Stoking the Greying Dragon: The potential of Chinese Yangsheng practices for the prevention and management of degenerative disease in the elderly

Yangsheng practices such as qi gong and tai qi have been employed in China to maintain health and longevity from pre-Han dynasty to the present. Although, taiqi and qi gong have become popular in the West, the potential for community and self-management of chronic and degenerative diseases amongst the globally rapidly growing elderly population would benefit from further examination. This study provides a systematic review of the literature to determine the potential benefit of Yangsheng practices in preventing and managing degenerative disease in the elderly and the potential for its integration into North American and European healthcare. The literature was reviewed to determine both the historical transfer of Yangsheng practices to the West and to identify any research that has analysed the impact of Yangsheng practices on chronic degenerative diseases, particularly in the elderly. The research identifies a significant positive correlation between the adoption of Yangsheng practices and the prevention and management of chronic degenerative diseases. The potential challenges of the transfer and translation of Yangsheng practices to formal health care in the West will also be reviewed.