| East Meets West | | | | disorders, including Anxiety - Chronic Pain - Depression |
| Meditation of one style or another can be found in | | | | - Headaches - High Blood Pressure - Insomnia - |
| most of the major religions, including Christianity, | | | | Migraines - Stress - Life Threatening Illnesses. It can |
| Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. Eastern religions tend to | | | | also be used with other forms of medical treatment |
| concentrate on Meditation as a means of developing | | | | and is an important complementary therapy for both |
| spiritual enlightenment and as a pathway to | | | | the treatment and prevention of many stress-related |
| experiencing ultimate reality, whereas in the West it's | | | | conditions. |
| primarily used as tool for self development, and as a | | | | Based upon clinical evidence as well as theoretical |
| means of reducing stress and improving one's health | | | | understanding, Meditation is considered to be one of |
| and wellbeing. | | | | the better therapies for panic disorder, generalized |
| The many different religious traditions in the world | | | | anxiety disorder, substance dependence and abuse, |
| have given rise to a rich variety of meditative | | | | ulcers, colitis, chronic pain, psoriasis, and dysthymic |
| practices which include the contemplative practices of | | | | disorder. It is also considered to be a valuable therapy |
| Christian religious orders, the Buddhist practice of sitting | | | | for hypertension (high blood pressure), prevention of |
| meditation, and the whirling movements of the Sufi | | | | heart attack, prevention of atherosclerosis (hardening |
| dervishes. Although Meditation is an important practice | | | | of arteries), arthritis (including fibromyalgia), cancer, |
| in many religious and spiritual traditions, it can be | | | | insomnia, migraine, and prevention of stroke. |
| practiced by anyone regardless of their religious or | | | | It is also seen as a valuable complementary therapy |
| cultural background. | | | | for the treatment of allergies and asthma, since stress |
| Meditation and Health | | | | plays a considerable role in the advancement of these |
| As Western medical practitioners begin to understand | | | | conditions. Additionally, meditative practices have been |
| the mind's role in health and disease, there's been rising | | | | reported to improve function or reduce symptoms in |
| interest in the use of Meditation in medicine, and | | | | patients with various neurological disorders. These |
| meditative practices are increasingly being | | | | include people with Parkinson's disease, people who |
| recommended in clinics and hospitals, as a tool for | | | | experience fatigue with multiple sclerosis, and people |
| improving health and quality of life. Meditation is also | | | | with epilepsy who are resistant to standard treatment. |
| seen as a valuable addition in comprehensive | | | | The Nervous System |
| treatment plans, and as a means of helping people | | | | Resting the mind has a dramatic effect on brain |
| with debilitating, chronic, or terminal illnesses. | | | | activity. When the brain moves into an Alpha wave |
| During Meditation, the brain's activity (as mapped by a | | | | state, many physiological changes occur, starting with |
| device known as an electroencephalograph) alters | | | | the autonomic nervous system. One of the main roles |
| significantly. The most well-known brain waves evident | | | | of the autonomic nervous system is to regulate glands |
| during Meditation are called Alpha waves, and these | | | | and organs without any effort from the conscious |
| accompany relaxation of the entire nervous system. | | | | mind. |
| Gamma, Delta and Theta brain waves accompany | | | | The autonomic nervous system is made up of two |
| types of Meditation associated with various altered | | | | parts called the "Sympathetic" and the |
| states of consciousness. | | | | "Parasympathetic.' These systems act in opposite yet |
| