Meditation, A Simple Way to Improve Health

Western medicine is finally catching on to what Eastern traditions have known for centuries. Studies done on the health benefits of meditation have concluded that this simple form of focus is indeed beneficial to physical and mental health.

What would you think if your physician prescribed a daily dose of mindfulness meditation, or suggested a regimen of yoga or tai chi in lieu of pharmaceuticals? It seems that, in many instances, various meditational practices might be a viable option for treating certain ailments.

In one particular an eight week trial, participants who meditated daily for thirty minutes experienced an increase in grey-matter in the hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with learning and memory. Perhaps more importantly, the same study resulted in measurable decreases in the density of the grey-matter of the amygdala, which is the area responsible for stress and anxiety responses.

Conditions that Respond to Meditation

Extensive research has shown that there are many conditions that are known to respond favorably to meditation practices. Here are just a few:

Diabetes. When the body is stressed, a hormone called cortisol is produced. Cortisol increases blood sugar levels and suppresses the immune system. By reducing the stress response, meditation can effectively reduce cortisol levels, resulting in easier to manage levels of blood sugar.

Depression. Meditation initiates soothing brain-wave activity that increases relaxation as well as a sense of overall well-being. With this increase in positive brain activity, conditions such as depression, anxiety and others can be alleviated, often to a great extent, with ongoing meditation practices.

Cholesterol and high blood pressure. It is a well-known fact that heart disease is linked to stress and high levels of bad cholesterol as well as high blood pressure are major contributors to heart disease. Ongoing studies support the use of meditation for its cholesterol lowering ability and its potential as a stand-alone or adjunct treatment for high blood pressure.

Meditation can be as simple as sitting in a quiet place and relaxing the mind; it can be combined with physical movement as in yoga or tai chi; or, it can be incorporated into spiritual practices such as prayer. Meditation, in all its forms, has one thing in common: A focus on quieting the mind and increasing a sense of calm. Not surprisingly, people who develop a daily practice of meditation experience better health as well as a better sense of general wellness.


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