Research into Tai Chi Chuan’s health benefits have begun slowly. Whilst Tai Chi Chuan offers many claims, evidence-based medicine is needed to substantiate them. The West is perhaps realising at last the diverse treatment potential that Tai Chi Chuan and other Chinese medical disciplines have to offer.

Despite the lack of substantial evidence-based research, it is clear that Tai Chi Chuan is beneficial to a significant number of practitioners. Closed doors are beginning to be opened. Even in the United Kingdom, parts of the National Health Service have adopted and recommended Tai Chi Chuan as a safe exercise for the elderly to reduce the incidence of falls. More funding and perhaps less scepticism by fellow professionals is needed so that larger and more diverse studies can be performed. The results they potentially bring should give us very interesting outcomes in determining the future role of Tai Chi and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the meantime here are just a few medical publications that have focussed on the fascinating art of Tai Chi Chuan:

Qin L, Au S, Choy W, Leung P, Neff M, Lee K, Lau M, Woo J, Chan K.

Regular Tai Chi Chuan exercise may retard bone loss in postmenopausal women: A case-control study.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Oct;83(10):1355-9.

Wang JS, Lan C, Chen SY, Wong MK.

Tai Chi Chuan training is associated with enhanced endothelium-dependent dilation in skin vasculature of healthy older men.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002 Jun;50(6):1024-30.

Wu G.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Tai Chi for improving balance and preventing falls in the older population--a review.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002 Apr;50(4):746-54. Review.

Wolf SL, Sattin RW, O'Grady M, Freret N, Ricci L, Greenspan AI, Xu T, Kutner M.

A study design to investigate the effect of intense Tai Chi in reducing falls among older adults transitioning to frailty.

Control Clin Trials. 2001 Dec;22(6):689-704.

Shapira MY, Chelouche M, Yanai R, Kaner C, Szold A.

Tai Chi Chuan practice as a tool for rehabilitation of severe head trauma: 3 case reports.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001 Sep;82(9):1283-5.

Li JX, Hong Y, Chan KM.

Tai chi: physiological characteristics and beneficial effects on health.

Br J Sports Med. 2001 Jun;35(3):148-56. Review.

Hong Y, Li JX, Robinson PD.

Balance control, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness among older Tai Chi practitioners.

Br J Sports Med. 2000 Feb;34(1):29-34.

Lan C, Chen SY, Lai JS, Wong MK.

The effect of Tai Chi on cardiorespiratory function in patients with coronary artery bypass surgery.

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 May;31(5):634-8.

Henderson NK, White CP, Eisman JA.

The roles of exercise and fall risk reduction in the prevention of osteoporosis. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1998 Jun;27(2):369-87. Review.

Channer KS, Barrow D, Barrow R, Osborne M, Ives G.

Changes in haemodynamic parameters following Tai Chi Chuan and aerobic exercise in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction.

Postgrad Med J. 1996 Jun;72(848):349-51.

Jin P.

Efficacy of Tai Chi, brisk walking, meditation, and reading in reducing mental and emotional stress.

J Psychosom Res. 1992 May;36(4):361-70.

Jin P.

Changes in heart rate, noradrenaline, cortisol and mood during Tai Chi. J Psychosom Res. 1989;33(2):197-206.