Breathe in ancient wisdom
Everything old is new again. So many people are willing to leap before they look on the latest bandwagon before they've fully investigated the remedies that have been used for years, sometimes centuries. That's unfortunate, considering that if something has been around for centuries, I would say that's most assuredly time-tested. And if it's been around that long, there's a reason. On the flip side, drugs come on the market and are prescribed left and right, and there doesn't begin to be the same level of time testing. As evidenced by such recent drug debacles as Vioxx.
Sometimes it takes modern research to reinvent the wheel, or at least find a new way to shed some light on it and use it. Take qigong (pronounced "chee gung"), an ancient Chinese practice that uses meditation, breathing exercises, and body movements to bring relaxation, ward off disease, and promote longevity and well being. There was a great study just done that shows that this practice can relieve depression in older people. The research team pulled together 82 people over the age of 65 who had been diagnosed with depression. They were divided into two groups. One group practiced a form of qigong known as "Baduanjin" for 16 weeks - three times a week, 30 to 45 minutes per session - with a trained qigong practitioner. They were also asked to do a daily 15-minute practice on their own. Following the same schedule as the qigong participants, the other group was asked to spend that time reading newspapers in the presence of a therapist.
After just eight weeks, those who practiced qigong experienced improved mood, self-confidence, self-esteem, a sense of personal well being, and general physical health when compared with those in the reading group.
Diagnosed depression is a serious illness, with anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of elderly people afflicted with it. I say if you can do something to affect a positive change, it's worth a try, especially since the only thing you need is your own body to do it. And remember, we're not talking about a drug and the possibility of side effects. We're talking about a safe, inexpensive and time-honored traditional practice with virtually zero potential for harm that may confer general health benefits that transcend the immediate problem-in this case, depression. Good luck!
