Neurofeedback-enhanced gamma brainwaves from the prefrontal cortical region of meditators and non-meditators and associated subjective experiences.  J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Feb;17(2):109-15. Epub 2011 Feb 8. by Rubik B. from Institute for Frontier Science, Oakland, CA 94611-2802, USA. brubik@...

OBJECTIVES:  This study had two aims: (1) to explore the inner experiences associated with increased production of gamma brainwaves in an initial neurofeedback experience; and (2) to measure and compare neurofeedback-enhanced increased output from the prefrontal cortical region of meditators and non-meditators, using the Peak Brain Happiness Trainer(â„¢) neurofeedback system.  DESIGN: This was a controlled pilot study; it involved a single session per subject.  SETTING:  The research was conducted in a nonprofit laboratory in the United States.  SUBJECTS:  There were 12 adults in 2 groups (N = 12): 6 practitioners of Transcendental Meditation(â„¢) and six controls.  MEASURES:  The measures were self-assessed inner experiences and measurements of clarified gamma output at the prefrontal cortical region. RESULTS:  (1) Self-assessed descriptions were comparable for both groups; (2) the associations of 16 supplied descriptors with the initial neurofeedback experience were comparable for both groups and showed highest scores for "happy" (p < 0.0001) and "loving" (p < 0.0001), and lowest scores for "stressed" (p < 0.0001) and "disappointed" (p < 0.0001); (3) baseline measures were comparable for both groups; (4) both groups were able to increase gamma brainwaves using neurofeedback (p < 0.01); and (5) meditators produced greater increases over controls (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS:  The inner experience associated with increased clarified gamma amplitude from the prefrontal cortex apparently involves positive emotions of happiness and love, along with reduced stress. Meditators achieved greater increases in the gamma band from the prefrontal cortical region over controls during an initial neurofeedback session.

Mind-body interventions during pregnancy for preventing or treating women's anxiety.  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Jul 6;7:CD007559. By Marc I, Toureche N, Ernst E, Hodnett ED, Blanchet C, Dodin S, Njoya MM. from Département de pédiatrie, Université Laval, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, 2705 boulevard Laurier, Québec, Québec, Canada, G1V 4G2.

BACKGROUND:  Anxiety during pregnancy is a common problem. Anxiety and stress could have consequences on the course of the pregnancy and the later development of the child. Anxiety responds well to treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and/or medication. Non-pharmacological interventions such as mind-body interventions, known to decrease anxiety in several clinical situations, might be offered for treating and preventing anxiety during pregnancy. OBJECTIVES:  To assess the benefits of mind-body interventions during pregnancy in preventing or treating women's anxiety and in influencing perinatal outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY:  We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 November 2010), MEDLINE (1950 to 30 November 2010), EMBASE (1974 to 30 November 2010), the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) (1 December 2010), ClinicalTrials.gov (December 2010) and Current Controlled Trials (1 December 2010), searched the reference lists of selected studies and contacted professionals and authors in the field.  SELECTION CRITERIA:  Randomized controlled trials, involving pregnant women of any age at any time from conception to one month after birth, comparing mind-body interventions with a control group. Mind-body interventions include: autogenic training, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, imagery, meditation, prayer, auto-suggestion, tai-chi and yoga. Control group includes: standard care, other pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions, other types of mind-body interventions or no treatment at all. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion all assessed risk of bias for each included study. We extracted data independently using an agreed form and checked it for accuracy. MAIN RESULTS:  We included eight trials (556 participants), evaluating hypnotherapy (one trial), imagery (five trials), autogenic training (one trial) and yoga (one trial). Due to the small number of studies per intervention and to the diversity of outcome measurements, we performed no meta-analysis, and have reported results individually for each study. Compared with usual care, in one study (133 women), imagery may have a positive effect on anxiety during labor decreasing anxiety at the early and middle stages of labor (MD -1.46; 95% CI -2.43 to -0.49; one study, 133 women) and (MD -1.24; 95% CI -2.18 to -0.30). Another study showed that imagery had a positive effect on anxiety and depression in the immediate postpartum period. Autogenic training might be effective for decreasing women's anxiety before delivering.  CONCLUSIONS:  Mind-body interventions might benefit women's anxiety during pregnancy. Based on individual studies, there is some but no strong evidence for the effectiveness of mind-body interventions for the management of anxiety during pregnancy. The main limitations of the studies were the lack of blinding and insufficient details on the methods used for randomization.

A randomized, controlled trial of meditation for work stress, anxiety and depressed mood in full-time workers.  Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:960583. by Manocha R, Black D, Sarris J, Stough C. from Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney University, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.

Objective. To assess the effect of meditation on work stress, anxiety and mood in full-time workers. Methods. 178 adult workers participated in an 8-week, 3-arm randomized controlled trial comparing a "mental silence" approach to meditation (n = 59) to a "relaxation" active control (n = 56) and a wait-list control (n = 63). Participants were assessed before and after using Psychological Strain Questionnaire (PSQ), a subscale of the larger Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI), the State component of the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI), and the depression-dejection (DD) subscale of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Results. There was a significant improvement for the meditation group compared to both the relaxation control and the wait-list groups the PSQ (P = .026), and DD (P = .019). Conclusions. Mental silence-orientated meditation, in this case Sahaja Yoga meditation, is a safe and effective strategy for dealing with work stress and depressive feelings. The findings suggest that "thought reduction" or "mental silence" may have specific effects relevant to work stress and hence occupational health.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118731  

Meditation and the brain: attention, control and emotion.  Mens Sana Monogr. 2011 Jan;9(1):276-83. by Mograbi GJ.  Professor of Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Mind and Epistemology, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Abstract: Meditation has been for long time avoided as a scientific theme because of its complexity and its religious connotations. Fortunately, in the last years, it has increasingly been studied within different neuroscientific experimental protocols. Attention and concentration are surely among the most important topics in these experiments. Notwithstanding this, inhibition of emotions and discursive thoughts are equally important to understand what is at stake during those types of mental processes. I philosophically and technically analyse and compare results from neuroimaging studies, produced by leading authorities on the theme, dealing with two types of meditation: "one-pointed concentration" and "compassion meditation". Analysing "one-pointed concentration", I show the differences between novice and expert meditation practitioners in terms of brain activity and connectivity, considering the relationship among increased attention and concentration and decreased activity in areas related to discursive thought and emotion. Analysing "compassion meditation", I show the importance of the limbic circuitry in emotion sharing. I follow the same strategy of comparing novice and expert meditation practitioners. The conclusion establishes a common structure to those different ways of dealing with emotion during meditation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3115297 

Dispositional Mindfulness, Meditation, and Conditional Goal Setting. Mindfulness (N Y). 2010 Dec;1(4):204-214.  By Crane C, Jandric D, Barnhofer T, Williams JM.

Abstract: Conditional goal setting (CGS, the tendency to regard high order goals such as happiness, as conditional upon the achievement of lower order goals) is observed in individuals with depression and recent research has suggested a link between levels of dispositional mindfulness and conditional goal setting in depressed patients. Since interventions which aim to increase mindfulness through training in meditation are used with patients suffering from depression it is of interest to examine whether such interventions might alter CGS. Study 1 examined the correlation between changes in dispositional mindfulness and changes in CGS over a 3-4 month period in patients participating in a pilot randomised controlled trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). Results indicated that increases in dispositional mindfulness were significantly associated with decreases in CGS, although this effect could not be attributed specifically to the group who had received training in meditation. Study 2 explored the impact of brief periods of either breathing or loving kindness meditation on CGS in 55 healthy participants. Contrary to expectation, a brief period of meditation increased CGS. Further analyses indicated that this effect was restricted to participants low in goal re-engagement ability who were allocated to loving kindness meditation. Longer term changes in dispositional mindfulness are associated with reductions in CGS in patients with depressed mood. However initial reactions to meditation, and in particular loving kindness meditation, may be counterintuitive and further research is required in order to determine the relationship between initial reactions and longer-term benefits of meditation practice.

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002397     

The scientific study of happiness and health promotion: an integrative literature review. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2010 May-Jun; 18(3):472-9.  By Scorsolini-Comin F, Dos Santos MA.  Source: scorsolini_usp@...

Abstract: The article aims to trace the profile of publications concerning the concept of subjective well-being (SWB), considered the scientific study of happiness, as well as discussing the impact of this accumulated understanding on health promotion. The revision was carried out in the databases PubMed, MedLine, PsycINFO, SciELO, LILACS and PEPSIC using the descriptor subjective well-being. Articles published in indexed periodicals between 1970 and 2008 were selected. From the inclusion/exclusion criteria 19 publications were selected in full for discussion. Of these, the majority were related to the health area and did not approach the concept of SWB directly, but touched on this together with the notions of well-being, satisfaction and quality of life. There were few publications that approached the term conceptually or that defined the instruments used for the assessment of SWB. Concluding, the results confirm the relevance of the theme for health promotion and the necessity of investigations related to the practices of health professionals.

Abstract: Empirical evidence suggests that there are marked associations between positive psychological states and health outcomes, including reduced cardiovascular disease risk and increased resistance to infection. These observations have stimulated the investigation of behavioral and biological processes that might mediate protective effects. Evidence linking positive affect with health behaviors has been mixed, though recent cross-cultural research has documented associations with exercising regularly, not smoking, and prudent diet. At the biological level, cortisol output has been consistently shown to be lower among individuals reporting positive affect, and favorable associations with heart rate, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 have also been described. Importantly, these relationships are independent of negative affect and depressed mood, suggesting that positive affect may have distinctive biological correlates that can benefit health. At the same time, positive affect is associated with protective psychosocial factors such as greater social connectedness, perceived social support, optimism, and preference for adaptive coping responses. Positive affect may be part of a broader profile of psychosocial resilience that reduces risk of adverse physical health outcomes.

