What the hell? Tai Chi as good as a vaccine for preventing shingles.

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 4/09/2007 8:06pm

Granted, the research was supported by an alternative-care organization (NCCAM), but it was published in a reputable journal with an apparently favorable review:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryC...dicine/tb/5402

In a controlled study of adults vaccinated against varicella zoster virus, those who had earlier been assigned to perform a westernized version of tai chi exercises had significantly higher levels of vaccine-stimulated cell-mediated immunity than did controls, found Michael R. Irwin, M.D., of the University of California at Los Angeles, and colleagues at UC San Diego.

And even before they were vaccinated, tai chi alone helped those who practiced it to mount an immune response to varicella zoster virus comparable to that of patients half their age, the investigators reported in the April issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

In the prospective controlled trial, 112 healthy older adults 59 to 86 years old were randomized to receive training and participation in tai chi chih, a westernized, standardized form of the art, or to a health-education program, both for 25 weeks.

Also note the caveat:

the investigators could not determine whether tai chi actually reduced the occurrence of shingles.

So it looks like they've found the potential for a preventative effect, but not an actual proven one.

But still, the fact that tai chi can act as a potential vaccine against a somewhat-communicable skin disease is something incredible to me. Especially since I'm looking to get into Health Psychology, which includes areas such as this.

**kwoww** · Posted On: 4/09/2007 8:22pm

I knew that healing/internal arts like Tai Chi and Qigong were up there with yoga in the realm of physiological benefit, but increased resistance to disease? Weiiird ****.

**OZZ** · Posted On: 4/11/2007 2:42pm

I watched a story on the news about this the other night..seems a bit strange that Tai Chi could help prevent a skin disorder.

**Epicurus** · Posted On: 4/11/2007 3:18pm

That's nothing, boxing cures fucking leperosy.

**MadeOfOlives** · Posted On: 4/11/2007 8:48pm

did the health education program in the control group include exercise? Perhaps if they had compared a group that performed simple calisthenics or something, the test would tell us whether tai chi routines specifically cause a stronger immune response. As it stands, I can interpret the results to mean that moving around more rather than less is good for the immune system. So exercise is good for people. We knew that.

**kwoww** · Posted On: 4/11/2007 9:07pm

Originally Posted by MadeOfOlives

did the health education program in the control group include exercise? Perhaps if they had compared a group that performed simple calisthenics or something, the test would tell us whether tai chi routines specifically cause a stronger immune response. As it stands, I can interpret the results to mean that moving around more rather than less is good for the immune system. So exercise is good for people. We knew that.

I think it's also the fact that Tai Chi is somewhat relaxing. In fact, it is anything but aerobic. It's actually more like meditating while moving around than anything, so maybe instead it could be compared to yoga or straight-up sitting meditation.

edit: and why shingles, anyway? how about something more accessible to the average person, like the flu. and isn't shingles a one-time-only thing? i'd rather see a study where they measure if people who do tai chi get sick less often... or something.

**Hands** · Posted On: 4/11/2007 9:12pm

I think it would be a good idea to compare Tai chi benefits with both yoga and exercise in general. I think there is a vaccine for shingles now.

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 4/11/2007 9:22pm

did the health education program in the control group include exercise?

They got westernized Tai Chi.

I can interpret the results to mean that moving around more rather than less is good for the immune system

That's a bad interpretation. This is a specific activity showing a boosted protective response to a particular condition.

i'd rather see a study where they measure if people who do tai chi get sick less often... or something.

The studies are out there. Go type in "Tai Chi" or "Tai Chi Chuan" into the Pubmed search database and have fun.

I think it would be a good idea to compare Tai chi benefits with both yoga and exercise in general. I think there is a vaccine for shingles now.

The article talked about the vaccine already. It said that tai chi apparently conferred an equivalent immune response to that generated by the vaccine to the shingles virus.

**Hands** · Posted On: 4/11/2007 9:32pm

Originally Posted by Judah Maccabee

They got westernized Tai Chi.

That's a bad interpretation. This is a specific activity showing a boosted protective response to a particular condition.

The studies are out there. Go type in "Tai Chi" or "Tai Chi Chuan" into the Pubmed search database and have fun.

The article talked about the vaccine already. It said that tai chi apparently conferred an equivalent immune response to that generated by the vaccine to the shingles virus.

Understood but does the study show which aspect of tai chi has the benefit. Is it the exercise, relaxation, or a combination of both? Or is it just tai chi?

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 4/11/2007 11:30pm

Understood but does the study show which aspect of tai chi has the benefit. Is it the exercise, relaxation, or a combination of both? Or is it just tai chi?

I haven't read the actual article. So I don't know. But what I can tell you is that it can be very hard to determine the causal factor. I've researched the psychological benefits of martial arts, and there's still contentious debate over the mechanism for the benefits.