Between my research in community health, teaching, conferences, and moving for a new position, it has been almost a year since my last post. So much has happened, including opportunities to return to some research and writing on my work with tai chi and other mindful exercises. New research is promising to develop in exciting ways, to touch areas of health and fitness beyond my initial work with mindful forms of exercise such as tai chi. And mindful practice/mindful exercise is a nice compliment to my work and research with rural health and community medicine, in my new position at the Mercer University School of Medicine.
I will post more updates in the next month or two, but in the meantime, below is an old post related to celiac neuropathy, from my own experiences. I decided to repost this, since between moving and starting a new position, I have been skimping on my own practice. And sadly, the neuropathy began getting worse. This reminded me, that as with much of health, life choices can ultimately play a big impact on health outcomes. Exercise is not as convenient as taking a pill. But it brings so many rewards, particularly a mindful exercise such as tai chi. So I am back to an hour a night, doing my form, while my wife works on her art, either to music or a movie or show. And the neuropathy is clearing up again.
The ideal of a practice such as meditation or tai chi is often viewed as focused practice in a remote mountain location. I have done such practice, and it is remarkable. But tai chi and other mindful and traditional practices can still be a choice, even in the world of the mundane.
Below is the original post from six years ago:
It is without a doubt that taking a pill is easier than committing time to a regular health practice. But often pills come with a high price, both in cost and in side effects. And then there are some conditions which no medicine can cure. It is at this point that many people turn to complementary practices such as Tai Chi. Research supports that for many conditions, the Metarobic benefits of Tai Chi boosts the ability of the body to heal itself. Tai Chi has been used by people suffering from a variety of conditions, including cancer, heart, lung and kidney disease, arthritis, and more (see “Mindful Exercise: Metarobics, Healing, and the Power of Tai Chi” for research underlying the unique physiological effects of Tai Chi on the body).
A large number of Tai Chi teachers became teachers due to the effects of Tai Chi on their condition. Many of these had been told they had incurable conditions, and some had been given only weeks to live (several of their stories are also posted in my book).
A recent experience is confirming for me just how important Tai Chi can be, for people for which conventional medicine offers no current hope. I suffer from celiac neuropathy which had grown progressively worse over the years. It got to the point that I could not feel my arms and legs, up to my shoulders and hips. Doctors ran a large variety of tests, but could find no underlying reason. This is often the case with celiac neuropathy, which can develop later in life in those with celiac sprue, particularly the dermatitis herpetiformis form. The reason why is unknown, and there does not seem to be a cure.
Some research is beginning to link this to the large amount of rice celiacs eat in replacement of wheat, due to the potential for high arsenic content in rice. Arsenic was a common poison used to combat pests in historic times, leaving arsenic contamination in the soil, and is still used in many countries. More research is needed, but no matter what the cause, my condition was deteriorating to the point that I was worried I would lose the use of my arms and legs.
This was particularly disappointing, because I was already a regular Tai Chi practitioner, and had taught Tai Chi for medical and other programs. My work with Metarobic theory explained why Tai Chi helped so many conditions. So why was it not helping me? It then struck me that many of those with life threatening chronic conditions did Tai Chi multiple times each day. So I upped my practice to 30-45 minutes of practice three times a day. I also began using vitamins and supplements which were reputed to help with neuropathy (Magnesium, sublingual B12, stabilized R-lipoic acid, calcium, D3). And the neuropathy cleared up, surprisingly rapidly (feeling returned to my arms and legs within a few weeks, and to my hands, feet and toes over the next three months or so).
But I had to consider – was it the Tai Chi, the supplements, or a combination? I suspected the latter, since there were times when life got particularly busy, and I missed a Tai Chi session, but not the supplements, or visa versa, and the numbness would begin to come back in either case. But more so if I skipped Tai Chi and related exercises (such as the baduanjin or "Eight Pieces of Silk Brocade" breathing exercise (Qigong)). After a few months, I was able to cut down Tai Chi practice to 30 minutes or so twice a day, and later due to time constraints (I later found that 60 minutes in the evening seemed to work at at least as well if not better).
