it significantly improved the motor nerve conduction velocities of bilateral median and tibial nerves, and distal sensory latencies of bilateral ulnar nerves in diabetic patients. Tai chi chuan exercise had no significant effect on amplitudes of all nerves tested in diabetic patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that fasting blood glucose and peripheral nerve conduction velocities in diabetic patients can be improved by 12 weeks tai chi chuan exercise. A further larger randomized controlled clinical trial with longer follow-up time is needed.

(Source: Pubmed)

Tai Chi stabilisiert den Blutzucker bei Diabetes, dies haben Wissenschaftler aus Taiwan und Australien festgestellt.

In Taiwan übten 30 Patienten mit Typ-II-Diabetes drei Stunden pro Woche Tai Chi; die Wissenschaftler fanden heraus, dass nach 12 Wochen sich der HbA1c-Wert, der den Zucker im Blut misst, der Diabetiker von 7,59 auf 7,16 Prozent gesenkt hatte, die Immunabwehr hatte sich verbessert, die Anfälligkeit für Allergien hatte sich verringert.

Eine ähnliche Untersuchung führten australische Wissenschaftler mit 11 Diabetikern durch, deren Körpergewicht sich durchschnittlich um 3 Kilogramm reduzierte und der Bauchumfang um 3 Zentimeter; es verbesserten sich der Blutdruck und die Schlafqualität.

Eine kleine Lernhilfe für Yang-Stil-Schüler und -Schülerinnen bieten die Videos der 103-Bilder Form mit Yang Jun, die auf den unten angegebenen Seiten zu finden sind. Es sind schon etwas ältere Aufnahmen und einige Bewegungsdetails haben sich leicht verändert, doch als Erinnerungshilfe fürs Lernen sind sie durchaus brauchbar.
Tai Chi 103-Form, Teil 1
Tai Chi 103-Form, Teil 2
Tai Chi 103-Form, Teil 3/1
Tai Chi 103-Form, Teil 3/2

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