title: Kouksundo, a traditional Korean mind-body practice, regulates oxidative stress profiles and stress hormones.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kouksundo is a traditional Korean mind-body practice that has been practiced for thousands of years. We investigated the effects of Kouksundo on oxidative stress-related biomarkers and stress hormones.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-arm observational study was conducted on 57 Kouksundo trainees (34 males and 23 females). Blood samples were collected 30 min before and after Kouksundo practice (25 min for warm-up, 45 min for breathing meditation, and 20 min for cool-down).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kouksundo significantly reduced serum levels of oxidant markers, including reactive oxygen species (p<0.01), nitric oxide (p<0.01), and malondialdehyde (p<0.05), induced elevation of superoxide dismutase (p<0.01), and reduction of catalase (p<0.001). No significant changes were observed in total antioxidant capacity or total glutathione content levels (p>0.05). Kouksundo practice also significantly reduced the serum level of cortisol (p<0.001), norepinephrine (p<0.001), and dopamine (p<0.05), and significantly increased serum epinephrine concentrations (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The traditional Korean mind-body practice Kouksundo provided health benefits by regulating oxidative stress and levels of stress hormones. This study is the first investigation of the changes in oxidative stress and stress hormones induced by mind-body therapy, producing reference data for mechanistic studies on these practices.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hwi-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong-Geug
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ckson@dju.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chang-Gue
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D004298:Dopamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine
keywords: Kouksundo; Mind–body practice; Oxidative stress; Stress hormone