Positive psychological well-being and mortality: a quantitative review of prospective observational studies. Psychosom Med. 2008 Sep;70(7):741-56. by Chida Y, Steptoe A. from Psychobiology Group, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK. y.chida@...

OBJECTIVE:  To review systematically prospective, observational, cohort studies of the association between positive well-being and mortality using meta-analytic methods. Recent years have witnessed increased interest in the relationship between positive psychological well-being and physical health. METHODS:  We searched general bibliographic databases: Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and PubMed up to January 2008. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics, quality, and estimates of associations. RESULTS: There were 35 studies (26 articles) investigating mortality in initially healthy populations and 35 studies (28 articles) of disease populations. The meta-analyses showed that positive psychological well-being was associated with reduced mortality in both the healthy population (combined hazard ratio (HR) = 0.82; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.76-0.89; p < .001) and the disease population (combined HR = 0.98; CI = 0.95-1.00; p = .030) studies. There were indications of publication bias in this literature, although the fail-safe numbers were 2444 and 1397 for healthy and disease population studies, respectively. Intriguingly, meta-analysis of studies that controlled for negative affect showed that the protective effects of positive psychological well-being were independent of negative affect. Both positive affect (e.g., emotional well-being, positive mood, joy, happiness, vigor, energy) and positive trait-like dispositions (e.g., life satisfaction, hopefulness, optimism, sense of humor) were associated with reduced mortality in healthy population studies. Positive psychological well-being was significantly associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality in healthy population studies, and with reduced death rates in patients with renal failure and with human immunodeficiency virus-infection. CONCLUSIONS: The current review suggests that positive psychological well-being has a favorable effect on survival in both healthy and diseased populations.

Activation of the anterior prefrontal cortex and serotonergic system is associated with improvements in mood and EEG changes induced by Zen meditation practice in novices. Int J Psychophysiol. 2011 May;80(2):103-11.  By Yu X, Fumoto M, Nakatani Y, Sekiyama T, Kikuchi H, Seki Y, Sato-Suzuki I, Arita H. from Dept of Physiology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract: To gain insight into the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in Zen meditation, we evaluated the effects of focused attention (FA) on breathing movements in the lower abdomen (Tanden) in novices. We investigated hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), an attention-related brain region, using 24-channel near-infrared spectroscopy during a 20-minute session of FA on Tanden breathing in 15 healthy volunteers. We found that the level of oxygenated hemoglobin in the anterior PFC was significantly increased during FA on Tanden breathing, accompanied by a reduction in feelings of negative mood compared to before the meditation session. Electroencephalography (EEG) revealed increased alpha band activity and decreased theta band activity during and after FA on Tanden breathing. EEG changes were correlated with a significant increase in whole blood serotonin (5-HT) levels. These results suggest that activation of the anterior PFC and 5-HT system may be responsible for the improvement of negative mood and EEG signal changes observed during FA on Tanden breathing.

Detection of nighttime melatonin level in Chinese Original Quiet Sitting. J Formos Med Assoc. 2010 Oct;109(10):694-701.  By Liou CH, Hsieh CW, Hsieh CH, Chen DY, Wang CH, Chen JH, Lee SC. From Interdisciplinary MRI/MRS Laboratory, National Taiwan University, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:  Some research has shown that melatonin levels increase after meditation practices, but other research has shown that they do not. In our previous functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we found positive activation of the pineal body during Chinese Original Quiet Sitting (COQS). To find other supporting evidence for pineal activation, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of COQS on nighttime melatonin levels. METHODS:  Twenty subjects (11 women and 9 men, aged 29-64 years) who had regularly practiced daily meditation for 5-24 years participated in this study. All subjects served alternately as participants in the mediation and control groups. COQS was adopted in this study. Tests were performed during two nighttime sessions. Saliva was sampled at 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 90 minutes after COQS and tested for level of melatonin. Time period effect analysis and mixed effect model analysis were preceded by paired t test analysis. RESULTS:  In the meditation group (n = 20), the mean level of melatonin was significantly higher than the baseline level at various times post-meditation (p < 0.001). Within the control group (n = 20), the mean level of melatonin at various times was not significantly different compared with baseline (p>0.05). These results suggested that the melatonin level was statistically elevated in the meditation group and almost unchanged in the control group after nighttime meditation. The urine serotonin levels detected by measuring 5-hydroxy-indole-3-acetic acid levels were also studied, but no detectable difference between the groups was found.  CONCLUSION:  Our results support the hypothesis that meditation might elevate the nighttime salivary melatonin levels. It suggests that COQS can be used as a psychophysiological stimulus to increase endogenous secretion of melatonin, which in turn, might contribute to an improved sense of well-being.

Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) is an E-magazine and a network for all Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Reiki, mindfulness and meditation practitioners, health seekers, and spiritual cultivators. It promotes philosophy and methods of self-healing, positive mind and health preservation, and shares knowledge and experiences with those who are interested in the subjects and their applications in everyday life.  Your contribution, participation, sharing and suggestions are truly appreciated.

Highlights of July Issues (Vol 1, No. 6)

[From the Editor] Introduction to the theme of this issue, Positivity and Health, or Happiness, by the guest editor-in-chief and publisher, Kevin W Chen.  This issue is truly a collective effort to further our knowledge and practice in pursuit of happiness for better health and life.

[Featured Article] Becoming Happier through meditation with inner joys by Kevin W Chen, Ph.D. — As happiness is a state of mind, we may find out that the pursuit of external sense-pleasure or happiness does not produce long-lasting satisfaction, while pursuit of inner happiness through meditation may be more productive and rewarding.

[Featured Articles] Positive Stress Management and Gratitude by Chris G’Froerer – our Australian veteran stress therapist introduces a different strategy or method in managing stress with positive scanning, gratitude, appreciating it as an opportunity in life and exercises…

[Mind Body Research Update] — â—� Neurofeedback-enhanced gamma brainwaves from the prefrontal cortical region of meditators and non-meditators and associated subjective experiences. â—� Mind-body interventions during pregnancy for preventing or treating women’s anxiety   â—� A randomized, controlled trial of meditation for work stress, anxiety and depressed mood in full-time workers  â—� Meditation and the brain: attention, control and emotion â—� Dispositional Mindfulness, Meditation, and Conditional Goal Setting  â—� The scientific study of happiness and health promotion: an integrative literature review. â—� Is sex just fun? How sexual activity improves health â—� Positive affect and psychobiological processes relevant to health  â—� Positive psychological well-being and mortality: a quantitative review of prospective observational studies; â—� Activation of the anterior prefrontal cortex and serotonergic system is associated with improvements in mood and EEG changes induced by Zen meditation practice in novices. â—� Detection of nighttime melatonin level in Chinese Original Quiet Sitting

[Method of Self-Healing] Laughter Therapy by Kathy Chan – Introduction to the act of consciously practicing laughter for therapeutic purposes, such as to reduce stress, relieve pain, relax the muscles, increase oxygen intake, increase the heart rate, stimulate the circulatory system, make you feel good, plus many other positive effects.

[From the Master] Taiji & Science: There is no Jin (part 1) by Master Chun Man Sit – Many talk about the mysterious jin 劲, or nei jin 内劲; all taiji masters seem to have this jin, or so they claim. However, master Sit thinks it is the non-Jin practice that makes the difference in Taiji and other mind-body exercises.

[Scientific Qi Exploration] Part 15a : Psychological Effects of Qigong by Marty Eisen, Ph.D. — a continuation of the series started in 2008, Dr. Eisen explores the effects of Qigong practice on behaviors and intelligence.

[Proverbs of Yang Sheng] A selected Chinese proverbs on Positivity and Health

[Positivity Blog] 10 practical ways to live a happier life today by Henrick Edberg – Some little things in everyday life can make you feel more positive and happier as long as you keep doing them.

[Illuminating the Dao] Happiness creates health by Michelle Wood —  Instead of focusing on stress or worry and avoidance of death, we can easily turn our attention to freedom, fun and happiness, which reduces the levels of stress hormones and increases the body chemicals that support regeneration of all the elements and components of your physical self.

[Experience Exchange] Increase Happiness with Taiji and Qigong by Jeff Simonton – Taiji and Qigong practice strengthens our ability to adapt and to live a generally happy and stress-free life.

[A Comedy Moment] I am Thankful for….

[Energy Healing through Science & Spirit] Qi Energy and Happiness by Sifu Cindy Cicero — What’s so perfect about the pursuit of happiness?  It’s the personal choice to live positive and happy, and to go through the moments of your life the way you want to feel that makes a difference in your daily life and energy healing.

[Healing through Pleasure] Brief History of Sex as Medicine in China by Dr. Felice Dunas – Chinese medicine may be the first medical system that applied sexual activities, not just for reproduction or pleasure, but for the purpose of health, healing, and slowing down the aging process.

Inspirations – Life is the Coffee; The Optimist’s Creed — Life is the coffee, while the jobs, houses, cars, money and desirable position are just the cups, which does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.  God brews the coffee, not the cups . . . enjoy your coffee.

[TCM Food Therapy] Food Therapy for Anxiety and Panic disorder by Dr. Helen Hu — Tangerine peel rice congee, Celery and Jujube (Sour) Seed congee, CTG Tea, Bo Zi Ren congee, Go Ji berry congee, Black bean and wheat tea, Ginger Date soup, Poor man ginseng chicken… for different types of anxiety, these recipes can be therapeutic.

[Echoes of Emptiness] Happiness by Jacob Newell – Our Dao Shi reminds us, if we approach meditation as the means to achieve happiness, we’re moving in the wrong direction, since Zhuangzi describes happiness as “the absence of searching for happinessâ€�.  A true Daoist perspective worth considering.

