Comments on: Meditation and health http://www.wildmind.org Explore Meditation Online Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:56:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Art Sands MD http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-151578 Art Sands MD Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:10:12 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-151578 There is a well researched breathing device called Respirate which was originally approved by the FDA for stress reduction - along with stress reduction it was noted to lower blood pressure if used at least 45 minutes a week. In a sense it is a guided breathing exercise - when your breathing rate drops below 4-6/ minute, it turns off the sympathetic (flight or fright) nervous system and increases parasympathetic activity. Web site http://www.resperate.com/us/welcome/index.aspx (I have no financial ties with the company) There is a well researched breathing device called Respirate which was originally approved by the FDA for stress reduction – along with stress reduction it was noted to lower blood pressure if used at least 45 minutes a week. In a sense it is a guided breathing exercise – when your breathing rate drops below 4-6/ minute, it turns off the sympathetic (flight or fright) nervous system and increases parasympathetic activity.

Web site http://www.resperate.com/us/welcome/index.aspx

(I have no financial ties with the company)

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-104695 Bodhipaksa Wed, 26 Jan 2011 02:20:13 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-104695 Hi, Robert. I'm not entirely sure why you'd experience fatigue after meditating. It's certainly not a common experience, although it may possibly be related to something that often happens on a meditation retreat, which is that people may for the first few days feel unaccountably tired. I usually put that down to people "catching up with themselves." They may have been tired before they arrived on retreat, but the busyness of their lives has prevented them from experiencing their tiredness. Whether or not that's related, I just can't say. But it does also sound like you're putting a lot of effort into your meditation (you talk about using "a large amount of energy" to deal with your hindrances) so perhaps it's related to that. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was. Not being gifted with psychic abilities, of course, I can't peer inside your experience and say whether you're working too hard (i.e. making unnecessary effort). You could play around with your level of effort, though, and see if it makes a difference. You might want, for example, to make a gentler, kinder effort and simply accept a bit more distraction, and see if you feel less tired afterwards. Maybe you could tell me what kinds of hindrances you're experiencing and what kinds of things you're doing to remove them? That might give me more to work on so that I can suggest alternative approaches. Hi, Robert.

I’m not entirely sure why you’d experience fatigue after meditating. It’s certainly not a common experience, although it may possibly be related to something that often happens on a meditation retreat, which is that people may for the first few days feel unaccountably tired. I usually put that down to people “catching up with themselves.” They may have been tired before they arrived on retreat, but the busyness of their lives has prevented them from experiencing their tiredness. Whether or not that’s related, I just can’t say.

But it does also sound like you’re putting a lot of effort into your meditation (you talk about using “a large amount of energy” to deal with your hindrances) so perhaps it’s related to that. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was. Not being gifted with psychic abilities, of course, I can’t peer inside your experience and say whether you’re working too hard (i.e. making unnecessary effort). You could play around with your level of effort, though, and see if it makes a difference. You might want, for example, to make a gentler, kinder effort and simply accept a bit more distraction, and see if you feel less tired afterwards.

Maybe you could tell me what kinds of hindrances you’re experiencing and what kinds of things you’re doing to remove them? That might give me more to work on so that I can suggest alternative approaches.

]]> By: Robert http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-103388 Robert Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:04:56 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-103388 Hi Bodhipaksa- I've been doing a daily body scan, breath, and development of compassion meditation for the last three weeks. After doing the bodyscan + breadth meditations (from your "Still the Mind" CD) it takes me about 20 minutes to reconnect to the outside world. Lately I've been experiencing a large amount of physical fatigue owing to these meditations, so much so that I've had to rest for a few days. I should mention that I am taking an anti-depressant that is working pretty well. Is this "burnout" a result of the depression, or doing too much meditation at once, or the need for a large amount of energy to remove hindrances (which have surfaced), or..? Thoughts and/or suggestions welcome! Thanks, Robert Hi Bodhipaksa-

I’ve been doing a daily body scan, breath, and development of compassion meditation for the last three weeks. After doing the bodyscan + breadth meditations (from your “Still the Mind” CD) it takes me about 20 minutes to reconnect to the outside world.