If I missed Tai Chi, the next day I would feel some numbness return. But this week was so busy and demanding, that it finally answered the question of just how important the Tai Chi practice was, compared to the supplements. I did not miss any supplements, but I began missing Tai Chi.
For almost a week I was able to squeeze in a morning or evening practice, but not both. And some numbness began returning. And then I missed two complete days. Last night my legs were numb up to the middle of my calves, and my nerves were twanging like plucked guitar strings. Finally, at 4:00 in the morning, I got up and did 40 minutes of Tai Chi. The twanging nerves calmed, and feeling returned to my legs, except the balls of my feet and my toes.
When I woke later that morning, I did 30 minutes of Tai Chi, 15 minutes of baduanjin, and again later that day, and 20 minutes of the Tai Chi sword form before dinner. And the numbness cleared up, except for my toes, and the occasional nerve twang. The rapidity with which the peripheral neuropathy returned, and how quickly it is clearing up now that I am back to Tai Chi, really drove home two points. One, that it was the Tai Chi which was making the greatest difference in bodily functions, to be able to counter whatever is causing the neuropathy. And two, that if I wanted to remain free from the neuropathy, that I had to adhere strictly to at least twice daily practice (and later found that one hour straight worked as well if not better).
As much as it might be nicer and more convenient to take a pill, over all, it forced me to make a choice for health which I am not regretting. Daily has brought me fantastic health, peace, and tranquility. Busy or not, after midnight or not, I remind myself that the discipline I have learned from daily practice is there, and will see me through (not however, discounting the importance of a good night's sleep, and following your doctor's advice).
There are occasional days I curse the discipline this art has instilled in me, when I would just as soon collapse in bed or on the couch. But I also thank it, for whether I want to or not, my condition is a constant reminder – Health can be a choice.
[Important Note: Case stories, including mine, point to important areas to research, but are not necessarily significant "proof" that these exercises benefit any particular research. More research is needed to understand the full benefit and limitations of these exercises. Also make sure to discuss with your doctor before beginning any new exercise]
I will post more updates in the next month or two, but in the meantime, below is an old post related to celiac neuropathy, from my own experiences. I decided to repost this, since between moving and starting a new position, I have been skimping on my own practice. And sadly, the neuropathy began getting worse. This reminded me, that as with much of health, life choices can ultimately play a big impact on health outcomes. Exercise is not as convenient as taking a pill. But it brings so many rewards, particularly a mindful exercise such as tai chi. So I am back to an hour a night, doing my form, while my wife works on her art, either to music or a movie or show. And the neuropathy is clearing up again.
The ideal of a practice such as meditation or tai chi is often viewed as focused practice in a remote mountain location. I have done such practice, and it is remarkable. But tai chi and other mindful and traditional practices can still be a choice, even in the world of the mundane.
Below is the original post from six years ago:
It is without a doubt that taking a pill is easier than committing time to a regular health practice. But often pills come with a high price, both in cost and in side effects. And then there are some conditions which no medicine can cure. It is at this point that many people turn to complementary practices such as Tai Chi. Research supports that for many conditions, the Metarobic benefits of Tai Chi boosts the ability of the body to heal itself. Tai Chi has been used by people suffering from a variety of conditions, including cancer, heart, lung and kidney disease, arthritis, and more (see “Mindful Exercise: Metarobics, Healing, and the Power of Tai Chi” for research underlying the unique physiological effects of Tai Chi on the body).
A large number of Tai Chi teachers became teachers due to the effects of Tai Chi on their condition. Many of these had been told they had incurable conditions, and some had been given only weeks to live (several of their stories are also posted in my book).