[The TaiJi Examiner] A simple Taiji routine eases arthritis pain by Violet Li – A true story of 84-year old Norman Seligman in St. Louis County, Missouri, who applied a simple taiji practice to obtain a better health, and now started teaching the ancient health exercise…

[Soul Salon] Courage: getting your fear in gear by Rena Reese —  The role of courage in the relationship of love, truth and power; silencing our fears doesn’t happen by reviewing and analyzing them, but rather best done through small acts of courage in support of the outcomes we desire.

[Food as Medicine] Seasonal Harmony by Ellasara Kling –  Lotus Root Stir Fry, Basic Marinade for Vegetables for grilling/broiling, eggplant squares, … More mouth watering recipes for the later summer months! Plus a number of useful tips for a healthy living.

[Tales from the Dao] “Crazy� Tuanmu Shu (from the Lieh Tzu) by Solala Towler – The story of how a rich man lived his life the way he really enjoyed though he did not leave anything for his children…

[Book Review] The Chi Revolution by Bruce Frantzis  — reviewed by Sal Casano, Ph.D.

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Highlights of September Issue of Yang-Sheng (Vol 1, No. 7)

[From the Editor] Introduction to the theme of this issue: Longevity, by Rebecca Kali. ¡ª Exploring the secrets of longevity is of interest to everyone but it becomes a personal interest, very personal, as we grow older. If we like our lives, we want to extend them, to live longer. However, longevity is much more than just extending the length of our lives. This issue offers practices as well as advice from food choices and daily routine to the real meaning of longevity and immortality.

[Featured Article] Longevity & Immortality by Dr. Roger Jahnke ¡ª Immortality is not living forever in the body you have, but to be aware of your eternal nature before you die. Laozi wrote ¡°using your own radiance return to the source of all light, this is the practice of entering eternity¡± In Qi cultivation, this process is initiated at the practical level of health and healing. However, in the more advanced methods, healing, longevity and immortality are gained by returning to one¡¯s primordial or prenatal nature and by merging with the timeless field of universal Qi.

[Featured Article] 7 Secrets  to Grow Younger, Live Longer by Deepak Chopra, M.D. ¨C  Conventional medicine used to view the body as a machine whose parts would inevitably break down until it could no longer be repaired.  Today scientific research is arriving at a radically different understanding: While the body appears to be material, it is really a field of energy and intelligence that is inextricably connected to the mind. The mind influences every cell in the body and therefore human aging is fluid and changeable. It can speed up, slow down, and even reverse itself. Dr. Chopra outlines seven steps to tap into your inner reservoir of unlimited energy, creativity, vitality, and love.

[Featured Article] Life-Nurturing Regimen, as revealed by a centenarian of 101 years old translated by Richard Kwan ¡ª If someone can live to the ripe old age of 101 years without any major health problems, he must have a good health regimen. Mr. Kai-chen Tsui (´Þ½é³À),who was born in 1910, shares his secrets of longevity including 32 practices from his Life-nurturing Regimen.

[Methods of Self Healing] Turtle-Breathing Qigong for longevity.

[Mind-Body Medicine Research Update] ¡ñ Can meditation slow rate of cellular aging? Cognitive stress, mindfulness, and telomeres.  ¡ñ Subjective experiences of older adults practicing taiji and qigong.  ¡ñ Mechanisms of yogic practices in health, aging, and disease. ¡ñ A Critical Review of the Effects of Medical Qigong on Quality of Life, Immune Function, and Survival in Cancer Patients. ¡ñ Yoga therapy as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia: a RCT pilot study. ¡ñ The effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for prevention of relapse in recurrent major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ¡ñ Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: an efficacious community-based group intervention for depression and anxiety in a sample of cancer patients.   ¡ñ Changes in physician costs among high-cost transcendental meditation practitioners compared with high-cost non-practitioners over 5 years.  ¡ñ Effect of Qigong on quality of life: a cross-sectional population-based comparison study in Taiwan.  ¡ñ Meditation training increases brain efficiency in an attention task. ¡ñ Buddhist group therapy for diabetes patients with depressive symptoms.

[Proverbs of Yang Sheng] Selected Secrets and Maxims of Longevity by Some Famous Chinese ¨C translated by Kevin W. Chen, Ph.D. ¡ª reveal the secrets of longevity from Lao-tzu,  Zhuang-tzu, Meng-Tzu, Hua-tuo, Sun Si-miao, and more¡­..

[Breathe in this Life] Women¡¯s Empowerment in an Age of Illness (part 1) by Ginger Garner ¨C In the US, there are more women living in poverty and suffering from chronic diseases than men. The extraordinary record of the U.S. medical advancement makes its haphazard approach to maternal care and high infant mortality all the more scandalous and disgraceful.  We need change in health care for women in America. Part 1 in this series reports some alarming statistics.  Part 2 will show you how you can self-empower your way to better health through a 5000 year old practice.   

[From the Master] There is no Jin (part 2) by Master Chun Man Sit¨C Many talk about the mysterious jin ¾¢, or nei jin ÄÚ¾¢; all taiji masters seem to have this jin, or so they claim. However, master Sit thinks it is the non-Jin practice that makes the difference in Taiji and other mind-body exercises. Exploring Gravity ¨C the Force of No Force; Gravity and Rooting; and The Rhythm of Yin and Yang.

[Topics in Research] Scientific Qi Exploration Part 15b : Psychological Effects of Qigong by Marty Eisen, Ph.D. ¡ª a continuation of the series started in 2008, Dr. Eisen explores the effects of Qigong practice on behaviors and intelligence. This article includes: Part 4: Qigong as a treatment of mental illness (a)  Depression and Psychosomatic Disorders;  (b)  Anxiety;.   Part 5: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) ; and Part 6: studies of the effects of qigong on personality types.

[Echoes of Emptiness] Unknowing by Jacob Newell ¨CWhen we are born, nature gives us the wonderful gift of unknowing. But human beings tend to overlook the value of this gift and treat it as an affliction.  We try every which way to avoid it or transform it.  Yet basic unknowing always remains. Jacob Newell explores his quest for coming to terms with our basic state of unknowing through: faith, philosophy, enlightenment¡­and Laozi.

[The Positivity Blog] How to Overcome Your Worries: 5 Timeless Thoughts from the Last 2,500 Years by Henrik Edberg ¨C  You are going about your regular day in your usual fashion. Then a thought or a feeling strikes you. It multiplies and start circling around and around in your head. Becoming louder and louder as it saps your strength and makes you feel weaker. What can you do about worries? Here are five timeless thoughts to help you overcome or at least lessen the worries in your life.

[Illuminating the Dao ÎòµÀ] The Key to A Long Life: Live Well! by Michelle Wood ¨C  That seems a little simplistic, doesn¡¯t it? If you want a long life, you have to live well. It actually is just that simple, but here¡¯s the tricky part: Just what does it mean to ¡°live well?¡± Michelle Wood employs uncommon, common sense, as well as ancient Daoist wisdom to explore the answer to this question.

[Experience Exchange] The Story of My Mother & the Secrets of the World¡¯s Longest-lived Peoples by Phoenix Liu, Ph.D. ¡ª Although her mother is ¡°just¡± 85, Phoenix Liu felt she was reading stories about her own mother when she read the book, Healthy at 100: How You Can Dramatically Increase Your Life Span and Your Health Span, by John Robbins.  The four populations of elderly people described in the book are (1) Abkhasians, the so called ¡°Ancients of the Caucasus¡±; (2) Vilcabambans, who are the ¡°eternal youth¡± in Ecuador; (3) Hunzans, the dancers in the mountain region of northern Pakistan; and (4) Okinawans, the centenarians on the subtropical islands of Japan.

[Qigong and Fitness] Standing Like a Tree! What is this Standing Practice? by Timothy Booth ¡ª Standing Like a Tree  (Zhan Zhuang), is definitely one of the greatest gifts from the internal practices.  So simple and yet so powerful. It is a way of developing better balance and alignment, stronger legs and waist, deeper respiration, accurate body mindfulness and tranquility.

[Healing through Pleasure] Love & Sex: Expressions of Energetic Strength & Weakness by Felice Dunas, Ph.D. L.Ac. ¡ª The tale of ¡°Sleeping Beauty¡± might sound old-fashioned in an age of gender equity, but it still strikes a chord in our souls. In its simplicity, it captures something basic about men and women. Essential feminine and masculine principles, termed yin and yang by ancient Chinese philosophers, are reflected in the storybook couple. Of course, the tale says nothing about their sex life, but: If Beauty and her prince used the ancient, erotic healing techniques of Oriental medicine in the royal bedroom, they would indeed have lived happily ever after-and healthier and longer as well.

[TCM Food Therapy] Longevity Eight Treasure Congee by Dr. Helen Hu ¡ª Chinese porridge or congee (Zhou: Öà) is a thick soup that is made from grains. There are various ways of making and serving congee, and no special skill is required. Medicinal congee, is based on varieties of natural grains combined with  vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, meat, eggs and certain herbs, selected according to their property for healing, promoting well being and longevity.  Dr. Helen Hu shares recipes for four versions of Eight Treasure Congee.

[Soul Salon] Stoke the Fire of Change by Rena M. Reese ¡ª Change is a beautiful thing, but effective, successful changes require more than thought, planning and goals.  When we try to make changes in our life, even things that are really good for us, we may find resistance rears up.  If you are trying to make a change, eat healthier, get fit, whatever it is; if it gets worse before it gets better, that is great. It is a good sign¡­evidence of a shift. You are stepping toward change.  The universe is responding, first with what appears to be resistance, but it is really part of the re-organization of the way things are now. Your faith and your willingness to act are two ingredients the universe uses to guide you through the How-To¡¯s of the change you seek.

