Tai Chi
Author
 Nancy Hepp, MS, BCCT Project Manager
Read more Ms. Hepp is a science researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. View profile. Reviewer
 Laura Pole, RN, MSN, OCNS, BCCT Senior Researcher
Read more Ms. Pole is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation and education services for more than 30 years. View profile. Last updated September 1, 2020.
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Also known by these names
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Tai chi is a form of traditional Chinese martial art, mind-body exercise and meditation. With slow, graceful sets of body movements and controlled breathing, tai chi is practiced to improve balance, flexibility, muscle strength and overall health. Many individual styles of tai chi have evolved.
Key Points
- Tai chi is a form of traditional Chinese martial art, mind-body exercise and meditation.
- Tai chi is practiced to improve balance, flexibility, muscle strength and overall health.
- BCCT is interested in evidence associating tai chi with improvements in fatigue, sleep difficulty, depression, quality of life and pain management.
- Tai chi movements are low-impact, making its practice generally safe for patients. A few medical conditions may warrant caution.
- Tai chi is widely available as classes, on video or online.
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Clinical Practice Guidelines
2009 evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology conclude that therapies based on a philosophy of bioenergy fields are safe and may provide some benefit for reducing stress and enhancing quality of life. Only limited evidence is available regarding their efficacy for symptom management, including reducing pain and fatigue. The Society for Integrative Oncology gives a strong recommendation for these therapies:
- For reducing anxiety: grade 1B (strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence)
- For pain, fatigue, and other symptom management: grade 1C (strong recommendation, low- or very low-quality evidence)
Managing Side Effects and Promoting Wellness
Managing or relieving side effects or symptoms, reducing treatment toxicity, supporting quality of life or promoting general well-being
How Does Tai Chi Differ from Qigong ?
The follow summary draws from Tai Chi Society, The Qigong Institute, and Livestrong.com.
The qi (also spelled chi) is “the life energy that flows through the body’s energy pathways.” Tai chi and qigong both cultivate the qi by combining movement, breathing and meditation.
Read more Tai chi is the most well-known and popular moving form of qigong. The practitioner uses visualization, breathing and body movement to guide the circulation of qi as it moves through and around the body. Other characteristics in common:
- The same fundamental principle (relaxation)
- The same fundamental method (slowness)
Ways in which tai chi and qigong differ:
- Tai chi originated as a martial art, but qigong is a health practice with origins in Chinese culture and philosophy.
- Tai chi is a series of continuous, circular, slow, relaxed and smooth flowing movements called forms. Tai chi practice is centered on the forms, involving alignment, integration, coordination, connection, precision and unity. The qi manifests as a result of the form.
- The forms in qigong are not as intricate as those in tai chi and need not be executed as precisely. Qigong forms are free in movement and can be adapted to an individual’s manner of moving. Qigong can be carried out standing, sitting or lying down The core body may be still with only the extremities moving. The discipline of qigong is focused on cultivating the qi without need to study the forms.
- The forms in tai chi follow certain rules and involve intricate body mechanics. In tai chi, a series of forms are not repeated as in qigong; instead one form is followed by another, with each form an integral part of the next and making up a continuous flowing movement.
- Tai chi involves an advanced and elaborate choreography, unlike qigong. Tai chi forms generally take longer to learn and master than qigong’s.
- The qi is not easily cultivated early in tai chi practice, whereas qigong practice can generate tremendous qi in a much shorter time.
- The art of qigong can be a profound meditation going deep into consciousness. The moving meditation of tai chi is typically less intense.
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A 2017 review and meta-analysis of 22 studies involving both tai chi and qigong (another movement and meditation therapy) found significant improvement in these areas after three to 12 weeks of training and practice:
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A statistically non-significant trend was also observed for pain. A 2020 systematic review concluded that tai chi is effective in addressing cancer-related pain in breast cancer patients.
Another review in 2017 categorized tai chi ”as having preliminary positive evidence” for pain management.
As with other mind-body approaches, assessing the effectiveness of tai chi in addressing cancer symptoms can be challenging due to the difficulty in creating controls and placebo conditions.
Cautions
Tai chi movements are low impact, putting minimal stress on muscles and joints. Tai chi practice is generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. A few medical conditions may require caution, as listed on the Mayo Clinic website: women who are pregnant or people with joint problems, back pain, fractures, severe osteoporosis or a hernia should consult their healthcare providers. Because tai chi involves very little risk and is associated with improved cancer symptoms and quality of life, many practitioners are comfortable recommending it for patients.
