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.

Research shows ways to have a better day during a pandemic

It's entirely reasonable during a pandemic to feel more stressed, anxious, lonely and depressed than usual. Yet, despite the circumstances, some people are doing OK. Some people continue to feel love for others, gratitude for what they have and joy in the small things.

26 Jun 2020

Aphantasia may be associated with more cognitive functions than previously thought

Picture the sun setting over the ocean. It's large above the horizon, spreading an orange-pink glow across the sky. Seagulls are flying overhead and your toes are in the sand.

23 Jun 2020

How those with obsessive-compulsive disorder cope with added angst of COVID

Before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the United States, Chris Trondsen felt his life was finally under control. As someone who has battled obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental health issues since early childhood, it's been a long journey.

22 Jun 2020

New book shows meditation can reduce conflict and divisions in society

The COVID-19 pandemic has put societies everywhere under extreme stress, and collective stress is often a precursor to outbreaks of violence. Striking features of this global health crisis have been the collective anxiety of the population, the wide variations in the way governments have responded, and the varying degree of their success.

21 Jun 2020

Novel intervention for stress shows positive results in pilot study

A new treatment for stress which combines mindfulness with hypnotherapy has shown positive results in a Baylor University pilot study.

15 Jun 2020

Chapman University survey highlights effects of COVID-19 on physical and mental health

The Chapman University National COVID-19 and Mental Health Survey provides an in-depth look at the experiences of 4,149 adults living in the United States.

3 Jun 2020

Using Qigong to manage COVID-19 in older adults

A recent study published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry in May 2020 reports on the possible usefulness of the integrative practice called Qigong to prevent and manage COVID-19 in older adults.

25 May 2020

New guidance to mitigate the psychological effects of social distancing

New guidance published in The BMJ today during Mental Health Awareness Week has outlined guidance for primary care workers on the best-evidenced methods to mitigate the psychological effects of social distancing.

21 May 2020

Yoga eases depressive symptoms in people with other mental health issues

Researchers have found that the practice of yoga could help those with mental health problems by easing symptoms of depression effectively. Their study titled, "Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in people with mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis," was published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Health Education England.

18 May 2020

COVID-19 pandemic is taking toll on mental and physical health of smokers

The havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic is twofold: in addition to suffering direct effects of the virus, the world is grappling with the challenge of social distancing.

13 May 2020

Meditation combined with aerobic exercise reduces stress in medical students

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School student Paul Lavadera expected his career would put him on the front lines of dealing with medical emergencies.

4 May 2020

Fear of coronavirus propels some smokers to quit

In 40 years of smoking, Katie Kennedy has tried four times to quit but always went back to cigarettes. Today, she is summoning a new mental image when a craving comes on: rows of COVID-19 patients hooked to ventilators.

30 Apr 2020

How to boost your immune system to fight coronavirus

As the world struggles with the coronavirus pandemic, more and more people are trying to protect themselves against the virus by all means possible. There are currently no vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), so boosting the immune system by way of diet, regular exercise, and sleep are sensible measures.

31 Mar 2020

Coronavirus has upended our world. It’s OK to grieve.

On weekday evenings, sisters Lesley Laine and Lisa Ingle stage online happy hours from the Southern California home they share. It’s something they’ve been enjoying with local and faraway friends during this period of social distancing and self-isolation. And on a recent evening, I shared a toast with them.

27 Mar 2020

On-the-spot binaural beats and mindfulness reduce negative effects of mental fatigue

Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity which results in slower reaction times and attention deficits. It affects the ability to focus and impacts the capacity to make optimal decisions during a given task.

6 Mar 2020

Blood pressure control achieved using workplace-based programs

In a new study out of China, a wellness program based at the workplace was seen to improve blood pressure control among the participants. The study titled, “Effect of a Workplace-Based Multi-Component Intervention on Hypertension Control A Randomized Clinical Trial,” in the latest issue of the journal JAMA Cardiology.

4 Mar 2020