With the colder weather and shorter days, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can become a serious issue for many people. It is estimated that 2-10% of Americans report symptoms of SAD with symptoms starting as early as late August and persisting until April. In addition to natural remedies such as light therapy, diet changes and acupuncture, Tai Chi may provide some relief from the “winter blues”. A pilot study by the National Institute of Mental Health found that individuals with major depressive disorder demonstrated a positive treatment response after participating in a 12 week Tai Chi program. Though they indicate that the differences in their small sample size (n =26 in Tai Chi group and n = 13 in control group) did not reach significance, the researchers of the study found the trend in improvement in the Tai Chi group to be promising enough for a more definitive trial.
Tai Chi Helps Fight Depression
