Research Behind Mindful Meditation
This research was done by Psychosomatic Medicine researchers found that people who did eight weeks of meditation training produced more antibodies to a flu vaccine. OBJECTIVE: The underlying changes in biological processes that are associated with reported changes in mental [...]
This research was done by Psychosomatic Medicine researchers found that people who did eight weeks of meditation training produced more antibodies to a flu vaccine.
OBJECTIVE: The underlying changes in biological processes that are associated with reported changes in mental and physical health in response to meditation have not been systematically explored. We performed a randomized, controlled study on the effects on brain and immune function of a well known and widely used 8-week clinical training program in mindfulness meditation applied in a work environment with healthy employees.
METHODS: We measured brain electrical activity before and immediately after, and then 4 months after an 8-week training program in mindfulness meditation. Twenty-five subjects were tested in the meditation group. A wait-list control group (N = 16) was tested at the same points in time as the mediators. At the end of the 8-week period, subjects in both groups were vaccinated with influenza vaccine.
RESULTS: We report for the first time significant increases in left-sided anterior activation, a pattern previously associated with positive affect, in the meditators compared with the non-meditators. We also found significant increases in antibody titers to influenza vaccine among subjects in the meditation compared with those in the wait-list control group. Finally, the magnitude of increase in left-sided activation predicted the magnitude of antibody titer rise to the vaccine.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that a short program in mindfulness meditation produces demonstrable effects on brain and immune function. These findings suggest that meditation may change brain and immune function in positive ways and underscore the need for additional research.
I am a huge believer in the power of meditation. It is probably the most valuable tool that anyone can have. However, I have noticed that meditation has received some scrutiny from people simply for the fact that it seems way to easy to make any health benefits. It is true that it is very simple, but it is always a free way to stay healthy both physically and emotionally. All is takes is a little time and a drive to stay healthy.
You might like:
From Our Sponsors
From Our Sponsors
From Our Sponsors
I am a Holistic Life Coach, health coach and meditation teacher. My goal is to help people find inner peace and contentment during times of stress and worry. I have a passion for assisting those with anxiety disorders, stress, health and nutrition. I believe we are made of mind, body, soul, and environment. It is of much importance to keep good health in each one of these areas.