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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.

The "totonou" effect: physiological and subjective benefits of sauna relaxation

The neural impacts of the Japanese sauna practice called 'tononou'.

1 Dec 2023

Doing yoga may help reduce feelings of stigma in people with epilepsy

For people with epilepsy, doing yoga may help reduce feelings of stigma about the disease along with reducing seizure frequency and anxiety, according to new research published in the November 8, 2023, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

8 Nov 2023

Can an adapted mindfulness training program improve interoception and adherence to the DASH diet?

An adapted mindfulness training program improve interoception and adherence to the DASH diet.

6 Nov 2023

Mindfulness can help improve heart health by promoting healthy eating

Practicing mindfulness focused on healthy eating can be good for the heart, a new study shows, because it improves self-awareness and helps people stick to a heart-healthy diet.

2 Nov 2023

Early-stage dementia patients may benefit from Tai Chi, but further research is required

Recent systematic review finds inconclusive evidence on Tai Chi's ability to delay dementia or improve cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment. The study calls for more robust, large-scale research to clarify Tai Chi's neurological benefits and its potential as an MCI intervention.

31 Oct 2023

Nature videos boost adolescent mental health: Study shows reduced stress and improved mood

Brief nature video exposure improved stress, mood, and relaxation, highlighting the potential of nature-based interventions for adolescent mental health.

22 Oct 2023

School discipline events linked to drop in GPA for Black and Latinx children

Being suspended from school or sent to the office is tied to a big drop in grade point average (GPA), especially for Black and Latinx children, according to UC San Francisco researchers.

20 Oct 2023

Immersive VR interventions effective in reducing pain and distress among cancer patients

Immersive virtual reality - digital technology that allows a person to experience being physically present in a non-physical world - seems to ease the pain and distress felt by patients with cancer, suggests a pooled data analysis of the available evidence published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

16 Oct 2023

Virtual reality can help calm caregivers of surgery-bound children

Virtual reality (VR) may be an effective and reliable tool to alleviate the anxiety experienced by most parents or caregivers when their child undergoes surgery, according to research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2023 annual meeting.

15 Oct 2023

Cancer patients and oncologists support complementary therapies, but communication gap exists

Patients and oncologists are supportive of complementary therapies, such as nutrition counseling, exercise, massage, and mediation, for cancer treatment, according to a new survey conducted on behalf of the Healing Works Foundation.

12 Oct 2023

School-based mindfulness program helps minoritized adolescents develop healthy coping skills

Educational programs that promote mental and physical health can help young people - particularly in environments of chronic stress and trauma exposure - learn healthy coping strategies, avoid risky behaviors, and succeed in school.

26 Sep 2023

Study examines the benefit of adding yoga therapy as a complementary treatment for heart failure

Previous studies have shown that yoga therapy and lifestyle modifications have improved heart failure patients' quality of life and enhanced their cardiovascular function.

26 Sep 2023

Editorial proposes an innovative systems medicine approach to address clinician burnout

A new editorial published in the Heart and Mind journal proposes an innovative systems medicine approach to address the epidemic of clinician burnout and holistically improve clinician mental health and wellbeing (Heart and Mind: September 18, 2023. | DOI: 10.4103/hm.HM-D-23-00013, published ahead of print).

22 Sep 2023

Shape-shifting ball uses haptic feedback to help people manage mental health

A soft ball that 'personifies' breath, expanding and contracting in synchronicity with a person's inhalations and exhalations, has been invented by a PhD student at the University of Bath in the UK.

31 Aug 2023

The Mediterranean diet and mindfulness practice during pregnancy can improve child neurodevelopmental outcomes

Mediterranean diet abidance and mindfulness-based stress reduction during pregnancy effectively improves pediatric neurodevelopment.

28 Aug 2023

SIO and ASCO recommend mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety, depression in cancer patients

The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) formally recommend mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and other integrative therapies to manage anxiety and depression symptoms in adults living with cancer.

16 Aug 2023

Kundalini yoga may be beneficial for older women with Alzheimer's risk factors

Kundalini yoga, a form of yoga that focuses on breathing, meditation, and mental visualization, appeared beneficial for older women who had risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and concerns about episodes of memory decline, according to a UCLA Health study.

26 Jul 2023

Study describes the scope and integration of music therapy program within UH medical centers

A new study from University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole Health describes the scope and integration of their music therapy program within10 UH medical centers.

14 Jul 2023

UCSF's new pain clinic in Walnut Creek offers hope for children with chronic pain

Each year, too many kids in the East Bay suffer needlessly from pain related to long-term serious illness, including migraines, joint and abdominal pain, sickle cell anemia and more. A new UCSF Health pain clinic in Walnut Creek is opening to provide relief.

11 Jul 2023

In-person mindfulness courses may help prevent mental health problems

Adults who voluntarily take part in mindfulness courses are less likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression for at least six months after completing the programs, compared to adults who do not take part, a new analysis pooling data from 13 studies has confirmed.

10 Jul 2023