I like to mention all aspects of health on this blog since they relate to weight management in one way or another. If you get stressed, your body responds by holding onto any extra weight it has and not doing its job properly.
When you are stressed, your blood pressure increases and other body functions cease to work as they should. It is the start to a full body breakdown if left unattended.
We can't change certain situations in our outside environement but we can make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that our bodies and mind have the proper resources available to prolong our health.
The following article deals with a topic we have already discussed which is T'ai Chi. This article delves more into the therapy itself from a more scientific approach. Read on, I am sure you will discover alot of useful information to benefit your overall health.
High Blood Pressure and Tai Chi Therapy
Copyright 2005 Bill Douglas
Way back in 2003, the Journal of Alternative and
Complimentary Medicine’s Oct. 9th issue reported a study
finding that Tai Chi “could decrease blood pressure and
results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve
subjects' anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used
as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild
hypertension, with a promising economic effect.” This
study laid out a way to save our society, perhaps billions
of dollars annually, and possibly save some patients with
mild chronic hypertension the potential negative side
effects of chronic lifelong medication. However, this
largely hasn’t occurred.
I caught a glimpse why when I was staying in the beautiful
mountain town of Otavala, Ecuador, with a woman known for
her knowledge of traditional Indian medicines. A tour of
young American medical students stopped here to listen and
learn from the Indian woman’s tour of her herbal gardens.
As I followed them, I asked a group of young bright medical
students if they were aware that Tai Chi was found to
reduce high blood pressure. One lovely young woman
replied, “Oh, yes, I’ve heard that, but I would never
prescribe it.”
I asked why, and she responded that she couldn’t because
she didn’t know if it would work. Although Tai Chi studies
do show that Tai Chi indeed helps lower high blood
pressure, it is true that it does not reduce it in every
person. However, it is also true that every drug
prescription does not work on every person either. I
suggested to the young medical student that she consider
that many times I’ve been to the doctor, and he’s pulled
out a prescription pad and explained, “Let’s give this a
try, and see how it works for you, and if it doesn’t do the
job, we’ll try something else.” Most of us are familiar
with this, and by the confused look on the student’s face,
I’m assuming her memory banks were bringing up similar
images.
So, why are our medical universities giving students the
impression that they should not be prescribing Tai Chi,
since we know it can help lower high blood pressure for
many, who if it is successful with them, can enjoy a
lifetime free of chronic and costly medications? And not
only do that, but offer a plethora of GOOD SIDE EFFECTS
including a stronger immune system and healthier
respiratory system. This is a deep and important question
we need to be asking as patients and consumers, and health
professionals must begin asking this question regularly in
order to fulfill the duties of their Hippocratic oath.
For, today we have even a much better understanding of Tai
Chi’s potential than we did a few years ago, so ignorance
or inconclusive data is not an acceptable explanation from
our medical universities that train our future doctors,
without teaching them about Tai Chi research, and what it
portends for their future patients.
Today, we are clearer on exactly why Tai Chi is such a
powerful therapy for high blood pressure sufferers. In a
March 17, 2005, article by the Mayo Clinic staff posted at
mayoclinic.com they lay out what a “stress response” is,
and the effects it has on the body. This is at the core of
high blood pressure problems and the physical changes
chronic stress responses illicite that creates or
aggravates hypertensive conditions.
In their article, they explain that a stress response, or
“fight or flight” reaction involves our pituitary gland
releasing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which sets a
domino effect signaling other glands to produce additional
hormones, such as adrenal glands which flood the blood
stream with stress hormones, such as “cortisol” and
“adrenaline.”
When ordinary life’s daily frustrations trigger this effect
over and over again, the results can be damaging to the
mind and body. Many of us experience this domino effect of
triggers and hormones daily, which is why about 1/3 of
Americans, or over 90 million Americans, suffer from high
blood pressure.
Cutting edge scientists like Dr. Herbert Benson, President
of the Mind/Body Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center in Boston, are discovering a stunning reality
through their research. In a wonderful article by Jeanie
Lerche Davis at WebMD Medical News entitled The Mysterious
'Medication' of Meditation
(http://my.webmd.com/content/article/25/1728_
57992.htm), she writes of how such researchers are
discovering that “meditation can indeed be medication –
creating long lasting physiciolgical effects that reduce
high blood pressure and even help unclog arteries to
reverse heart disease.”
Dr. Benson, who is also associate professor of medicine at
Harvard Medical School, sought to prove how this effect
could be shown objectively, and had five long-time
meditation practitioners take MRI brain scans while
meditating. Dr. Benson informed WebMD in the
aforementioned article by Davis, "There was a striking
quietude across the entire brain which was documented
through MRI . . . The areas of the brain that became active
from that quietude were those that control metabolism,
heart rate, etc., . . . We knew meditation caused a
relaxation response, but we couldn't prove it. We knew that
if you thought in a certain way, with repetition, that
physiologic changes would occur in the body. Here now is
proof that mind, in the form of repetition, is affecting
the brain, which affects the body . . . "
Stroke Magazine reported on a study funded by the National
Institutes of Health, conducted by Dr. Amparo
Castillo-Richmond, from the Maharishi University, more
specifically on high blood pressure afflicting black
people. The meditating group saw a reduction in the
thickness of one of the arteries that supplied blood to the
brain. Which indicates that blood flow is increasing. The
group only using diet and exercise saw their artery walls
getting thicker, which indicated that less blood was
flowing through to the brain. This finding led Dr.
