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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.

Special Focus Issue takes wide view of complementary and integrative medicine in cancer

A Special Focus Issue on Integrative Oncology takes a wide-ranging view of the possible approaches and potential therapeutic benefits of complementary and integrative medicine in multiple age groups, nations, and special populations.

25 Sep 2018

Disagreeable individuals can benefit most from behaving more compassionately, finds study

The most disagreeable individuals, who are also the least likely to be kind, can benefit most from behaving more compassionately, a York University study has found.

19 Sep 2018

More women veterans with chronic pain use CIH therapies than men

A recent major shift in practice by the Veterans Health Administration now means that complementary and integrative health therapies such as meditation, yoga and acupuncture are increasingly being offered to VA patients as non-drug approaches for pain management and related conditions, says Elizabeth Evans, an epidemiology researcher in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

18 Sep 2018

Religious upbringing may be protective factor for health, well-being in early adulthood

Participating in spiritual practices during childhood and adolescence may be a protective factor for a range of health and well-being outcomes in early adulthood, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

14 Sep 2018

Whole brain analysis reveals why 'mindful people' feel less pain

Ever wonder why some people seem to feel less pain than others? A study conducted at Wake Forest School of Medicine may have found one of the answers – mindfulness.

7 Sep 2018

Creating rituals to honor the dead at long-term-care facilities

One by one, their names were recited as family members clutched one another's hands and silently wept.

4 Sep 2018

Turning 'what ifs' into 'to-dos' could help cope with life’s daily stress

Stress affects most Americans at one point or another. Although some people are genetically more susceptible to the stressors of daily life than others, most could benefit from learning how to lower that stress before it negatively affects their physical and mental health.

23 Aug 2018

Penn's Radiation Oncology department provides VR mindfulness experience for patients

As your eyes scan the horizon, the starry nightscape gives way to the first hints of light as the sun peeks above the point where the ocean meets the sky. As the sun rises over the water, you glance to your right and notice a swing hanging from a tree that's lightly rocking in the gentle breeze, a breeze you can hear as it rustles leaves and calmly plays through the wind chimes on the deck of the house nearby.

22 Aug 2018

Unique pain program helps surgical patients wean off opioids safely and effectively

A unique pain program is helping complex surgical patients wean off opioids safely and effectively, while offering alternative ways to cope with their pain and improve how they function.

20 Aug 2018

Intensive outpatient treatment shows rapid and meaningful changes in veterans' PTSD symptoms

Military veterans who participated in a three week, intensive outpatient treatment program for post-traumatic stress disorder saw rapid and clinically meaningful changes in PTSD and depression symptoms, according to results of a study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center published July 30 in BMC Psychiatry.

1 Aug 2018

Mind-body therapies provide promising approach to tackle teen anxiety

Mind-body therapies – biofeedback, mindfulness, yoga, and hypnosis – provide a promising approach to the very common problem of anxiety in adolescents, according to a review in the March issue of The Nurse Practitioner.

26 Jul 2018

Intervention program that includes a personalized app could benefit teens with suicidal thoughts

A troubled teenager is hospitalized with suicidal thoughts. The patient is diagnosed, medicated, and counseled by a team of experts.

20 Jul 2018

Small talk seems to have no negative effect on happiness

People who engage in more substantive conversations tend to be happier, a new study confirms.

3 Jul 2018

Mindfulness-based approach could improve treatment for people with tinnitus

New UK research has found that a new mindfulness-based approach to tinnitus could transform the treatment of the condition.

2 Jul 2018

Pilates and yoga can benefit people of all ages and fitness levels

The idea of going for a run or joining a gym can be intimidating for people who don't exercise. When you have a health condition that prevents you from engaging in many types of high-impact exercise, it can also be tough to know where to start.

28 Jun 2018

Injured athletes can benefit from using mindfulness

A new study of injured athletes carried out by the University of Kent found they can benefit from using mindfulness as part of the sport rehabilitation process to improve their pain tolerance and awareness.

27 Jun 2018

Persistent psychological stress contributes to development and progression of vision loss

Persistent psychological stress, which is widely recognized as a consequence of vision loss, is also a major contributor to its development and progression, according to a study now published in the EPMA Journal, the official journal of the European Association for Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Medicine.

19 Jun 2018

Researchers study effects of different mind-body practices on brain function

A variety of meditation-based programs have been developed in recent years to reduce stress and medical symptoms and to promote wellness.

14 Jun 2018

Compassion meditation training may increase brain’s resilience to suffering of other people

It can be distressing to witness the pain of family, friends or even strangers going through a hard time. But what if, just like strengthening a muscle or learning a new hobby, we could train ourselves to be more compassionate and calm in the face of others' suffering?

23 May 2018

Mindfulness-based Stress Management Course for cancer survivors

Cancer, like so many other overwhelming or life-altering situations, can really stick with a person. For many, the end of treatment is met with a flood of emotions that can make it difficult to get back to normal life.

18 May 2018