Cited by 176Biofield Effects and BiophysicsMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Qigong and Tai-Chi for Mood Regulation

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Yeung, Albert, Chan, Jessie S. M., Cheung, Joey C., Zou, Liye·2018·Focus

Abstract

Qigong and Tai-Chi are traditional self-healing, self-cultivation exercises originating in ancient China. These exercises are characterized by coordinated body posture and movements, deep rhythmic breathing, meditation, and mental focus based on traditional Chinese medicine theories. Although the exact mechanisms of Qigong's and Tai-Chi's effects on physical and mental well-being are unknown, these practices may be viewed as meditative movements and share many of the healing elements observed in mindfulness meditation. Clinical studies including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have shown that both Qigong and Tai-Chi have beneficial effects on psychological well-being and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Qigong and Tai-Chi frequently involve anchoring attention to interoceptive sensations related to breath or other parts of the body, which has been shown to enhance nonreactivity to aversive thoughts and impulses. Preliminary studies suggest that the slow movements in Qigong and Tai-Chi with slowing of breath frequency could alter the autonomic system and restore homeostasis, attenuating stress related to hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity and modulating the balance of the autonomic nervous system toward parasympathetic dominance. Qigong's and Tai-Chi's effects on emotion regulation could occur through changes in multiple prefrontal regions, the limbic system, and the striatum or in the expression of genes linked to inflammatory responses an…

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Crossref · 10.1176/appi.focus.20170042

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Authors
Yeung, A., Chan, J. S. M., Cheung, J. C., & Zou, L.
Affiliations
Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
Venue
Focus
Published
2018-01
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
40-47
ISSN
  • 1541-4094 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-4108
OpenAlex
W2785312152
Cited by
176
References
85
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6
FWCI
5.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Keywords
qigong, Tai Chi, mood regulation, emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, mindfulness meditation, interoceptive attention, autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, parasympathetic dominance, prefrontal cortex, limbic system, inflammatory gene expression, stress response, traditional Chinese medicine

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