Castillo-Richmond to make the profoundly exciting
assertion, "It's possible to reverse heart disease through
meditation."
In fact, not only hypertension, but up to 90% of other
illnesses sending us to the doctor are being caused by
stress, according to Dr. Herbert Benson. Which makes Dr.
Benson’s and Dr. Castillo-Richmond’s findings that
meditative techniques can so dramatically alter our stress
producing “fight or flight” response in healthy ways even
more wonderful.
Dr. Benson explains, that the relaxation response triggered
by repetitive forms [like tai chi, yoga, etc.] can result
in decreased metabolism, heart rate, breathing rate, blood
pressure, and also slower brain waves.” Benson asserts
that it is the repetitive nature of acts like praying the
rosary, yoga, or tai chi’s physical repetitive muscular
actions that provides the profound hope for reducing
anxiety, mild and moderate depression, anger and hostility,
hypertension, cardiac irregularities, and all forms of
pain, which are made worse by stress.
This concept of Tai Chi being an effective tool for
reducing or even avoiding incidence of high blood pressure
or other illnesses all together, is echoed elsewhere.
Mayoclinic.com also recommends Tai Chi for relaxation
training in an article entitled, “Relax: Techniques to help
you achieve tranquility” which also explains why relaxation
is important and what you might experience by practicing
tools that will help you relax.
They detail how you can improve body responses to stress,
such as: Slowing your heart rate; Reducing blood pressure;
Slowing your breathing rate; Reducing the need for oxygen;
Increasing blood flow to the major muscles; Lessening
muscle tension.
They go on to explain that practicing relaxation techniques
may help you experience: Fewer symptoms of illness, such as
headaches, nausea, diarrhea and pain; Few emotional
responses such as anger, crying, anxiety, apprehension and
frustration; More energy; Improved concentration; Greater
ability to handle problems; More efficiency in daily
activities.
So, time and time again as we begin to examine one
particular benefit of Tai Chi, such as lowering high blood
pressure, we see a whole universe of potential opening up
before us.
An article from Archives of Internal Medicine, as reported
on NBC’s local WCAU Health
(http://wcau-tvhealth.ip2m.com/index.cfm?pt=itemDetail&Item_
ID=112735&Site_Cat_ID=77) explained a Tai Chi research
program at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston
revealed a great deal. The article authors wrote,
"Overall, these studies reported that long-term Tai Chi
practice had favorable effects on the promotion of balance
control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness and reduced
the risk of falls in elders . . . Cardiovascular and
respiratory function improvements were noted in healthy
people and those who had undergone coronary artery bypass
surgery as well as people with heart failure, hypertension,
acute myocardial infarction, arthritis and multiple
sclerosis . . . Benefit was also found for balance,
strength, and flexibility in older subjects; falls in frail
elderly subjects; and pain, stress and anxiety in healthy
subjects.” They add the actual ways that Tai Chi provides
these benefits are not well known.
The fact is that less than .5% of the National Institute of
Health’s budget goes to research alternative therapies,
leaving yoga, meditation, tai chi, massage, herbal therapy,
aroma therapy, and the entire massive field of alternative
health systems to struggle over .5%, or a little over $100
million of the $28 billion (approx.) annual budget. Given
the above studies, it boggles the mind that such a small
portion of the health research dollars are going to Tai Chi.
To recap, about 1/3 of the American population suffers high
blood pressure. Tai Chi is proven to be a beneficial
therapy that not only has no bad side effects, but
dramatically improves immune function, respiratory
function, lowers the incidence of anxiety and depression,
and profoundly improves the balance of practitioners. Tai
Chi does more, but for our purposes here these profound
realities are enough to show exactly why it is truly
unbelievable that Tai Chi is getting so little scrutiny in
medical research dollars, when it can save so many from
chronic suffering and perhaps some from a lifetime of
chronic costly medications.
It is time we all began to ask the question that all good
consumers should ask, “What is the best way/product for my
health?” If Tai Chi is that product, the next question is,
“Why isn’t every physician offering it as an option to
their patients with hypertension, as a prescription?” “Why
aren’t all insurance policies covering such prescriptions
for Tai Chi?” Ask and ye shall receive. We must become
informed and demanding health consumers, in order to get
the best health options available.
This article does not advocate self-treatment, and
encourages all to make health choices in conjunction with
their physician. However, if your physician is
close-minded to anything but a certain group of health
options, even when research indicates your choices may be
wider, than it is time to have a good talk with your
physician about possibly widening your options.
----------------------------------------------------
Bill Douglas is the Tai Chi Expert at DrWeil.com, Founder
of World T'ai Chi & Qigong Day (held in 50 nations each
year), and has authored and co-authored several books
including a #1 best selling Tai Chi book “The Complete
Idiot’s Guide to T’ai Chi & Qigong.” Bill’s been a Tai Chi
source for The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc.
You can learn more about Tai Chi & Qigong, and also contact
Bill Douglas at
http://www.worldtaichiday.org
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