Lately I’ve been experiencing a large amount of physical fatigue owing to these meditations, so much so that I’ve had to rest for a few days. I should mention that I am taking an anti-depressant that is working pretty well.

Is this “burnout” a result of the depression, or doing too much meditation at once, or the need for a large amount of energy to remove hindrances (which have surfaced), or..? Thoughts and/or suggestions welcome!

Thanks, Robert

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-101606 Bodhipaksa Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:55:33 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-101606 Hi, Marilyn. I doubt very much if the immune benefits that meditation brings would cause a worsening of autoimmune conditions. I'd expect that the reduction in stress levels would actually calm down the self-destructive immune reactions that are going on. But this is just a guess. One <a href="http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/09/29/meditation-improves-mental-physical-well-being-in-ms-patients/18863.html" rel="nofollow">study</a> did show that patients with MS (another autoimmune condition) improved with meditation. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17907231" rel="nofollow">Another study</a> showed that patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed improved mental health, but no improvement with the RA symptoms. Hi, Marilyn.

I doubt very much if the immune benefits that meditation brings would cause a worsening of autoimmune conditions. I’d expect that the reduction in stress levels would actually calm down the self-destructive immune reactions that are going on. But this is just a guess. One study did show that patients with MS (another autoimmune condition) improved with meditation. Another study showed that patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed improved mental health, but no improvement with the RA symptoms.

]]> By: Marilyn http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-101357 Marilyn Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:00:33 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-101357 Hi Bodhipaksa: I agree that a positive connection exists between meditation and boosting the immune system. My thoughts are for my daughter, who has health concerns due to autoimmune disease. The Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis all seem to result from too much "boosting" of the immune system. Do you know of meditation benefitting those whose immune systems appear to be attacking the body? Thanks, Marilyn Hi Bodhipaksa:
I agree that a positive connection exists between meditation and boosting the immune system. My thoughts are for my daughter, who has health concerns due to autoimmune disease. The Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis all seem to result from too much “boosting” of the immune system. Do you know of meditation benefitting those whose immune systems appear to be attacking the body?

Thanks, Marilyn

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-56669 Bodhipaksa Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:40:18 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-56669 Hi Rosana, It's interesting that you mention hypertension. A few years ago I was teaching a stress reduction course and a woman who suffered from hypertension came along. She monitored her blood pressure daily and almost immediately after starting a regular practice found her blood pressure coming down to normal levels. In fact they went down below normal levels because of her medication, and she had to go talk to her doctor. I think the relationship between hypertension and meditation can in many (but not necessarily in all) cases be quite straightforward. I should add though that there are long-term meditators who get sick. Meditation isn't magic and the human body is still frail. Even the Buddha got sick and died. It comes to us all, although meditation I'm sure has beneficial effects and can help us live longer and more healthily. Hi Rosana,

It’s interesting that you mention hypertension. A few years ago I was teaching a stress reduction course and a woman who suffered from hypertension came along. She monitored her blood pressure daily and almost immediately after starting a regular practice found her blood pressure coming down to normal levels. In fact they went down below normal levels because of her medication, and she had to go talk to her doctor. I think the relationship between hypertension and meditation can in many (but not necessarily in all) cases be quite straightforward.

I should add though that there are long-term meditators who get sick. Meditation isn’t magic and the human body is still frail. Even the Buddha got sick and died. It comes to us all, although meditation I’m sure has beneficial effects and can help us live longer and more healthily.

