Meditation can cause biological changes in addition to those in the brain and perception. Research has established that meditation can aid in good health and longevity by preventing diseases, reducing symptoms and assisting in disease management, and to study meditation therapy as part of treatment for cancer, Alzheimer’s and AIDS in the mind-body medicine approach.
Meditation alters gene expression
Scientists from Harvard Medical School show that yoga, meditation and prayer elicit a physiological response that produces immediate positive changes in gene expression. A study was designed to identify genes affected by these practices and to determine the potential biological relevance of the changes. Findings show that both short and long-term practitioners displayed enhanced expression of genes associated with energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, insulin secretion and telomere maintenance and reduced expression of genes linked to inflammatory response and stress-related pathways.
Meditation and disease management
It has been observed that stress-related health problems are responsible for up to 80 per cent of visits to the doctor and as few as three per cent of doctors actually talk to patients about how to reduce stress. Yoga and meditation have been shown to reduce the body’s stress response by strengthening the relaxation response and lowering stress hormones, such as cortisol. Yoga has many health benefits, including improving heart health and helping relieve depression and anxiety. Stress also plays a major role in a number of chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel syndrome and asthma.
Researches have used a technique called mindfulness which is a state of active, open attention to the present in disease management. Patients with chronic pain continuously focus attention on the breath, bodily sensations and mental content while seated, walking or practising yoga. A research conducted by Melissa Rosenkranz showed that behavioural interventions designed to reduce emotional reactivity are beneficial to people suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions. Thus mindfulness techniques may be more effective in relieving these symptoms than other activities that promote wellbeing but there are specific people who may be more likely to benefit from this approach than other interventions.
Another research was conducted by the American Heart Association to examine the effects of meditation on people with cardiovascular diseases. It was established that meditation significantly reduced risk for mortality, heart attack and stroke in coronary disease patients. These changes were associated with lower blood pressure and psychosocial stress factors.
In addition to the above, meditation also helps relieve insomnia and improve the quality of sleep and boosts immune system which helps prevent diseases. The benefits of meditation techniques for long term practitioners are endless. In following articles we will explore techniques that can be adopted as part of day to day life.
Practice of the week
Utkata Konasana
Ashwa Sanchalanasana
Next week: Meditation and its effects - Part 3
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