[Food as Medicine] Seasonal Harmony by Ellasara Kling ¡ª Autumn is the Lung Season. Learn the foods that harmonize with the fall/autumn season.  Delicious fall season recipes:  Spinach Soup with Snow Fungus; A Fall congee; Middle Eastern Style Cauliflower; Moroccan Parsnips; and Ginger Tea. The Health Topic is: Letting go, a path to health and vitality. The Autumn/Fall season is designed for letting go. Letting go of the things that no longer serve us, and by doing so, gain greater clarity, understanding, balance and harmony.  How do we know what no longer serves us?  Read on in this month¡¯s health topic for more ideas on this issue.

[A Comedy Moment] Out of Body. Back in twenty minutes!

[Book Review] Daoist Nei Gong ¨C The Philosophical Art of Change by Damo Mitchell ¡ª reviewed by Sal Casano, Ph.D.

[Energy Healing through Science & Spirit] How can bioenergy be measured? by Cindy Cicero ¡ª The article explains a Duke\Rhine Research Center recent lab bio-emissions experiment that Cindy participated in with interesting results. You can watch a video in the article to explain the procedure¡­.

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[From the Editor] by Rebecca Kali, Editor-in-Chief – Welcome to the December issue of Yang-Sheng! “The Healer Withinâ€� is the theme of this issue. The ability to maintain one’s health and balance is an integral aspect of every person’s body, mind and spirit. Each of us has that potential; an inner power of healing so great that it can shift matter and transform illness. To acknowledge it is self-empowerment.  To recognize “the healer withinâ€� is to know that you are in charge of your health and well-being.

[Featured Article] The Miracle of Self-Initiated Healing  by Roger Jahnke, OMD - In the amazing universe of Mind-Body Practice and Energy Based Healing, there is one profound bit of information that turns on our sense of the possibilities: The human – spirit-mind-body – is naturally enabled to heal – the most powerful healing elixirs (medicines) ever developed are produced naturally in the human system – for FREE!

[Simple Natural Healing] Winter Wellness and Self Care  by Aihan Kuhn 爱寒, C.B.D, Dipl., OBT – In the wintertime, especially during the holiday season, we need to pay careful attention to our digestive system and do daily exercises. This promotes proper digestion, maintains immune function and provides a daily energy boost. Here are some diet tips and five exercises perfect for everyday practice

[Integral Wisdom] Stay Healthy in all Seasons by Mark Melchiorre, L.Ac. – Our system of traditional medicine is intimately connected to the ebb and flow of the energy in our universe. Far from being some mystical concept, one can see and feel this energy on a daily basis. Over time, these observations were codified into a system of correspondences known as the Wu Xing or Five Phases (五行).

[Featured Article] Awaken the Healer Within -- NIH Interview with Roger Jahnke, OMD – How Qigong and Tai Chi – Chinese Mind-Body Wellness Practices – Promote Healthy Function. This brief interview with Dr Roger Jahnke, OMD, director of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC), was published in the In-house, newsletter of the NIH (National Institutes of Health) in September of 2009 to inform NIH employees about strategies for wellness and disease prevention

[Learn About Dao] Daoism and the Origins of Qigong (Part 1) by Livia Kohn, Ph.D. – Qigong or “Qi Exercises� describe a group of practices highly popular in China and increasingly well known in the West. Historically, gymnastic and breathing exercises formed a part of traditional Chinese medicine that specialized in preventative practice, known as yang-sheng or nourishing life. They follow the dictum that the best physician is one who prevents disease and never even has to treat a patient.

[Meditation in Motion] Taiji and Qigong for Immune System Health by Eric Borreson – Evidence shows that taiji and Qigong can help strengthen your immune system. Doctors do not fully understand what happens, but they do agree that taiji and Qigong help. Activating our relaxation response and our lymphatic system are shown to be two of the ways that taiji and Qigong contribute to maintaining a strong immune system.

[From the Master] Daoist Internal Alchemy: A Deep Language for Communicating with Nature’s Intelligence by Michael Winn – When Michael was first initiated into Daoist Qigong and internal alchemy 20 years ago, he began having exciting and profound experiences. Mysterious hidden inner worlds were suddenly revealed. As he progressed through “Seven Alchemical Formulas for Attaining Immortality�, he came to recognize the nei dan formulas themselves reveal a deep language by which Nature communicates with the different dimensions of its own intelligence. This universal field of intelligence in alchemical terms is the mind of the Dao.

[Research Update] Mind-Body Medicine Research Update  - Effects of Tai Chi on pre-landing muscle response  latency during stepping down while performing a  concurrent mental task in older adults • Mindful attention reduces neural and self-reported cue-induced craving in smokers • Effects of yoga exercise on serum adiponectin and metabolic syndrome factors in obese postmenopausal women , and more.

[Energy Healing through Science & Spirit] The Healer is the Spirit Being Within…  by Sifu Cicero - Is it possible that the healer within is a spirit being that inhabits our human host body?  If this is possible, could this healer within be the one that exists beyond the body?  Or we are only the physical body that ceases to exist after death? In her exploration of these questions, Cindy Cicero discovered that there is more to the “healer withinâ€� than she could ever have anticipated.

[A comedy moment] When asked what he wanted for his birthday, the Yogi replied, "I wish no gifts, only presence.� and more ...

[Stress Less] How To Eliminate Stress And Triple Your Productivity  by Niraj Naik, M.Pharm. - We live a world where it is not uncommon to be talking on the phone, while checking emails, cooking dinner and taking care of the kids all at the same time! When your brain engages in several tasks that require conscious attention it “discountsâ€� the attention applied to each by spreading its processing power across each of the tasks...that spells bad news for your productivity!

[Tales from the Dao] Looking Up by Solala Towler - It is just a wonderful   practice to look up and really see what we don’t usually notice when we are walking or driving along. Just looking up can be a  practice that allows us to become free of our earthly-bound material body and perceptions and find ourselves soaring and swooping through the blue, blue sky, free like a bird on the wing.

[Wuji in Motion] The Nurturing Gong of Push Hands by Rodney J Owen - Push hands is a crucial component of a complete Taiji curriculum.  Push hands is not about fighting but about cooperation, redirecting opposing energies and learning to go with the flow, harmonizing with the environment and finding peace of mind in the midst of chaos.

[Seasonal Harmony] Winter: The Season for Contemplation and Restoration by Ellasara Kling - The Winter Season is ruled by the Kidney-Urinary Bladder organ system. Ellasara Kling explains some of the relationships of this season and what we can do to preserve our essential Qi in Winter. Healing foods for the Winter season and delicious recipes for Winter Congee, Ethiopian Inspired Vegetables, Black Rice Dessert, & Kale and Black Beans are featured.

[From Dr. Love] The Embodiment of Mind and Spirit in Chinese Qigong and Philosophy  by George Xavier Love, OMD - Body and mind possess their distinct functions, but according to classical Chinese they are understood to be a fluid continuum. Fluids and energies constitute the body. The mind permeates the body and is contained in the blood and Qi.

[Experience Exchange] Daoist Yang-Sheng: Preserving Life at All Costs  by Neil Kingham - Highlights of an inspiring day at the "The Embodiment of the Dao: Daoist Yang-Sheng Practices and the Cultivation of Health and Vitality" conferences and workshops. Speakers contrasted the pressures of the modern world with simple Daoist beliefs – today we strive for success, wealth and fame at the cost of our health, while to the Daoists, health and well-being were precious treasures to be guarded and preserved at all costs.

[From the Doctor] Holy Shift: Some Personal Clinical Pearls by Nadia Linda Hole, MD - "Happy Holidaysâ€�, are for many, a less than comfortable  time of year.  How are these times, honestly, for You? Your clients?  Your loved ones?   Anyone  feeling a bit unsettled? Disoriented? Noticing that what used to work, somehow is no longer working, on so many levels?  Isn't it time to awaken the Healer Within? Dr. Hole shares some basic Qi tools, incorporated into her medical practice, over the years, that simply work.

[The Tai Chi Examiner] Improving Immunity with Tai Chi by Violet Li - It has been shown that in certain circumstances, practicing tai chi has an effect on boosting the immune system for older adults similar to getting a vaccination.  Practicing Tai Chi Chih, a modified tai chi form, provided the same benefit as getting a vaccination to prevent Shingles.  In a related study, people who practiced Tai Chi Chih were also vaccinated and their immunity levels were doubled.

[Scientific Qi Exploration] Part 17a. Meridians and Organs - Yin Organs  by Martin Eisen, Ph.D. - The Chinese concepts of Meridians and Organs will be introduced in a series of articles and possible western scientific explanation of some of these concepts will be introduced. Part 1 includes channels and organs, their connections and energy flow, formation of the 8 Extraordinary Channels and the 12 Meridians and the Heart (Xin), Pericardium (Xin Bao), Lungs (Fei), and Spleen (Pi).

[Experience Exchange] Chinese Ways to Open Your Perceptions Through Training Kundalini Energy by Raven Cohan - The Chinese (or ancient Daoist) ways of looking at the systems of Kundalini energy development has many variants and do not make one pathway right or another wrong.  Raven Cohen leads us on an exploration of expanding perceptions and the limits of possibility. Maybe even including in your bucket list, the idea that you could learn to SEE from the back of your head.

[Soul Salon] A Legacy: Your Final Footprint  by Rena Reese - How do you mindfully create a legacy when it is something that seems so illusive and intangible? Heroic acts based on making decisions in the moment may become a person's legacy.  However, in the same way, a lifetime of simple interactions and day-to-day decisions construct a  life legacy.  Deciding whom you will be in your every day relationships and in moment-to-moment decisions offers a great place to begin mindfully building your legacy.

