KEYWORDS Taiji;Psychosocial stress; Salivary cortisol; Salivary a-amylase; Heart rate Summary Background: St ress reducing effects of Taiji, a mindful and gentle form of body movement, have been reported in previous studies, but standardized and controlled experimental studies are scarce. The present study investigates the effect of regular Taiji practice on psychobiological stress response in healthy men and women. Methods: 70 partidpants were randomly assigned to either Taiji classes or a waiting list. After 3 months, 26 (8 men, 18 women) persons in the Taiji group and 23 (9 men, 14 women) in the waiting control group underwent a standardized psychosocial stress test combining public speaking and mental arithmetic in front of an audience. Salivary cortisol and a -amylase, heart rate, and psychological responses to psychosodal stress were compared between the study groups. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01122706.) Results: Stress induced characteristic changes in all psychological and physiological mea. sures. Compared to controls, Taiji partidpants exhibited a significantly lower stress reactivity of cortisol (p = .028) and heart rate (p = .028), as well as lower a -amylase levels (p = .049). They reported a lower increase in perceived stressfulness (p = .006) and maintained a higher level of calmness ( p = . 019) in response to psychosodal stress. Conclusion: Our results consistently suggest that practidng Taiji attenuates psychobiological stress reactivity in healthy subjects. This may underline the role of Taiji as a useful mind-body practice for stress prevention.

TCM AP is superior to sham AP and verum CHM in reducing menopausal symptoms, whereas verum CHM shows no significant improvements when compared with placebo CHM.

Aim of the study: In this study we examined the effects of Taiji on perceived stress and general self-efficacy (GSE), and investigated the mediating role of a Taiji-induced GSE increase on Taiji-related reduction of perceived stress.Materials and methods: 70 healthy participants were randomly allocated either to the Taiji intervention group or the waiting list control group. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks comprising two Taiji classes per week. Before, shortly after, and two months after the intervention, we assessed the degree of perceived stress and GSE in all participants by employing the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the GSE-Scale.Results: Compared to controls, participants of the Taiji group showed a significantly stronger decrease of perceived stress and a higher increase in GSE from pre-to post-intervention assessment (PSS: p = 0.009; GSE: p = 0.006), as well as from pre-intervention to follow-up assessment (PSS: p = 0.018; GSE: p = 0.033). A mediator analysis based on a multiple regression approach revealed that a Taiji-related increase in GSE statistically mediated the reduction in perceived stress after Taiji as compared to baseline. Post-hoc testing showed that the mediating effect of GSE was significant (p = 0.043).Conclusions: Our findings confirm previously reported Taiji-related stress reducing and GSE enhancing effects with GSE increase mediating Taiji related reduction of perceived stress.

Taiji is regarded as a mind-body practice that is characterized by gentle and mindful body movements. In contrast to the continuously growing evidence base supporting the beneficial effects of Taiji on physical and mental well-being, studies investigating its underlying mechanisms are still scarce. The aim of our study was to examine the impact of Taiji practice on self-attribution of mindfulness and self-compassion, two potential components well known for their health promoting effects. Seventy healthy participants (age range: 23-50 years) were randomly assigned either to the intervention group or to a wait list control group. The intervention group attended Taiji classes twice a week for 3 months. Before, shortly after and 2 months after the intervention, we measured the degree of selfattributed mindfulness and self-compassion in all study participants by using self-report questionnaires. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significantly higher increase scores in self-attributed mindfulness after the intervention that persisted 2 months later. Increases in self-attributed self-compassion were also higher in Taiji practitioners, with significant group differences from preintervention to follow-up assessment. Our findings suggest that Taiji practice can effectively enhance self-attribution of mindfulness and is likely to have beneficial effects on self-compassion in healthy participants. The role of mindfulness as a mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of Taiji practice warrants further research.

