Acupuncture, a practice derived from traditional Chinese medicine, is used to help manage pain.

Studies suggest that acupuncture may lead to improvement in low-back pain. It may also help relieve knee pain associated with osteoarthritis, reduce the frequency of tension headaches and migraines, and relieve some fibromyalgia symptoms.

“Evidence suggests that acupuncture may provide a range of health benefits. It may be useful as a stand-alone treatment for some conditions, but, as in your case, it’s increasingly used as part of an integrative medicine approach in conjunction with conventional medical treatments.”

Mayo Clinic News Network

Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by an experienced practitioner using sterile needles.

There have been extensive studies conducted on acupuncture, especially for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis/knee pain, and headache. However, researchers are only beginning to understand whether acupuncture can be helpful for various health conditions.

What the Science Says About the Effectiveness of Acupuncture

Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain. It also may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches. Therefore, acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider. 

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With millions of recovering COVID patients around the world, new approaches in treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may well involve some ancient treatments as well. Research has shown that Tai Chi and its related Qigong breathing exercises improve lung function in COPD. This has profound implications for recovering COVID patients.

A recent article in Harvard Medical School’s news states “Tai chi — a gentle, flowing form of exercise practiced widely in China — has gained popularity in the United States in recent years, spurred in part by growing evidence for its health benefits. Since the late 1950s, hundreds of studies have suggested that tai chi may benefit people with a wide range of medical conditions, including COPD.”

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/tai-chi-promising-for-copd

As a result of my own experiences with breathing issues after being so sick last year. I know how valuable Tai Chi can be and I personally attribute my recovery to the breathing exercises in Tai Chi. Over the last year, we have filmed numerous videos with the exercises for Breathe Strong and Oximed for use in hundreds of hospital respiratory care units around the country dealing with recovering COVID patients. Tai Chi is part of the protocol in China for recovery from COVID and relieving some of the lingering symptoms.

Read more about the latest research and find links for a free introductory class offered by the Tai Chi Project

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With vaccines being delivered and hope on the horizon, it is still frustrating that we cannot yet jump back into normal life. With a few more months ahead of us of continuing to be careful, we at least can begin the reclaim our health if not our whole life yet.

Quarantine Weight Gain: 35.82% Gained Weight During Pandemic [19,903 Person Study]

Posted on 02 March, 2021 by Nicholas Rizzo https://runrepeat.com/quarantine-15-weight-gain-study

Key Findings

• Globally, 35.82% of people reported they gained weight during the pandemic
• Of those that gained weight, 71.25% gained more than 5lbs. 
• The United States had the highest percentage of people gain weight (40.52%) during the pandemic 
• The UK had the most respondents managing to lose weight (40.54%) during this pandemic, while the US had the least (27.71%). 
• In comparison to men, women were 14.17% more likely to gain weight and 16.82% less likely to lose weight.

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Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States and putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) points out that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated.1 Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.

Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact. Social isolation is a lack of social connections. Social isolation can lead to loneliness in some people, while others can feel lonely without being socially isolated.

Health Risks of Loneliness 

Although it’s hard to measure social isolation and loneliness precisely, there is strong evidence that many adults aged 50 and older are socially isolated or lonely in ways that put their health at risk. Recent studies found that:

• Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.¹
• Social isolation was associated with about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia.¹
• Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) was associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.¹
• Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
• Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.¹

Join us in a panel discussion with the author of a new play on the subject, Hunker Down: Building relationships during a pandemic, brought to you by the Firehouse Theatre

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Leading Scientists Discuss Their Scientific & Personal Encounters with Qi

SEE HISTORIC SUMMIT “THE SCIENCE OF QI” with Harvard Osher Center Director, Dr. Peter Wayne, author of “Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi” in discussion with Dr. Richard Hammerschlag, neuro-biologist and naturopathic researcher. A profound 2-hour exchange with audience questions.

Brought to you by the folks at World Tai chi and Qigong day this dialog between two of the leading scientists investigating the benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong is from an online summit conducted on January 20th.

Peter Wayne and Richard Hammerschlag discuss a wide range of research topics such as:

• How does the mind-body impact chronic health conditions?
• What are the physiological and psychological mechanisms underlying therapeutic effects?
• Is there a scientific basis for “Qi”?

Enjoy this extended conversation between two experts, Dr. Peter Wayne and Dr. Richard Hammerschlag about the science of tai chi and qigong across the entire research spectrum.

Here is the link to view January 16th event:

https://youtu.be/zoRDQ01F58E

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