[TCM Food Therapy] Traditional Chinese Medicine, Food Therapy, and Cancer Prevention  by Helen Hu, OMD - The cells in our bodies need a healthy, nourishing, and non-toxic environment. By the time cancer begins to grow, the body already has a “pro-cancer conditionâ€� that creates a cancer-friendly environment. Eliminate the pro-cancer condition and the more chance one has to win the battle. Dr. Hu explains the pro-cancer condition and offers several basic food therapies/recipes to consume daily if one sees signs of it.

[Book Review] The Way of Energy: Mastering the Chinese Art of Internal Strength with Chi Kung Exercise reviewed by Sal Casano, RN, Ph.D. - This well done book on the Zhan Zhuang (“standing like a treeâ€�) system of Qigong is meant for individual self-study. “Like a tree with its deep roots, powerful trunk, and great spreading branches reaching into the sky, you will appear to remain unmoving.  In reality, you will be growing from within.â€� (p11). The book is easy to read with lots of beautiful photos and instructional diagrams to help perform the exercises and to emphasize certain concepts.

 Download the December issue of Yang-Sheng as a PDF

Yang-Sheng magazine wishes everyone Happy Holidays
and a Prosperous New Year!

《养生》�志�大家节日愉快�新年好�

Highlights of March 2012 Issue of Yang-Sheng (養生)

(http://Yang-Sheng.com)

[From the Editor] by Rebecca Kali, Editor-in-Chief – Welcome to the March-April issue of Yang Sheng! The theme is “Integration of Body, Mind and Spirit.â€� What does it really mean when our body, mind and spirit are integrated?   If our body, mind and spirit are not integrated are we disintegration?  How do we get them back together? That has been a lifetime’s quest for many; searching everywhere for the key to one’s own wholeness, completeness, balance, healing. Looking outside of ourselves – when we really had all we needed – were all within us – all the time.  Yang-Sheng practices supply the missing key.

[Featured Article] Nurturing Mind is the Core of Nurturing Life (養心是養生的核心)

 by Kevin W Chen, Ph.D.  – Yang Sheng (養生) – nurturing life - may be the most important concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chinese health culture.  It inherently includes three interrelated components: nurturing body, nurturing mind and nurturing spirit; all necessary for a healthy life.  Here Dr. Chen discusses the significance of nurturing mind in the process of nurturing life.

[Simple Natural Healing] Food Healing: East Meets West by Aihan Kuhn 爱寒, C.B.D, Dipl., OBT – We frequently hear the saying “You are what you eat.â€�  Even though this is not 100% true, it certainly rings a bell and gets our attention.  Food can be our best friend or our worst enemy. Aihan Kuhn, C.B.C. shares info on the healing benefits of Wolfberry (Goji berry, Lycium) and the backyard herb Sweet Violet (Viola species).

[Movement Exploration] How Circularity Leads to Smoother Mind-Body Integration by Dan Kleiman – When it comes to movement practices like taiji and Qigong, the key to smooth mind-body integration is having more and more circularity in your art. Dan Kleiman offers tips on learning to integrate circularity into your practice and develop the possibility to glide through them more effortlessly, more fluidly, and with a greater sense of internal connection.

[From the Master] Daoist Internal Alchemy: A Deep Language for Communicating with Nature’s Intelligence (part 3) by Michael Winn – The central purpose of nei dan is to re-grow the spark of Original Energy (yuan Qi) that is buried deep within each human being.  If this tiny but powerful spark of original Qi can be born into consciousness on Earth, it will gradually dissolve one’s suffering and restore life to its innate state of grace and effortless communication (wu wei) between Heaven, Earth, and Beings. Cultivating yuan Qi is growing Heaven on Earth.

[Taiji and Science] Scientific Taijiquan by Chun Man Sit – Inspired by Master Wu Tu Nan (1884 – 1989) who wrote a book called “The Scientific Way of Taijiquan� in the 1940′s, shares the importance of practicing Taiji in a scientific way and how understanding the principles of physics and using modern technology such as Video and X-ray can help improve one’s practice.

[Echoes of Emptiness 虚之響] Gongfu by Jacob Newell – Gongfu (功夫) refers to special skill acquired by long, hard practice.  Often equated with martial art, it actually applies equally to any kind of skill, such as excelling, creating beautiful art, or delivering an eloquent speech.  Understanding the process of developing gongfu is important if we want to achieve excellence in our chosen field. Jacob Newell describes the three essential ingredients needed for developing gongfu.

[Mind-Body Medicine Research Update] • Tai chi and postural stability in patients with Parkinson’s disease (in NEJM). • Impact of Tai Chi exercise on multiple fracture-related risk factors in post-menopausal osteopenic women: a pilot pragmatic, randomized trial.  â€¢ Mindfulness meditation counteracts self-control depletion. • Fifteen minutes of chair-based yoga postures or guided meditation performed in the office can elicit a relaxation response. • A systematic review of the effectiveness of qigong exercise in supportive cancer care; and more.

[Ask Dr. Lu] Staying Motivated in a Body/Mind/Spirit Practice by Nan Lu, OMD – At the beginning, Qigong practitioners may feel very motivated, but after a while think “It’s getting repetitive. I know Qigong can do some amazing things for my health, yet sometimes I really don’t feel like practicing.� Nan Lu, OMD offers insightful advice on understanding why we really practice and keeping motivated to do it.

[Learn about Dao] Daoist Body Cultivation and Behavioral Kinesiology- part 1 by Livia Koh n, Ph.D. –. Daoist practice proceeds on three levels: healing, longevity, and immortality, three different stages of perfection and empowerment along the same continuum of the human body, which consists of Qi in various degrees of subtlety and refinement. Quite independent of the Chinese and Daoist understanding of body and Qi, the Western science of behavioral kinesiology developed a system that is surprisingly similar, equally valid and supports everything Daoists have been saying all along about the nature of body, self, and society.

[East-West Perspectives] Investing in Ourselves by Arthur Rosenfeld – In the consumptive frenzy of our so-called culture our innate desire to improve ourselves has been transformed into a desire to improve our material position. Those who stand to gain from our assets and efforts have duped the rest of us into believing that growing horizontally, which is to say increasing our material footprint on the world, is a satisfactory substitute for growing vertically by increasing in wisdom, knowledge, peace, compassion, and illumination. Arthur offers sage advice on the wisdom and benefits of redirecting our efforts from compulsion to internal awareness, from materialism to spirituality.

[Seasonal Harmony] What’s Your Food’s Nature? by Ellasara Kling – The nature of foods, based on Five Element Theory, is categorized by essential temperature. Not the temperature as it comes from the oven or freezer, but rather the innate essence of the food itself. The essential natures of food are  cold, cool, neutral, warm and hot. It’s easy to know what some foods are, such as chili peppers, but others are a little more difficult. Ellasara Kling offers some “rule of thumbâ€� ways of recognizing a food’s innate temperature using Yin/Yang principles.

[TCM Food Therapy] Chinese Food Therapy for Asthma by Helen Hu, OMD – The prevalence of asthma now affects an estimated 4-7% of the worldwide population and more than 20 million people in the US.  Helen Hu, OMD  offers insight into the causes of Asthma from the perspective of TCM as well as healing recipes for Ginger Rice Soup, Sang Ye Peanuts, Eight Treasure Chicken, Walnut Duck, Pumpkin Dates and more.

[From the Doctor] Heart Qi: Some Clinical Vignettes – Body Mind Spirit … Heart! by Nadia Linda Hole, MD – “The root of all disease is in the mind, in the emotions,� quote from Tae Woo Yoo, OMD, founder KHT. Nadia Linda Hole, MD shares case studies and asks, “No matter what symptoms your clients present – What’s the root source? What’s their Heart of Hearts truly asking for?�

[Happiness in Your Life] Changes by Doe Zantamata – Routine can feel secure. It’s familiar, we know what to expect. But, “routine� is not the way the world works. The world is constantly changing. Doe Zantamata explores our relationship with change. Becoming as curious and comfortable with change as you were when you were a child is a major life skill.

[Scientific Qi Exploration] Scientific Qi Exploration  Part 18. Relations between the Yin (Zhang) Organs by Martin Eisen, Ph.D. – Chinese medicine regards the body as a unified whole.  It is not enough to just understand the different functions of individual Organs, but also how they interrelate.  Health depends upon the maintenance of a proper balance between the Organs.  Pathology also depends on their mutual influence. Martin Eisen, Ph.D. shares information on the interrelationships of the Yin Organs.

[Experience Exchange] An Era of Openness through Raising the Kundalini - Part 1 by Raven Cohan – What if everyone on this great planet could learn internal ways to heal themselves without even using a single medicine, herb, crystal or anything else external?  Is it time?  Can there be an era of openness?  Can many people now begin to consider practices that have remained hidden?  Raven Cohen explores these questions and more…

[Healing Through Science and Spirit] Joy in Recalibrating Bio-Energy Fluctuations by Don E. Brown II, MSIS – “Recalibrate,â€� a catch phrase often used in relation to needing some adjusting  is a call to mindfulness. Don E. Brown II, MSIS describes reaching a threshold in his energy development when “recalibrationâ€� was needed and found that although it  can be a frustrating task; as we grow our energies and abilities, the art of recalibration goes from a “taskâ€� to a profound “joyâ€�.

[Book Review] Qigong Master: My Life and Secret Teachings by Robert Peng with Rafael Nasser Reviewed by  Salvatore Casano, R.N., Ph.D –  This is a beautifully written and illustrated book on Qigong.  The reader is guided through the experiences of Qigong practice as taught to the author by his Master teacher, Xiao Yao.

[A Comedy Moment] Comedy Moment “Studies show that mirthful laughter, the kind that stems from real joy, relieves stress, lightens mood and confers health benefits.�

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Highlights of Yang-Sheng (Vol 2, No. 3)

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[From the Editor] ¡V the new editor-in-chief, Ms. Christina Barea-Young, introduces herself with more background and her ambition; then introduces the theme of this issue ¡V Yin & Yang, and its implication in Yang Sheng, with  questions, What area of the cycle might you be on? Where might you go next?