Fragestellung: In der vorliegenden Studie wurde das aktuelle Angebot an CAM-Therapien (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) in Schweizer Praxen der Grundversorgung untersucht. Gefragt wurde nach der Häufigkeit der Patientennachfrage, dem Angebot, dem Zeitaufwand sowie den Überweisungen an CAM. Material und Methoden: Eine zufällige Stichprobe von 750 Schweizer Ärzten der Grundversorgung (500 deutsch-, 250 französischsprachig) wurde schriftlich befragt (Rücklaufquote 50,4%). Auf der Basis von Angaben zur Berufsausbildung, der Wohnregion und dem Geschlecht wurde ein Gewichtungsfaktor berechnet und bei allen Prozentzahlen auβer den Angaben zur Anzahl der Fähigkeitsausweise eingesetzt. Gewichtete deskriptive Analysen zur Nutzung komplementärmedizinischer Behandlungsmethoden wurden durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: 14,2% der Ärzte der Grundversorgung haben mindestens einen CAM-Fähigkeitsausweis. Etwa 30% (95% Konfidenzintervall 25,4–34,6%) der Ärzte der Grundversorgung werden häufiger als einmal pro Woche von Patienten nach CAM gefragt. Homöopathie und Phytotherapie werden am häufigsten angeboten, gefolgt von traditioneller chinesischer Medizin (TCM)/Akupunktur. 62,5% (57,6–67,4%) der Befragten überweisen Patienten an CAM-Behandlungen, am häufigsten an TCM/Akupunktur. Von den 37,5% (32,6–42,4%), die ihre Patienten nicht überweisen, bieten rund 40% (35,1–44,9%) selbst CAM-Behandlungen an. Schlussfolgerung: Rund drei Viertel der befragten Ärzte bieten selbst CAM an oder überweisen Patienten an CAM-Therapien. CAM hat einen hohen Stellenwert in der Patientenversorgung. Klare Ausbildungsrichtlinien für Ärzte sind wünschenswert, um eine qualitativ hochwertige Versorgung mit CAM zu gewährleisten.

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In recent years, Taiji has been frequently investigated and considered as a stress management intervention. Although health care providers' appraisals and consumers' expectations are regarded as essential for treatment outcome, little attention has been drawn to this issue in Taiji research. In our study we have conducted two surveys to explore beginners' (n = 74) expectations and teachers' (n = 136) appraisals of their Taiji courses in general as well as more particularly related to stress management. Qualitative data analysis revealed that beginners mainly expected to learn a new method that is applicable in their daily life to foster peace of mind and to enhance their stress management. Congruently moderate-to-high improvements in stress management have also been found in quantitative analysis, whereby a lower educational level predicted higher expectations (P = 0.016). Taiji-teachers stated body- and mind-related benefits most frequently and appraised moderate-to-high improvements in stress management. Higher appraisals were predicted by a shorter teaching experience (P = 0.024). Our results inform about beginners' expectations and teachers' appraisals related to a Taiji-beginners course and highlight the role of educational background and teaching experience in shaping stress-management-related beginners' expectations and teachers' appraisals.

OBJECTIVE:In recent years research investigating various health benefits of Taiji practice has markedly increased. Despite this growing scientific interest, essential questions such as to what extent a Taiji course may exert noticeable effects in participants' everyday life, what these effects are, and how and where potential transfer effects occur, have hardly been considered. The aim of our study was to explore transfer effects from a Taiji course into participants' daily lives. METHODS:We conducted a longitudinal observational study in 45 healthy participants at the end of their three-month Taiji beginner course (tp1) and at two months (tp2) as well as one year after course completion (tp3). Participants were asked to report their Taiji practice behavior at all time points, as well as to rate and describe perceived transfer effects of Taiji course contents on their daily life at tp1 and tp3. RESULTS: Transfer effects were reported by 91.1% of all respondents after course completion (tp1) and persisted in 73.3% at the one-year follow-up assessment (tp3), counting "increase of self-efficacy", "improvement of stress management", and "increase of body awareness" as the most frequently mentioned effects. Transfer effects predominantly occurred in participants' work and social environments, as well as during everyday activities in public areas. While selfreliant Taiji practice frequency significantly decreased from 82.2% at tp1 to 55.6% at tp3 (P < 0.001), the magnitude of self-reported transfer effects did not (P = 0.35). As explorative analyses revealed, regular Taiji course attendance was highly correlated with stronger transfer effects at tp1 (r = 0.51; P < 0.001) and tp3 (r = 0.35; P = 0.020). Participants reporting high self-reliant Taiji practice frequency at tp2 were likely to maintain a regular practice routine at tp3 (r = 0.42; P < 0.004), whereas self-reliant practice frequency and transfer effects at tp1 were positively correlated with self-reliant practice frequency at tp3 on a trend level (r < 0.27; P > 0.08). CONCLUSION: Our data underline the importance of regular course participation for pronounced and long lasting transfer effects into participants' everyday life. We discuss that several context and process-related aspects of a Taiji intervention are potentially relevant factors for enhancement of transfer effect.