May 7, 2021
In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical researcher Peter Wayne about his work on mind-body and movement-based interventions like tai chi. Their conversation covers many topics, including:
- how a background in ecology informs his research;
- embracing multiple causes of any outcome;
- how to do non-reductionist science;
- removing the hyphen from the mind-body system;
- harnessing the wisdom of the body through contemplative practice;
- the value of first-person narrative in research;
- safety and trauma in the body;
- the relationship between physical and emotional patterns;
- how the concept of the subtle body relates to Western views;
- the role of integrative medicine in dealing with climate change;
- and bringing together multiple perspectives to investigate the mind & healing.
Peter Wayne is a researcher and practitioner in the field of mind-body and integrative medicine. Peter is the Bernard Osher Associate Professor of Medicine in the field of Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and the Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, jointly based at HMS and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is also the Founding Director of the Tree of Life Tai Chi Center in Boston. The primary focus of Peter’s research is evaluating how mind-body and related integrative medicine practices clinically impact aging and chronic health conditions, and understanding the physiological and psychological mechanisms underlying observed therapeutic effects. His research has evaluated the impact of therapies such as Tai Chi, Qigong, acupuncture and chiropractic on diverse medical issues including balance disorders, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, COPD, cancer, back pain, migraine headaches and healthy aging. Peter has more than 40 years of training experience in Tai Chi and Qigong, and is an internationally recognized teacher of these practices. He is author of the Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi, which received an Award of Excellence in Medical Communication from the American Medical Writers Association.
Resources
Website: Osher Center faculty page
Website: Tree of Life Tai Chi Center
- Book: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi
- The Eight Active Ingredients of Tai Chi
- Paper with Evan Thompson (2018): Can Tai Chi and Qigong Postures Shape Our Mood? Toward an Embodied Cognition Framework for Mind-Body Research. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
- Paper on acupuncture (2018): What Is the Point? The Problem with Acupuncture Research That No One Wants to Talk About. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Michael Levin at Tufts University (studies bioelectric fields)
- Paper on integrative medicine and climate (2019): Integrative Medicine Is a Good Prescription for Patients and Planet. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Peter’s Grand Rounds on Climate (2019): Video and Commentary