Posted on 04/09/2007 5:37:20 AM PDT by Daffynition
Shingles, a painful skin condition, may be prevented if you perform Tai-Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, say researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles. Tai Chi is commonly used in many parts of the world as a low-impact exercise for older people.
You can read about this new study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, April issue.
In this new study, researchers found that elderly people who performed Tai Chi enjoyed better immune responses against the shingles-causing virus, compared to people who just received health education.
Shingles affects about one million people in the USA alone - it most commonly affects people over the age of 50.
112 healthy volunteers, aged 59-86, were involved in this study. All participants had had chickenpox. Half of them had three Tai Chi classes each week for 12 weeks, while the other half had health education classes (but no Tai Chi lessons). They all had blood tests before and after their vaccinations.
Six months later, the researchers found that those who had received the Tai Chi lessons had almost twice the immunity levels against shingles, compared to the other group. In fact, the researchers found that the Tai Chi group managed to develop a level of immunity similar to what younger people would have after the vaccination.
I practice a very martial oriented form of Tai Chi Chuan and I had an attack of shingles several years ago. Of course at fifty I don’t think I was elderly so that might have something to do with it. You don’t have to be old to get them but i guess being elderly makes it worse.
I can tell you this, shingles hurts.
Pilates cures cancer.
Carrots are supposed to help you see in the dark, but I find that flashlights work better.
This was the form I learned, too. I'm not surprised by the medical findings, however. In this form are 90 movements to be memorized. Furthermore, this specific martial-oriented Tai Chi, I discovered, carried over into my real-time movements.
My son is a martial artist. He's recently discovered the Louise Hay/Mind Over Matter philosophies and has been asking me about these. There is much to this, but OTOH, there are limits.
Shingles do hurt very much, I've heard from pals who've had them. I hope you are recovered from shingles.
Vitamin B-12 works wonders on shingles.
http://www.innvista.com/HEALTH/herbs/lemonbal.htm
N”ew research has proven the polyphenols in lemon balm to be antiviral and effective against the herpes simplex virus, Newcastle disease, mumps, and vaccinia.
http://www.lycos.com/info/shingles—treatments.html
wont cure it, but:
“The anti-viral properties found in Lemon Balm (Melissa) may suggest a supportive holistic treatment of shingles. Drinking Lemon Balm tea daily, as a preventive, is excellent support since Lemon Balm is a tonic herb and safe to use long term.”
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/41/102.cfm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Herbalists recommend many herbs that are members of the mint family, especially lemon balm, or melissa, to treat herpes. There’s good reason for this. Lemon balm has been proven to have some effect on viruses of the herpes family. Varro Tyler, Ph.D., dean and professor emeritus of pharmacognosy (natural product pharmacy) at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, suggests using lemon balm to treat viral infections.
Herpes cold sores are caused by a virus that behaves much like the virus that causes shingles; in fact, both viruses belong to the same genus. In one well-designed study of 116 people with herpes sores, a lemon balm cream healed the sores substantially better than an inactive cream (a placebo).
I wonder now if my training didn’t help. I am a big believer in the medicinal effects of Tai Chi Chuan as well as the self defense aspects, something a lot of people do not understand since they see it as a kind of slow dance which it is not.
Thak You... I was told that at the time and these days I am a vitamin devotee.
Based on some of the responses I've seen on FR lately, liberals really don't need to do anything on that front. ;)
You probably put the batteries in wrong.
My aunt had shingles last month and she is only 49.
and spinning causes vomiting.
Shingles hurts badly
It’s a shame that the self-defense aspect of Tai Chi is downplayed. It’s every bit as potent as other martial arts if it is taught properly.
Is that “tai chi”, or “Chai tea”?
yeah, you keep hearing about how old folks get it, but my Doctor said he sees it in very young adults. Sometimes it’s pretty bad.
That "slow dance" is actually martial arts, stretching, balancing and breathing done in slow motion. I've no doubts that folks who get a lot out of yoga would also receive great benefits from Tai Chi. I've done and do both.
But I'm lecturing to a choir member here -- you already know all this! :)
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