Access
Tai chi is widely available as classes, on video or online. Many hospitals, wellness centers and other health-related facilities offer tai chi classes.
Integrative Programs, Protocols and Medical Systems
- Programs and protocols
- Traditional systems
Non-cancer Uses of Tai Chi
BCCT has not reviewed the effectiveness of this therapy for non-cancer uses.
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Fall prevention
- Fibromyalgia
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Insomnia
- Joint pain
- Menopause symptoms
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke prevention
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Note: BCCT has not conducted an independent review of research of tai chi. This summary draws from CAM-Cancer, the Mayo Clinic and other sources as noted.
Highlighted Video
Brian Bouch discusses integrative oncology, part 1
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BCCT advisor Brian Bouch, MD, retired several years ago from an integrative medicine practice in Sonoma, California. After he received a difficult cancer diagnosis, he developed a specialty in integrative oncology. Dr. Bouch was the first medical director of Commonweal. In the following three videos, he talks with Michael Lerner about how he developed his practice, used certain therapies and how he worked with people with cancer.
Bold text indicates topics related to tai chi.
- 2:48-10:04 Dr Bouch’s experience with a cancer diagnosis:
- malignant growth in his neck
- primary cancer unknown, 5 years later source known
- ENT oncologist recommended surgery and radical lymph-node dissection
- embarked on is own program detox (Optimal Health Center)
- diet and exercise
- talked with Renneker, Block, Broffman, McKee
- Contact provided with MD Anderson with latest research recommending 80% with his type of cancer do well with chemo and radiation
- 11:45-12:50 How his cancer experience has changed him:
- importance of exercise (qigong, yoga, vegan diet, Zen Buddhism)
- respect for spirituality and how to bring it to our daily lives
- 15:00-26:00 Michael & Brian discuss Integrative Cancer therapies:
- importance of the 7 pillars of health promotion
- creating a healthier person who may be living with cancer, extending their life, or improving their life
- more information on the etiologic factors: genomes (what we are born with with) and epigenetic factors that influence our genes
- measuring the toxic load is one part of functional medicine
- 26:46-32:32 What is happening in our bodies: toxicity
- functional medicine looks at microbiome, leaky gut, mercury, lead and cadmium
- urine and stool sample can provide information on toxicity
- hydrocarbons
- biotoxins (such as from mold) can impact autoimmune system
- 35:00-41:19 Detox before and after chemo
- body/mind retreat
- all raw vegan diet, paleo, ketogenic diet
- exercise 150 min/week; heart rate for person in their 70s would be 116 bpm
- spiritual practice
- tai chi
- qigong
- Buddhist meditation
- sauna
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. National Cancer Institute. Viewed December 19, 2017.
- Energy Arts. The Difference between Tai Chi and Qigong. Viewed December 20, 2017.
- Deng GE, Frenkel M et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: complementary therapies and botanicals. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2009 Summer;7(3):85-120.
- Chia K. The difference between Tai Chi and Qigong. Tai Chi Society. October 23, 2011. Viewed January 15, 2018.
- The Qigong Institute. Differences Between Tai Chi and Qigong. Viewed January 15, 2018.
- Wayne J. Qi Gong Vs. Tai Chi. Livestrong.com. September 11, 2017. Viewed January 15, 2018.
- Wayne PM, Lee MS et al. Tai chi and qigong for cancer-related symptoms and quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2017 Dec 8.
- Behzadmehr R, Dastyar N, Moghadam MP, Abavisani M, Moradi M. Effect of complementary and alternative medicine interventions on cancer related pain among breast cancer patients: a systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2020;49:102318.
- Lin YC, Wan L, Jamison RN. Using integrative medicine in pain management: an evaluation of current evidence. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2017 Dec;125(6):2081-2093.
- Ruddy KJ, Stan DL, Bhagra A, Jurisson M, Cheville AL. Alternative exercise traditions in cancer rehabilitation. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2017 Feb;28(1):181-192.
- Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010; Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Thriving after Cancer: A Five-Step Integrative Plan to Reduce the Risk of Recurrence and Build Lifelong Health. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. 2013.
- Cohen L, Jefferies A. Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six. New York: Viking. 2018.
- Lemole G, Mehta P, McKee D. After Cancer Care: The Definitive Self-Care Guide to Getting and Staying Well for Patients with Cancer. New York, New York: Rodale, Inc. 2015.
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