]]> By: Rosana http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-56648 Rosana Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:18:09 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-56648 Thanks, Bodhipaksa. Though my health is okay, I got interested in the subject as a few close people (who don´t like meditation at all) have developed health problems like hypertension and diabetes, and I wondered if their 'tendency' to pessimism might have contributed. I think good health and lots of other benefits are usually a natural consequence when you meditate. I had a couple of years of a modest but very positive experience of meditation about 20 years ago, and I could feel good results for years even after I had stopped practicing it. I am now trying to get back to it but with a new approach, it hasn´t been easy at all. I´ve only found out this site recently, it´s been inspiring, but I know it´s a long way until I can make meditation part of my life again. By the way, something you wrote in an another article gave me a good idea for next year´s Christmas (I wish I had read it in time for this year), going to a retreat. I think you said it was one of the best Christmas you had. I think it´s what Christmas should be really about - lots of reflexion. Thanks again for your articles and for your reply. All the best Rosana Thanks, Bodhipaksa. Though my health is okay, I got interested in the subject as a few close people (who don´t like meditation at all) have developed health problems like hypertension and diabetes, and I wondered if their ‘tendency’ to pessimism might have contributed. I think good health and lots of other benefits are usually a natural consequence when you meditate. I had a couple of years of a modest but very positive experience of meditation about 20 years ago, and I could feel good results for years even after I had stopped practicing it. I am now trying to get back to it but with a new approach, it hasn´t been easy at all. I´ve only found out this site recently, it´s been inspiring, but I know it´s a long way until I can make meditation part of my life again. By the way, something you wrote in an another article gave me a good idea for next year´s Christmas (I wish I had read it in time for this year), going to a retreat. I think you said it was one of the best Christmas you had. I think it´s what Christmas should be really about – lots of reflexion. Thanks again for your articles and for your reply.

All the best

Rosana

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-56642 Bodhipaksa Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:08:40 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-56642 Hi Rosana, There are many, many studies showing the benefits of meditation to health and also the deleterious effects of anxiety and other unhelpful mental states on the body. With the latter it's not generally a one-to-one correspondence where a particular mental state like worry is connected with a particular physical effect like cancer, but it seems that positive states of mind boost the immune system generally and negative mental states generally promote ill-health. I'd suggest digging around in <a href="http://www.wildmind.org/tag/health" rel="nofollow">these search results</a> from our site. They should connect you with news reports and articles that can give you more specific information. Hi Rosana,

There are many, many studies showing the benefits of meditation to health and also the deleterious effects of anxiety and other unhelpful mental states on the body. With the latter it’s not generally a one-to-one correspondence where a particular mental state like worry is connected with a particular physical effect like cancer, but it seems that positive states of mind boost the immune system generally and negative mental states generally promote ill-health. I’d suggest digging around in these search results from our site. They should connect you with news reports and articles that can give you more specific information.

]]> By: Rosana http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-56575 Rosana Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:59:09 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-56575 Hi Bodhipaksa I´d like to know if there are specific meditation techniques to improve health in ourselves and others. I would also like to know your opinion about effects of negative emotions in your body, I´ve heard, for example, that deep and constant anguish may cause cancer to develop, I wonder if there are specific studies which relate determined negative emotions to specific health problems. I wish you well. Rosana Hi Bodhipaksa
I´d like to know if there are specific meditation techniques to improve health in ourselves and others. I would also like to know your opinion about effects of negative emotions in your body, I´ve heard, for example, that deep and constant anguish may cause cancer to develop, I wonder if there are specific studies which relate determined negative emotions to specific health problems.

I wish you well.

Rosana

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/applied/health/comment-page-1#comment-25824 Bodhipaksa Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:33:16 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/applied/health/#comment-25824 Hi Zintra, I've known people who have meditated only 10 minutes a day and seen distinct improvements to their lives, but it shouldn't be hard to manage 20 minutes of meditation a day, and if you do I think you'd notice the effect. Twenty minutes is also about how long most relative beginners seem to be able to sit without getting very restless. So I'd suggest starting there and building up to 30 minutes and then 40 minutes. All the best, Bodhipaksa Hi Zintra,

I’ve known people who have meditated only 10 minutes a day and seen distinct improvements to their lives, but it shouldn’t be hard to manage 20 minutes of meditation a day, and if you do I think you’d notice the effect. Twenty minutes is also about how long most relative beginners seem to be able to sit without getting very restless. So I’d suggest starting there and building up to 30 minutes and then 40 minutes.

All the best,
Bodhipaksa

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