Meditation News and Research

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The term meditation refers to a variety of techniques or practices intended to focus or control attention. Most of them are rooted in Eastern religious or spiritual traditions. These techniques have been used by many different cultures throughout the world for thousands of years.

Today, many people use meditation outside of its traditional religious or cultural settings as a form of mind-body medicine. Many claims have been made about its value in promoting or improving health and wellness.

Pilot entrepreneur creates ultra-luxe alcohol and addiction rehabilitation facility

When a lawyer or judge crashes their Porsche into a ditch, a physician is found with an IV in her arm or a pilot is caught in the cockpit with alcohol on his breath, bar cards, medical and pilot licenses are revoked and careers are ruined.

10 Mar 2011

Meditation leads to stronger mind-body connection than dancing

The body is a dancer's instrument, but is it attuned to the mind? A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that professional ballet and modern dancers are not as emotionally in sync with their bodies as are people who regularly practice meditation.

25 Feb 2011

Ballerinas need to know dangers of excessive weight loss and overexercise

With actress Natalie Portman in Oscar contention, the movie "Black Swan" has taken center stage. So have concerns surrounding the dramatic weight loss Portman underwent for the role. Her depiction of a dangerously thin ballerina sheds light on a potential downside of this art form.

25 Feb 2011

UCI study details benefits of physical activity, diet, relationships, fun and spirituality

Getting more exercise, spending time outdoors and helping others are among the activities that can be as effective as drugs or counseling in treating an array of mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety, according to a UC Irvine study.

23 Feb 2011

Treating depression: A vital step in cancer recovery

With all of the stresses of today’s modern world, depression is unfortunately becoming a common household word for many people in this country and abroad. During the cold winter months, many also struggle with seasonal depression or “winter blues,” known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Depression can be caused by any number of factors, such as chronic stress, inactivity, hormone or neurotransmitter imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, medication side effects, chronic inflammation, or lack of adequate sunshine exposure, among others.

20 Feb 2011

Doctor speaks on health effects of chronic inflammation

If your body is in a chronic state of inflammation, it can have serious effects on your cellular health, and has been linked to degenerative diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and many others. Luckily, there are numerous ways to control chronic inflammation naturally and promote overall health in the process.

17 Feb 2011

Study: BP oil spill causes psychological impact on people living in coastal communities

The explosion and fire on a BP-licensed oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 had huge environmental and economic effects, with millions of gallons of oil leaking into the water for more than five months. It also had significant psychological impact on people living in coastal communities, even in those areas that did not have direct oil exposure, according to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who worked in collaboration with the University of Florida, Gainesville.

17 Feb 2011

MSPP announces formation of spirituality and psychotherapy center

Most people have some form of spiritual practice or belief system that helps them find meaning in life. This orientation can profoundly impact the psychotherapeutic process, according to the founders of a formal center for the study of spirituality and psychotherapy at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology in West Roxbury.

1 Feb 2011

MGH research sheds light on mechanisms of action of mindfulness-based training

Participating in an 8-week mindfulness meditation program appears to make measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress. In a study that will appear in the January 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers report the results of their study, the first to document meditation-produced changes over time in the brain's grey matter.

24 Jan 2011

Tips to maintain healthy lifestyle

The start of the New Year often brings great intentions and an ambitious list of resolutions — some attainable and most? Completely unsustainable. For many, personal resolutions to achieving better health, such as weight loss or quitting smoking, wane quickly along with the initial good objectives and keen enthusiasm.

19 Jan 2011

Exciting progress made in MS research during 2010

Exciting advances were made in 2010 in virtually every field of MS research. Progress toward finding new therapies for MS is illustrated by the availability of the first oral disease-modifying therapy for MS. Progress was also made toward finding ways to restore function and improving quality of life and specific MS symptoms through exercise, meditation, rehabilitation and medications, including the first therapy specifically approved to treat a symptom of MS (Ampyra).

20 Dec 2010

New study shows how meditators don't ponder pain

Zen meditation has many health benefits, including a reduced sensitivity to pain. According to new research from the Universit- de Montr-al, meditators do feel pain but they simply don't dwell on it as much. These findings, published in the month's issue of Pain, may have implications for chronic pain sufferers, such as those with arthritis, back pain or cancer.

9 Dec 2010

HOANNJ announces collaboration to enhance cancer care through United Network of US Oncology

Hematology Oncology Associates of Northern New Jersey, P.A. (HOANNJ), an independent physician-owned, single-specialty oncology practice with offices in Morristown and Parsippany, and US Oncology, Inc., the nation's leading integrated oncology company, today announced their new collaboration to protect, expand and enhance patient access to high-quality, evidence-based cancer care and clinical research through the United Network of US Oncology.

1 Dec 2010

Study links positive well-being to higher telomerase activity

Positive psychological changes that occur during meditation training are associated with greater telomerase activity, according to researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, San Francisco. The study is the first to link positive well-being to higher telomerase, an enzyme important for the long-term health of cells in the body.

4 Nov 2010

Stress can literally show up on the face

According to an Australian stylist stress affects the health as well as appearance. Gregory Landsman, the author of Face and Fitness said that high stress level is immediately visible on a person’s face.

26 Oct 2010

Tips to improve cellular prostate health

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in America and may lead to more than 32,000 deaths this year. Medical Doctor and cancer expert, Dr. Isaac Eliaz announces breakthrough research and essential recommendations for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

19 Oct 2010

Lake Health opens Northeast Ohio's first digital hospital

Lake Health made history last October when it opened TriPoint Medical Center, Northeast Ohio's first digital hospital. Now the health system is the first in the United States to deploy the latest generation of a digital wayfinding system featuring a virtual guide -- or avatar -- that helps patients and visitors navigate to their destinations quickly and easily.

18 Oct 2010

Yoga exercises may combat fibromyalgia: Research

According to new research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University, yoga exercises may have the power to combat fibromyalgia a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain. The research is being published in the November 10 online edition of the journal Pain and will appear online Thursday, Oct. 14.

14 Oct 2010

Yoga program improves fibromyalgia symptoms and functional deficits

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating condition affecting 11󈝻 million individuals in the US alone. FM carries an annual direct cost for care of more than $20 billion and drug therapies are generally only 30% effective in relieving symptoms and 20% effective in improving function. Standard care currently includes medications accompanied by exercise and coping skills approaches. In a study published in the November 2010 issue of PAIN, researchers report patients participating in a "Yoga of Awareness" program showed significantly greater improvement in FM symptoms and functioning compared to patients on a standard FM care program.

14 Oct 2010

Simple tips to prevent breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting American women and may lead to more than 38,000 deaths this year. Medical Doctor, Researcher and Cancer expert, Dr. Isaac Eliaz shares 8 simple tips during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so you can learn more about treating and preventing breast cancer.

7 Oct 2010