Practicing Tai Chi Chih, the Westernized version of Tai Chi, has been shown to boost immunity against shingles in older adults.

Over 50% of shingles cases occur in people over age 60. Shingles, a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox, can be painul and in some cases, leave the suferer with a chronic pain condition known as PHN (post herpetic neuralgia).

A 25-week study conducted by UCLA showed that participants who practiced Tai Chi alone boosted their shingles immunity to the level of those who had received the shingles vaccine.

Tai Chi Chih consists of 19 movements and one pose. The movements are slow and gentle and can be adapted for persons with disabilities. It can even be done while sitting. Learning and practicing Tai Chi Chih does not require physical fitness.

Researchers believe that the results of the shingles study could have implications for boosting immunity in older adults when it comes to other infectious diseases, such as influenza.

Practicing Tai Chi Boosts Immune System in Older Adults

The advisory panel of the CDC has announced it will recommend a routine shingles vaccine for all Americans at age 60.

If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you have a 20% chance of developing shingles in later life. A person who lives to be 85 has a 50% chance of getting shingles.

Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus, which can lie dormant for years after taking refuge in nerve cells, is reactivated and travels down nerve cell fibers to cause a renewed infection. Shingles erupts in a rash of pustules just like chickenpox, but because the nervous system is now involved, is far more painful.

In some cases the patient may develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) – a condition characterized by unrelenting pain, caused by damage to the nervous system.

The new vaccine Zostavax has been shown to be more than 60% effective in reducing shingles symptoms.

Read more about the vaccine and shingles at WebMD.