A 2007 study by the U.S. government found that nearly 9.4% of U.S. adults (over 20 million) had practiced meditation within the past 12 months, up from 7.6% (more than 15 million people) in 2002. The interest and appeal of meditation is growing, but why? The language of science can provides some answers.
In over 1,000 published research studies, various methods of meditation have been linked to changes in metabolism, mood, blood pressure, brain activity, and immune response. Meditation has been used in clinical settings as a method of stress and pain reduction.
Research has demonstrated the benefits of meditation for the following conditions:
- Anxiety
- Blood pressure
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Cognitive function in the elderly
- Coronary artery disease
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Happiness
- Psoriasis
- Serum cholesterol
- Smoking cessation
- Tension headaches
Meditation can be one of the most important components of any health plan. Its unique ability to activate the relaxation response and foster mental stability provides a foundation for healing. Meditation is medicine that activates the body’s innate healing response.