[Meditation in Motion] Yin and Yang in TaiJi - Eric Borrenson discusses how the taiji is present in our bodies, how structure can display the energies of yin and yang. In more detail he explains how the alignment of our arms, legs, and feet can generate power, or consume it.

[Illuminating the Dao] Yang and Yin of the Mind-Body Creation Cycle ¡VMichelle Wood shares some insight on the origin of illness. She explains how a person caught in a negative cycle can slowly change into positivity. A look at the play of yin-yang in our health!

[The Daily Daoist] Yin Yang Fast ¡V Jessica Sommar shares some insight on how to cleanse the body from a yin-yang perspective. Included within her article are some delicious recipes.

[Spirituality of Dao] Yin Yang Sword; Weapon of Immortals- Christina Barea describes the symbolism of the ritual sword used by Daoist practitioners. An explanation of the symbols and why they are chosen help non-practitioners gain deeper insight into the complexity of Daoist rituals.

[Secret of Daoist Meditation] Daoist ¡§Sitting and Forgetting¡¨ and the Christian ¡§The Cloud of The Unknown¡¨ ¡V Michael Rinaldini relates a personal point of view on meditation and philosophical concepts from a Daoist and Christian point of view. Pulling from his years of practice in meditation, he describes the unfolding of understanding in diary format. Enjoy a glimpse into the mind of a seasoned practitioner.

[Cultivating the Mind] The Bioenergetic Basis of Life ¡V Tom Rogers eloquently discusses the mechanics behind vibrational medicine and why it¡¦s so powerful. The fundamentals of qigong meet the now popular theories of epigenetics and quantum physics providing much insight into the why and how of disease.

[Happiness in Your Life] Human Energy Systems ¡V Doe Zantamata  explores the relationship of masculine and feminine while in harmony and how it can become unbalanced. The caveat of modern conditioning on the development of healthy relationships is also examined.

[Method  of Better Meditation] Tai Chi and Qigong: Practice of Mindfulness - Bryan Knack discloses the true meaning of qigong and mindfulness. Taking us on a journey of discovery into the power of single-pointed focus and recover the fullness of our internal energy.

[Breathing in This Life] Too Busy to Take Care of Yourself? The Busy Mom¡¦s Guide to Practicing Yoga ¡V Ginger Garner shares her advice on how to find even 5 minutes for your qigong practice. A busy mom herself she still finds a clever way of dividing up her practice into smaller pieces that can be highly effective.

[Mind-Body Medicine Research Update] ¡V ¡´ A systematic review of the effectiveness of qigong exercise in cardiac rehabilitation; ¡´ Benefits of yoga for psychosocial well-being in a US high school curriculum: A preliminary RCT;  ¡´ Mindfulness meditation-related pain relief: Evidence for unique brain mechanisms in the regulation of pain; ¡´ Meditation-induced changes in high-frequency heart rate variability predict smoking outcomes;  ¡´ Effects of meditation experience  on functional connectivity of distributed brain networks;  ¡´ Comparing the health  status of US taiji-quan and qigong practitioners to a national survey sample across ages;  Efficacy and safety of meditative movement therapies in fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs;  ¡´ A pilot study of yogic meditation for family dementia caregivers with depressive symptoms: Effects on mental health, cognition and telomerase activity; and more¡K

[East-West Perspectives] Is Qigong for You? ¡V Arthur Rosenfeld helps the newcomer to qigong to understand what it is and where it comes from. A great read for anyone who has just learned about qigong and needs additional information.

[From the Master] Organizing Daily Practice ¡V master Yang Yang gives us the answer to finding time  to get our qigong practice included in our busy schedules. He describes a very systematic approach which cleverly addresses the main issues we face during our learning curve. A very effective method of making the change!

[Learn about Dao] Daoist Body Cultivation and Behavioral Kinesiology (part 2) ¡V Dr. Livia Kohn counts on her ample background in research to clarify fundamental components of Daoist body cultivation and how they are matching with scientific research based on kinesiology.

[Experience Exchange] An Era of Openness through Raising the Kundalini (Part 2)- Raven Cohen calls upon readers to go beyond their current understanding of spirituality. Her article describes how she interprets metaphysical concepts and urges others to explore their own.

[From the Doctor]  The Yin Yang of Solar Flares, Heaven on Earth, & Other Changes- Dr. Nadia Hole reports on the influence of solar flares on our current state of evolution. Seeing a link between the increase in flare activity and of our frantic thoughts and emotions, she encourages us to allow change and shift to take place.

[Scientific Qi Exploration] The Fu (Yang) Organs ¡V Dr. Marty Eisen explains in great detail what the Yang organs are and what they do. Based on TCM it is an in-depth yet comprehensible overview of how our body works from jing to qi to shen.

[Daoist Internal Alchemy] Original Energy as the Mysterious Language of Alchemy ¡V master Michael Winn concludes his in-dept article on the definition of Primordial Qi and how it is expressed in the classics. He also describes how it manifests in practice.

[Quantum Healing with Dr. Lu] The Yin-Yang of True Health ¡V Dr. Nan Lu provides insight into the process of healing, explaining that disease and recovery may sometimes move in a direction that seems counter-intuitive. However, he reassures the reader that according to the change of yin-yang in the taiji symbol, if we relax and allow the energies to settle on their own, all will find harmony.

[Book Review] Answers to Common Tai Chi and Qigong Questions by William Ting ¡VDr. Sal Casano provides another expert review on a new book on Tai Chi and Qigong.

[A Comedy Moment] ¡V The other side; Compassion with an umbrella; What¡¦s Flapping¡K and Meditation with ants (cartoon).

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¡P  To contribute to Yang-Sheng or contact us, please email to editor@...

Highlights of July 2012 Yang-Sheng (ðBÉú)

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[From the Editor ±àÕߵĻ°] ¨C Editor-in-Chief Christina Barea-Young welcomes everyone to a new issue of Yang-Sheng with the theme ¡°Food as Medicine¡¯, and invites you to sample the ¡°menu¡± of articles and taste the recipes.  Awaken your taste buds to the blossoming warmth of summer. Feel the Fire energy rising lifting the Heart to fullness. Express the Unconditional Love of the Fire element and enjoy the energy of transformation.

[Featured Article ¾«Ñ¡ÎÄÕÂ] How Traditional Chinese Food Therapy is an Important Part of Yang Sheng ¨C by Dr. Helen Hu ¨C One of the many benefits of YangSheng include a slowing down of the aging process. This article explains the importance nutrition has on the Three Treasures: jing, qi and shen and how it relates to anti-aging.

[Tales from the Dao µÀµÄ´«Ëµ] Hearing of An Immortal- An Excerpt from The Zhuangzi ¨C by Solala Towler ¡ª A delightful story from a Daoist Classic which cleverly highlights the achievement of an immortal.

[Daoist Stories µÀ¼Ò¹ÊÊÂ] The Black Pearl and The White Pearl ¨C by Peter Deadman ¡ª A children¡¯s fairy tale on the harmony of yin and yang, and its implication for daily well-being practice.

[Research Update ¿ÆÑж¯Ì¬] Recent Reviews on Studies of Nutritional Therapy & Health ¡ª * Policy Interventions to Promote Healthy Eating * Nutritional Support in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) * Fish Consumption, Dietary Long Chain N-3 Fatty Acids, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes * Beyond Overweight: Nutrition as an Important Lifestyle Factor Influencing Timing of Puberty* Oral Nutritional Interventions in Malnourished Patients with Cancer* Research Advances at the Institute for Nutritional Sciences at Shanghai, China * The Omega-3 Fatty Acid Nutritional Landscape: Health Benefits and Sources* Effectiveness of Agricultural Interventions That Aim to Im prove Nutritional Status of Children* Consumer Response to Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Weight-Related Recommendations* Salt & Hypertension: Is Salt Dietary Reduction Worth the Effort.

[Scientific Qi Exploration ÆøµÄ¿Æѧ̽ÌÖ] The Relation Between The Fu (Yang) and Zang (Yin) Organs ¡ª by Marty Eisen PhD ¡ª Dr. Eisen continues his in-depth discussion of Traditional Chinese medical theory with a summary of the function of the ZangFu organs and the yin-yang relationship between them. Each paired organ system includes a handful of common energetic pathologies and syndromes.

[Qi Cultivation & Dao Á¶ÆøÓëµÀ] Integrating Theory with Experience: Medical Qigong for Healing and Health Care;  An Exploration on the State of Mind by Guang-Cheng Sun and Jill Gonet ¨C Qi flow is intrinsically linked with the mind. In this article, we are introduced to the different states of mind which can deepen our experience with qi. The idea of a ¡°Xuan¡± state of mind, here translated as a ¡°stable¡± mind, is linked with the interactions of yin and yang. Quiet your mind and let the qi flow within.

[From the Doctor Ò½ÉúÖ®´°] Real Food is Good Medicine by Nadia Linda Hole, MD ¨C Pulling from the wisdom passed down through generations, Dr. Hole shares her insight on why eating food from the Earth is so important. What is Real Food, and how is our health improved by our food choices? The answers lie within.

[East West Perspective ¶«Î÷·½Ö®¹Ûµã] Summer foods for Fire Element by Christina Barea-Young A Five-Element perspective on the Summer season, the foods that nourish the Fire Element and common symptoms of being out of balance during the Heat.

[Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen ¹Å´úÖǻۡ¢ÏÖ´ú³ø·¿] The Color Purple Yam Dessert Recipe & Breathe-Easy Fritillaria Pear by Yuan Wang, Warren Sheir, Mika Ono ¨C Two delicious recipes to cool off during the summer. The Purple Yam recipe includes photos for every step in the process. The Pear recipe is perfect for addressing the dry cough often associated with the dry heat of summer.

