A recent study conducted by a research team in Hong Kong has found that Tai Chi, a longstanding traditional Chinese martial art, not only promotes better health in middle-aged and elderly people, but can also combat insomnia. Even more surprising, the effectiveness of Tai Chi in combating insomnia is on par with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), providing patients with a more natural and relaxing solution.
According to the Daily Mail, CBT is commonly used in Western medicine today to treat severe insomnia. While some physicians may prescribe sleeping pills, these medications are usually only recommended for short-term use and have limited effectiveness. However, experts at the University of Hong Kong recently found that Tai Chi can improve chronic insomnia, and its effects are comparable to CBT.
This study, published in the British Medical Journal, tracked 200 chronic insomnia patients aged 50 and above. Researchers divided them into two groups: one group learned Tai Chi, the other received CBT. The study lasted for 3 months, with each group having a one-hour session twice a week.
The results showed that within the 3 months, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) of the CBT group dropped by 11.19 points, while the Tai Chi group saw a decrease of 6.67 points. However, after a further one-year follow-up, experts found that the ISI of the Tai Chi group dropped to 9.51 points, while the CBT group was at 10.18 points. This suggests that in terms of long-term effects, Tai Chi’s impact on insomnia actually surpasses that of CBT.
Experts were even more amazed to find that Tai Chi not only aids sleep, but also improves patients’ quality of life, enhances their mental health, and raises their level of physical activity—benefits that are comparable to CBT. Experts believe this may be because participants continued to practice Tai Chi even after the study ended, highlighting that the exercise continues to benefit both the mind and body beyond the initial 3-month program.
Currently, tens of millions of people worldwide suffer from insomnia. Long-term lack of sleep can negatively affect the body, resulting in irritability, lack of concentration, and more seriously, an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, or diabetes.