By Herbert Dyer, Jr.
Source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/16442013-meditation-triggers-molecular-and-genetic-changes-new-study
A new study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology provides scientific proof – for the first time – that the regular practice of meditation causes beneficial molecular changes within the human body.
The study was conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Institute of Biomedical Research in Barcelona. Subjects who participated in an intensive, eight-hour mindfulness-meditation regimen showed significant beneficial molecular and genetic changes.
The study group was composed of experienced meditation practitioners who meditated for the whole eight hours, while a control group simply remained quiet and participated in non-meditative activities.
The meditation group experienced observable genetic changes including lower levels of inflammatory genes like RIPK2 and COX2, indicating faster recovery from stressful situations.
As Medical News Today reports:
The extent to which some of the genes were down-regulated was associated with faster cortisol recovery to a social stress test, where participants were challenged to make an impromptu speech or complete mental calculations in front of an audience.
Put another way, meditation allows and encourages participants to subconsciously maintain their mental and physical equilibrium despite and/or in the midst of whatever pressures and potentially worrisome issues may be closing in.
“The regulation of HDACs and inflammatory pathways may represent some of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of mindfulness-based interventions. Our findings set the foundation for future studies to further assess meditation strategies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions,” explained Perla Kaliman, co-author of the study.
Meditation studies abound, of course. Countless anecdotes and surveys have revealed that meditation yields direct physical benefits.
But none of those studies or stories have provided the rock-hard evidence for the benefits of meditation that this one does. This study provides genetic proof that mediation works. That is, this is the first to scientifically demonstrate molecular changes caused by the ancient practice of simply emptying one's mind of all thoughts, feelings, concerns, issues.
“Our genes are quite dynamic in their expression and these results suggest that the calmness of our mind can actually have a potential influence on their expression,” said Dr. Richard J. Davidson of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds.
Thus, it is clear: Meditation relieves stress; it provides digestive relief; it helps regulate blood pressure. It even eases symptoms of the common cold.
There is even a study indicating that mediation reduces pain better than morphine.
However, none of these studies, including this latest one, explain precisely how the simple act of meditation does all of these wonderful things. That answer will come soon enough with more research, more study.
Until then, though, it just stands to reason that maintaining one's cool, especially in the face of adversity, allows one to more rationally deal with whatever situation is at hand.
References:
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2014/01/30/ne
http://www.infowars.com/new-study-medita
http://www.news.wisc.edu/22370
http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/201
http://truthbroadcastnetwork.com/new-stu
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles
Source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/16442013-meditation-triggers-molecular-and-genetic-changes-new-study
A new study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology provides scientific proof – for the first time – that the regular practice of meditation causes beneficial molecular changes within the human body.
The study was conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Institute of Biomedical Research in Barcelona. Subjects who participated in an intensive, eight-hour mindfulness-meditation regimen showed significant beneficial molecular and genetic changes.
The study group was composed of experienced meditation practitioners who meditated for the whole eight hours, while a control group simply remained quiet and participated in non-meditative activities.
The meditation group experienced observable genetic changes including lower levels of inflammatory genes like RIPK2 and COX2, indicating faster recovery from stressful situations.
As Medical News Today reports:
The extent to which some of the genes were down-regulated was associated with faster cortisol recovery to a social stress test, where participants were challenged to make an impromptu speech or complete mental calculations in front of an audience.
Put another way, meditation allows and encourages participants to subconsciously maintain their mental and physical equilibrium despite and/or in the midst of whatever pressures and potentially worrisome issues may be closing in.
“The regulation of HDACs and inflammatory pathways may represent some of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of mindfulness-based interventions. Our findings set the foundation for future studies to further assess meditation strategies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions,” explained Perla Kaliman, co-author of the study.
Meditation studies abound, of course. Countless anecdotes and surveys have revealed that meditation yields direct physical benefits.
But none of those studies or stories have provided the rock-hard evidence for the benefits of meditation that this one does. This study provides genetic proof that mediation works. That is, this is the first to scientifically demonstrate molecular changes caused by the ancient practice of simply emptying one's mind of all thoughts, feelings, concerns, issues.
“Our genes are quite dynamic in their expression and these results suggest that the calmness of our mind can actually have a potential influence on their expression,” said Dr. Richard J. Davidson of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds.
Thus, it is clear: Meditation relieves stress; it provides digestive relief; it helps regulate blood pressure. It even eases symptoms of the common cold.
There is even a study indicating that mediation reduces pain better than morphine.
However, none of these studies, including this latest one, explain precisely how the simple act of meditation does all of these wonderful things. That answer will come soon enough with more research, more study.
Until then, though, it just stands to reason that maintaining one's cool, especially in the face of adversity, allows one to more rationally deal with whatever situation is at hand.
References:
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2014/01/30/ne
http://www.infowars.com/new-study-medita
http://www.news.wisc.edu/22370
http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/201
http://truthbroadcastnetwork.com/new-stu
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles
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