[Cycle of Harmony ºÍгÖÜÆÚ] Simple Foods to Nourish Your Blood by Jing Jin ¨C Black beans, carrots, spinach, peanuts, red dates, and red beans are served up by Jing Jin to nourish our Blood and enhance our youthfulness.

[Seasonal Harmony ¼¾½ÚµÄºÍг] Foods for Late Summer by Ellasara Kling ¨C Wondering what to cook to help cool off and still get plenty of energy? Try some of the original recipes included in this article: A Hawthorne Berries, red dates & honey tea,  watermelon salsa, bean sprout saut¨¦, or a lime, cucumber and mint cooler. Refreshing!

[Research Update ¿ÆÑж¯Ì¬#2] Mind-Body Medicine Research Update compiled by Kevin Chen¨C Meditative Therapies for Reducing Anxiety ¡ª a systematic review of RCTs * EEG Source Imaging During Two Qigong Meditations * The Effect of Qigong on Menopausal Symptoms and Quality of Sleep for Perimenopausal Women* Diaphragmatic Breathing Training Program Improves Abdominal Motion During Natural Breathing in Patients with COPD  * A Randomized Trial of 8 Form TaiChi Improves Symptoms and Functional Mobility in Fibromyalgia Patients * A 1 Year Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Mind Body Exercise (TaiChi) with Stretching & Toning Exercise on Cognitive Function in Older Chinese Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline* The Theoretical and Empirical Basis of Meditation as an Intervention for PTSD * Meditation Increases the Depth of Information Processing and Improves the Allocation of Attention in Space* The Psychological Effects of Meditation.

[Quantum Healing with Dr. Lu] The Spirit of Food by Nan Lu, OMD ¨C Our food resources are more than just fuel for our body, they are nourishment for our soul. In this article, Dr. Lu describes the importance of selecting foods that are nutritionally whole so that they may enhance our wellness from body to soul.

[Food as Medicine ʳÁÆ] Beans, Beans and More Beans! By Phoenix Liu, PhD ¨C This simple little food packs quite a punch. The bean and all its closest relatives in the legume family are an easy way to get protein, iron, and folic acid. In addition, they provide support to our Kidneys. Dr. Liu also guides us through the 5 aspects of eating: What to eat, How it¡¯s prepared, How much to eat, How often to eat and the Mood present while eating.

[Meditation in Motion ¶¯ÖÐÚ¤Ïë] Spirituality in Taiji by Eric Borreson ¨C Taiji (Taichi) is more than just a physical exercise to promote health (or become better at martial arts). It¡¯s effect on our mind and the effect of our mind while practicing are mutually dependent on each other. Mr. Borreson eloquently expresses the link between mind and body while moving through Taichi.

[The Daily Daoist ÈÕ³£µÀ¼Ò] Healing Food: Chinese Breakfast Porridge by Jessica Sommar ¨C Delicious recipes for this simple yet nourishing breakfast meal. Based on the wisdom of the body, energetically and physiologically  Ms. Sommar entices us to try a healthier alternative for breakfast.

[Experience Exchange ¾­Ñé½»Á÷] Incredible Stress Relief: The Ice, Water, Gas Method by R. Melvin McKenzie ¨C Nature knows best, in this case water is our teacher. Learning how to melt and become moving like water allows us to enhance our practice and go within. Coach Melvin guides you step by step through a meditation to connect with the powerful energy of water.

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Mind-Body Medicine Research Update

A randomized controlled trial of qigong for fibromyalgia.  Arthritis Res Ther. 2012 Aug 3;14(4): R178. By Lynch M, Sawynok J, Hiew C, Marcon D.

            INTRODUCTION:  Fibromyalgia is difficult to treat and requires the use of multiple approaches. This study is a randomized controlled trial of qigong compared with a waitlist control group in fibromyalgia. METHODS: One hundred participants were randomly assigned to immediate or delayed practice groups, with the delayed group receiving training at the end of the control period. Qigong training (level 1 Chaoyi Fanhuan Qigong, CFQ), given over 3 half-days, was followed by weekly review/practice sessions for 8 weeks; participants were also asked to practice at home for 45-60 minutes per day for this interval. Outcomes were pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function, and these were recorded at baseline, 8 weeks, 4 months and 6 months. Immediate and delayed practice groups were analyzed individually compared to the control group, and as a combination group. RESULTS: In both the immediate and delayed treatment groups, CFQ demonstrated significant improvements in pain, impact, sleep, physical function and mental function when compared to the waitlist/usual care control group at 8 weeks, with benefits extending beyond this time. Analysis of combined data indicated significant changes for all measures at all times to 6 months, with only one exception. Post-hoc analysis based on self-reported practice times indicated greater benefit with the per protocol group compared to minimal practice.  CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that CFQ, a particular form of qigong, provides long-term benefits in several core domains in fibromyalgia. CFQ may be a useful adjuvant self-care treatment for fibromyalgia.

Benefit of Qigong Exercise in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Study.  Int J Neurosci. 2012 Aug 3.  by Liu W, Zahner L, Cornell M, Le T, Ratner J, Wang Y, Pasnoor M, Dimachkie M, Barohn R. From Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

       ABSTRACT Objective: Fibromyalgia (FM) patients present with widespread chronic pain and other symptoms. Some studies in the literature have reported inconsistent results after a Qigong exercise intervention in patients with FM. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a home-based Qigong exercise in patients with FM. Methods: A total of 14 subjects were randomly assigned into one of two groups. The experimental group went through a six-week Qigong exercise program involving meditation, deep breathing, and synchronized rhythmic body movements. The control group took part in a sham Qigong exercise program using the same body movements also for six weeks. Clinical assessments at baseline and end of intervention used the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. Results: Group mean scores of four measurements were significantly (p < .0125) reduced in the intervention group, but not in the control group. The percentage changes in the four measurements were 44.2%, 24.8%, 37.3%, and 44.3% in the intervention group, and 10.1%, 6.3%, 9.9%, and 11.8% in the control group. Conclusion: Qigong exercise may potentially be an effective self-management approach in controlling FM symptoms. In this pilot study, regular daily Qigong exercise, accumulated number of exercise sessions, and the specific form of Qigong exercise may all be important factors for the significant improvement in the study subjects. Future research is required to determine whether the same benefit can be obtained in a larger sample.

Neurocognitive correlates of the effects of yoga meditation practice on emotion and cognition: a pilot study.  Front Integr Neurosci. 2012;6:48. Epub 2012 Jul 26. By Froeliger BE, Garland EL, Modlin LA, McClernon FJ. From Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA.

       Abstract:  Mindfulness meditation involves attending to emotions without cognitive fixation of emotional experience. Over time, this practice is held to promote alterations in trait affectivity and attentional control with resultant effects on well-being and cognition. However, relatively little is known regarding the neural substrates of meditation effects on emotion and cognition. The present study investigated the neurocognitive correlates of emotion interference on cognition in Yoga practitioners and a matched control group (CG) underwent fMRI while performing an event-related affective Stroop task. The task includes image viewing trials and Stroop trials bracketed by neutral or negative emotional distractors. During image viewing trials, Yoga practitioners exhibited less reactivity in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) to negative as compared to neutral images; whereas the CG had the opposite pattern. A main effect of valence (negative > neutral) was observed in limbic regions (e.g., amygdala), of which the magnitude was inversely related to dlPFC activation. Exploratory analyses revealed that the magnitude of amygdala activation predicted decreased self-reported positive affect in the CG, but not among Yoga practitioners. During Stroop trials, Yoga practitioners had greater activation in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) during Stroop trials when negative, compared to neutral, emotional distractor were presented; the CG exhibited the opposite pattern. Taken together, these data suggest that though Yoga practitioners exhibit limbic reactivity to negative emotional stimuli, such reactivity does not have downstream effects on later mood state. This uncoupling of viewing negative emotional images and affect among Yoga practitioners may be occasioned by their selective implementation of frontal executive-dependent strategies to reduce emotional interference during competing cognitive demands and not during emotional processing per se.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3405281  

A Pilot Study of Qigong for Reducing Cocaine Craving Early in Recovery.  J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Jul 3. by Smelson D, Chen KW, Ziedonis D, Andes K, Lennox A, Callahan L, Rodrigues S, Eisenberg D. From Center for Health, Quality, Outcomes & Economic Research, VA Medical Center  Bedford, MA.

       Abstract:  Objectives: This pilot study examined the feasibility, preliminary efficacy, and determined the effect sizes of external qigong therapy (EQT) in reducing cue-elicited cocaine craving and associated symptoms among recently abstinent cocaine-dependent (CD) individuals. Methods: This study randomized 101 CD subjects to either a real EQT (n=51) or sham EQT control (n=50) group. Subjects underwent a baseline assessment and a weekly cue-exposure session for 2 weeks. Total EQT or sham treatments ranged from 4 to 6 sessions in 2 weeks. Results: EQT-treated subjects displayed a greater reduction in cue-elicited craving (p=0.06) and symptoms of depression (p<0.05) with medium effect sizes. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of delivering EQT among CD individuals early in residential treatment. Future research should include a larger sample and examine the mechanisms and potential longitudinal benefits of EQT.

Tai chi diminishes oxidative stress in Mexican older adults.  J Nutr Health Aging. 2012;16(7):642-6. By Rosado-Pérez J, Santiago-Osorio E, Ortiz R, Mendoza-Núñez VM. From V.M. Mendoza-Núñez, Guelatao # 66, Col. Ejército de Oriente, 09230 México, DF, México.  mendovic@...  