A recent experience is confirming for me just how important Tai Chi can be, for people for which conventional medicine offers no current hope. I suffer from celiac neuropathy which had grown progressively worse over the years. It got to the point that I could not feel my arms and legs, up to my shoulders and hips. Doctors ran a large variety of tests, but could find no underlying reason. This is often the case with celiac neuropathy, which can develop later in life in those with celiac sprue, particularly the dermatitis herpetiformis form. The reason why is unknown, and there does not seem to be a cure.
Some research is beginning to link this to the large amount of rice celiacs eat in replacement of wheat, due to the potential for high arsenic content in rice. Arsenic was a common poison used to combat pests in historic times, leaving arsenic contamination in the soil, and is still used in many countries. More research is needed, but no matter what the cause, my condition was deteriorating to the point that I was worried I would lose the use of my arms and legs.
This was particularly disappointing, because I was already a regular Tai Chi practitioner, and had taught Tai Chi for medical and other programs. My work with Metarobic theory explained why Tai Chi helped so many conditions. So why was it not helping me? It then struck me that many of those with life threatening chronic conditions did Tai Chi multiple times each day. So I upped my practice to 30-45 minutes of practice three times a day. I also began using vitamins and supplements which were reputed to help with neuropathy (Magnesium, sublingual B12, stabilized R-lipoic acid, calcium, D3). And the neuropathy cleared up, surprisingly rapidly (feeling returned to my arms and legs within a few weeks, and to my hands, feet and toes over the next three months or so).
But I had to consider – was it the Tai Chi, the supplements, or a combination? I suspected the latter, since there were times when life got particularly busy, and I missed a Tai Chi session, but not the supplements, or visa versa, and the numbness would begin to come back in either case. But more so if I skipped Tai Chi and related exercises (such as the baduanjin or "Eight Pieces of Silk Brocade" breathing exercise (Qigong)). After a few months, I was able to cut down Tai Chi practice to 30 minutes or so twice a day, and later due to time constraints (I later found that 60 minutes in the evening seemed to work at at least as well if not better).
If I missed Tai Chi, the next day I would feel some numbness return. But this week was so busy and demanding, that it finally answered the question of just how important the Tai Chi practice was, compared to the supplements. I did not miss any supplements, but I began missing Tai Chi.
For almost a week I was able to squeeze in a morning or evening practice, but not both. And some numbness began returning. And then I missed two complete days. Last night my legs were numb up to the middle of my calves, and my nerves were twanging like plucked guitar strings. Finally, at 4:00 in the morning, I got up and did 40 minutes of Tai Chi. The twanging nerves calmed, and feeling returned to my legs, except the balls of my feet and my toes.
When I woke later that morning, I did 30 minutes of Tai Chi, 15 minutes of baduanjin, and again later that day, and 20 minutes of the Tai Chi sword form before dinner. And the numbness cleared up, except for my toes, and the occasional nerve twang. The rapidity with which the peripheral neuropathy returned, and how quickly it is clearing up now that I am back to Tai Chi, really drove home two points. One, that it was the Tai Chi which was making the greatest difference in bodily functions, to be able to counter whatever is causing the neuropathy. And two, that if I wanted to remain free from the neuropathy, that I had to adhere strictly to at least twice daily practice (and later found that one hour straight worked as well if not better).
As much as it might be nicer and more convenient to take a pill, over all, it forced me to make a choice for health which I am not regretting. Daily has brought me fantastic health, peace, and tranquility. Busy or not, after midnight or not, I remind myself that the discipline I have learned from daily practice is there, and will see me through (not however, discounting the importance of a good night's sleep, and following your doctor's advice).
There are occasional days I curse the discipline this art has instilled in me, when I would just as soon collapse in bed or on the couch. But I also thank it, for whether I want to or not, my condition is a constant reminder – Health can be a choice.
[Important Note: Case stories, including mine, point to important areas to research, but are not necessarily significant "proof" that these exercises benefit any particular research. More research is needed to understand the full benefit and limitations of these exercises. Also make sure to discuss with your doctor before beginning any new exercise]
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