GW Center for Integrative Medicine

04/24/2026

Happy World Tai Chi & Qigong Day, April 25th 2026! 🌿
- by Angela Gabriel, MSOM, Lac, SEP, GWCIM practitioner.

Tomorrow, people all around the world are gathering as part of the “One World… One Breath” celebration — moving, breathing, and connecting through the beautiful traditions of Tai Chi and Qigong. I always love this day. There’s something incredibly powerful about knowing that across time zones, thousands of people are moving and pausing together to tune in to the ancient wisdom of moving Qi.

Tai Chi and Qigong are ancient practices rooted in Chinese Medicine, yet they feel so relevant in our modern lives. Through gentle, intentional movement and mindful breathing, they help calm the nervous system, improve balance and circulation, and build resilience. I’ve seen again and again how even simple Qigong principles can support people navigating stress, chronic illness, fatigue, or recovery. The softest practices are the most transformative.

When I was living near my Chinese Medicine school in Long Island, NY, my dear friend and acupuncture colleague Irvi Sulit and her healing center, Toburan, organized many World Tai Chi & Qigong Day gatherings on Long Beach, NY — and she continues this beautiful tradition today! Through the Toburan Wholistic Health Initiative, and led by local instructors, the event has long been part of the global “One World… One Breath” movement. We invited teachers and speakers, offered free Qigong practice on the beach, shared Chinese medicine demos at the Long Beach Community Center, and sampled herbal teas and nourishing foods. It was always such a joyful, heart‑centered community day — some years we had more than 100 people moving and breathing together by the ocean.

While we don’t yet offer stand‑alone Qigong classes at GWCIM, our four Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners — myself included — weave elements of Qigong into our treatments through breath awareness, gentle movement guidance, and energy cultivation. These subtle practices can be incredibly grounding and empowering. We’re hopeful that Qigong classes will be coming to GWCIM soon!

Today, I invite you to take a few intentional breaths, move Qi gently, and tomorrow - join the spirit of this worldwide celebration, wherever you are.

One World. One Breath. 💛

Photo: Tai Chi class with Toburan, Long Beach, NY

04/17/2026

A new major review suggests Alzheimer’s drugs may offer only modest clinical benefit—raising important questions about risk, cost, and real-world impact.

At the same time, growing evidence supports a broader, root-cause approach to cognitive decline—targeting metabolism, inflammation, sleep, toxins, and more.

We break it down here 👇
🎥 Watch: [YouTube link]
🔬 Study: https://www.cochranelibrary.com

🧠 Program: https://gwcim.com

A major new systematic review is challenging the narrative around Alzheimer’s medications.Are drugs like lecanemab and donanemab truly changing outcomes—or o...

04/09/2026

📣✨👇 For 10 years, Four Directions Wellness, affiliated with the GW Center for Integrative Medicine, has been a space for healing, reflection, and deeper connection.

A place to return to yourself. To listen inward. To align mind, body, emotions, and spirit.

To celebrate their journey, they are offering GWCIM patients $10 off with code GWCIM10. 🎉

This is more than an anniversary.
It is an invitation to honor where you are and explore what is calling you next.

👉 Use code GWCIM10 and celebrate with Four Directions Wellness.

04/08/2026

From our April Newsletter:
Dogs' Talks about Integrative Medicine series

Subscribe to the GWCIM monthly newsletter in the comments!

04/07/2026

A new Nature Medicine study on DMT shows rapid and meaningful improvements in treatment-resistant depression after a single dose.

Compared to traditional antidepressants (~2–4 MADRS point effect), DMT demonstrated a ~7–11 point advantage over placebo within 1–2 weeks.

Interestingly:

Effect size is similar to ketamine, but achieved with one dose instead of multiple infusions
Comparable to psilocybin, but dramatically shorter (minutes vs ~4–6 hours)
May represent a more clinically scalable psychedelic model

Early, small study—but an important signal for the future of psychiatry.

🔬 Study:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04154-z.pdf

In this video, I break down a new Nature Medicine study on DMT for depression—and what it really means for clinical practice.🔬 Study link:https://www.nature...

04/03/2026

🎉 Celebrating 10 years of wellness with Four Directions Wellness (FDW)! 🎉
For a decade, FDW has partnered with GWCIM to offer integrative classes, Reiki, and spiritual coaching in the DC area. Founded by GWCIM practitioners Mara Benner & Catherine Miller, FDW provides a grounded space to connect mind, body, & spirit in Del Ray, Alexandria.
✨ SPECIAL OFFER for GWCIM patients: Get $10 off any 2026 class with code GWCIM10!

03/25/2026

By Yael Flusberg, GWCIM Yoga Therapist for Women’s History Month
“I debated long and hard about what to theme this month’s issue. Restore? Restorative Yoga? Restoration? Women and yoga? I knew that I wanted the issue to honor women and Women’s History Month. ….”
Read more —>
-medicine

I debated long and hard about what to theme this month’s issue. Restore? Restorative Yoga? Restoration? Women and yoga? I knew that I wanted the issue to honor women and Women’s History Month.

03/24/2026

This Thursday! Note: Central Time.
Thriving Through the Years: Simple, Science‑Backed Steps to Healthy Aging featuring Mikhail Kogan, MD
March 26, Noon to 1:30 p.m. Central | Online via Zoom

"By donation" online lecture by Dr. Misha Kogan on Healthy Aging hosted by the University of Minnesota. This lecture is meant for the general public.
Registration link in the first comment.

"In this accessible, engaging webinar, Dr. Kogan explores evidence-based strategies to support healthy aging at any stage of life. Drawing on integrative and geriatric medicine principles, he demystifies how lifestyle factors—like nutrition, movement, stress management, and social engagement—can nurture longevity, vitality, and wellbeing. Participants will learn practical, science-informed tools they can adopt right away to boost resilience, brain health, physical function, and emotional balance, while understanding what truly matters as we age."

03/18/2026

Dr. Misha Kogan's YouTube channel; New Interview, 45 min.
Why is US healthcare failing patients? Dr. Peter Kowey, author of 'Failure to Treat,' joins Dr. Kogan to discuss the systemic issues plaguing American medicine – from insurance denials to physician burnout. Hear real patient stories and explore potential solutions for a better healthcare system.
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2OBO57aibG4?si=_2r1byMjyZxOYBzg

03/17/2026

In this virtual Open House, our ReCODE program team dives into the most recent controlled clinical trial on ReCODE, Dr. Dale Bredesen's groundbreaking program for Alzheimer’s disease and dememtia.
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/HO7Yxxs2ATY?si=LyD3ZZlw3Efmo2Gr
Trial details are available here: https://www.apollohealthco.com/rct-2025/
We also discussed a recent randomized controlled trial on microdosing cannabis, which showed significant memory improvement in patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease. You can find the study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41160/
Finally, we had several excellent questions and updates from all GWCIM memory program team members.
Here is the link to our program description on the GWCIM website: https://gwcim.com/services/recode-program-alzheimer-treatment/