       Abstract:  Objective: To determine the effect of Tai Chi on oxidative stress in a population of elderly Mexican subjects. Design: It was carried out a quasi-experimental study with a sample of 55 healthy subjects randomly divided into two age-matched groups: (i) a control group with 23 subjects and (ii) an experimental group with 32 subjects. The experimental group received daily training in Tai Chi for 50 min. Measurements: It was measured before and after 6-month of exercise period: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Results: It was found that the experimental group exhibited a statistically significant decrease in glucose levels, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), and systolic blood pressure, as well as an increase in SOD and GPx activity and TAS compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the daily practice of Tai Chi is useful for reducing OxS in healthy older adults.

A mindfulness course decreases burnout and improves well-being among healthcare providers.  Int J Psychiatry Med. 2012;43(2):119-28. By  Goodman MJ, Schorling JB. From University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, USA.

            OBJECTIVE:  Healthcare providers are under increasing stress and work-related burnout has become common. Mindfulness-based interventions have a potential role in decreasing stress and burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine if a continuing education course based on mindfulness-based stress reduction could decrease burnout and improve mental well-being among healthcare providers, from different professions.  Design: This was a pre-post observational study conducted in a university medical center. A total of 93 healthcare providers, including physicians from multiple specialties, nurses, psychologists, and social workers who practiced in both university and community settings, participated. The intervention was a continuing education course based on mindfulness-based stress reduction that met 2.5 hours a week for 8 weeks plus a 7-hour retreat. The classes included training in four types of formal mindfulness practices, including the body scan, mindful movement, walking meditation and sitting meditation, as well as discussion focusing on the application of mindfulness at work. The course was offered 11 times over 6 years. The main outcome measures were work-related burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory and self-perceived mental and physical well-being as measured by the SF-12v2.  RESULTS: Maslach Burnout Inventory scores improved significantly from before to after the course for both physicians and other healthcare providers for the Emotional Exhaustion (p < 0.03), Depersonalization (p < 0.04), and Personal Accomplishment (p < 0.001) scales. Mental well-being measured by the SF12v2 also improved significantly (p < 0.001). There were no significant changes in the SF12v2 physical health scores.  CONCLUSION: A continuing education course based on mindfulness-based stress reduction was associated with significant improvements in burnout scores and mental well-being for a broad range of healthcare providers.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Improves Polysomnographic and Subjective Sleep Profiles in Antidepressant Users with Sleep Complaints.  Psychother Psychosom. 2012 Jul 20;81(5):296-304. By Britton WB, Haynes PL, Fridel KW, Bootzin RR. From: Dept of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical School, Providence, R.I., USA.

       Background: Many antidepressant medications (ADM) are associated with disruptions in sleep continuity that can compromise medication adherence and impede successful treatment. The present study investigated whether mindfulness meditation (MM) training could improve self-reported and objectively measured polysomnographic (PSG) sleep profiles in depressed individuals who had achieved at least partial remission with ADM, but still had residual sleep complaints. Methods: Twenty-three ADM users with sleep complaints were randomized into an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) course or a waitlist control condition. Pre-post measurements included PSG sleep studies and subjectively reported sleep, residual depression symptoms. Results: Compared to controls, the MBCT participants improved on both PSG and subjective measures of sleep. They showed a pattern of decreased wake time and increased sleep efficiency. Sleep depth, as measured by stage 1 and slow-wave sleep, did not change as a result of mindfulness training. Conclusions: MM is associated with increases in both objectively and subjectively measured sleep continuity in ADM users. MM training may serve as more desirable and cost-effective alternative to discontinuation or supplementation with hypnotics, and may contribute to a more sustainable recovery from depression.

Global and regional alterations of hippocampal anatomy in long-term meditation practitioners.  Hum Brain Mapp. 2012 Jul 19. By Luders E, Thompson PM, Kurth F, Hong JY, Phillips OR, Wang Y, Gutman BA, Chou YY, Narr KL, Toga AW. From Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California. eileen@...  

       Abstract:  Studies linking meditation and brain structure are still relatively sparse, but the hippocampus is consistently implicated as one of the structures altered in meditation practitioners. To explore hippocampal features in the framework of meditation, we analyzed high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging data from 30 long-term meditators and 30 controls, closely matched for sex, age, and handedness. Hippocampal formations were manually traced following established protocols. In addition to calculating left and right hippocampal volumes (global measures), regional variations in surface morphology were determined by measuring radial distances from the hippocampal core to spatially matched surface points (local measures). Left and right hippocampal volumes were larger in meditators than in controls, significantly so for the left hippocampus. The presence and direction of this global effect was confirmed locally by mapping the exact spatial locations of the group differences. Altogether, radial distances were larger in meditators compared to controls, with up to 15% difference. These local effects were observed in several hippocampal regions in the left and right hemisphere though achieved significance primarily in the left hippocampal head. Larger hippocampal dimensions in long-term meditators may constitute part of the underlying neurological substrate for cognitive skills, mental capacities, and/or personal traits associated with the practice of meditation. Alternatively, given that meditation positively affects autonomic regulation and immune activity, altered hippocampal dimensions may be one result of meditation-induced stress reduction. However, given the cross-sectional design, the lack of individual stress measures, and the limited resolution of brain data, the exact underlying neuronal mechanisms remain to be established.

Yogic meditation reverses NF-κB and IRF-related transcriptome dynamics in leukocytes of family dementia caregivers in a randomized controlled trial.  Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2012 Jul 13. By Black DS, Cole SW, Irwin MR, Breen E, St Cyr NM, Nazarian N, Khalsa DS, Lavretsky H. from  Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA,  USA

            BACKGROUND: Although yoga and meditation have been used for stress reduction with reported improvement in inflammation, little is known about the biological mechanisms mediating such effects. The present study examined if a yogic meditation might alter the activity of inflammatory and antiviral transcription control pathways that shape immune cell gene expression.

            METHODS: Forty-five family dementia caregivers were randomized to either Kirtan Kriya Meditation (KKM) or Relaxing Music (RM) listening for 12min daily for 8 weeks and 39 caregivers completed the study. Genome-wide transcriptional profiles were collected from peripheral blood leukocytes sampled at baseline and 8-week follow-up. Promoter-based bioinformatics analyses tested the hypothesis that observed transcriptional alterations were structured by reduced activity of the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor (NF)- κB family of transcription factors and increased activity of Interferon Response Factors (IRFs; i.e., reversal of patterns previously linked to stress).

            RESULTS: In response to KKM treatment, 68 genes were found to be differentially expressed (19 up-regulated, 49 down-regulated) after adjusting for potentially confounded differences in sex, illness burden, and BMI. Up-regulated genes included immunoglobulin-related transcripts. Down-regulated transcripts included pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation-related immediate-early genes. Transcript origin analyses identified plasmacytoid dendritic cells and B lymphocytes as the primary cellular context of these transcriptional alterations (both p<.001). Promoter-based bioinformatic analysis implicated reduced NF-κB signaling and increased activity of IRF1 in structuring those effects (both p<.05).

            CONCLUSION: A brief daily yogic meditation intervention may reverse the pattern of increased NF-?B-related transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased IRF1-related transcription of innate antiviral response genes previously observed in healthy individuals confronting a significant life stressor.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Qigong Exercise on Fatigue Symptoms, Functioning, and Telomerase Activity in Persons with Chronic Fatigue or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Ann Behav Med. 2012 Jun 27. By Ho RT, Chan JS, Wang CW, Lau BW, So KF, Yuen LP, Sham JS, Chan CL. From  Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, tinho@...

            BACKGROUND:  Chronic fatigue is common in the general population. Complementary therapies are often used by patients with chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome to manage their symptoms.  PURPOSE:  This study aimed to assess the effect of a 4-month qigong intervention program among patients with chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome. METHODS: Sixty-four participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a wait list control group. Outcome measures included fatigue symptoms, physical functioning, mental functioning, and telomerase activity. RESULTS: Fatigue symptoms and mental functioning were significantly improved in the qigong group compared to controls. Telomerase activity increased in the qigong group from 0.102 to 0.178 arbitrary units (p < 0.05). The change was statistically significant when compared to the control group (p<0.05).  CONCLUSION: Qigong exercise may be used as an alternative and complementary therapy or rehabilitative program for chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Development of Specific Aspects of Spirituality during a 6-Month Intensive Yoga Practice.  Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012:981523. By Büssing A, Hedtstück A, Khalsa SB, Ostermann T, Heusser P. from  Center of Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany.

       Abstract: The majority of research on yoga focuses on its psychophysiological and therapeutic benefits, while the spiritual aspects are rarely addressed. Changes of specific aspects of spirituality were thus investigated among 160 individuals (91% women, mean age 40.9 ± 8.3 years; 57% Christians) starting a 2-year yoga teacher training. We used standardized questionnaires to measure aspects of spirituality (ASP), mindfulness (FMI-Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory), life satisfaction (BMLSS-Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale), and positive mood (lightheartedness/relief). At the start of the course, scores of the respective ASP subscales for search for insight/wisdom, transcendence conviction, and conscious interactions/compassion were high, while those for religious orientation were low. Within the 6 month observation period, both conscious interactions/compassion (effect size, Cohen's d = .33), Religious orientation (d = .21), Lightheartedness/Relief (d = .75) and mindfulness (d = .53) increased significantly. Particularly non-religious/non-spiritual individuals showed moderate effects for an increase of conscious interactions/compassion. The results from this study suggest that an intensive yoga practice (1) may significantly increase specific aspects of practitioners' spirituality, mindfulness, and mood, (2) that these changes are dependent in part on their original spiritual/religious self-perception, and (3) that there are strong correlations amongst these constructs (i.e., conscious interactions/compassion, and mindfulness).

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/981523  

(Compiled by Kevin W Chen)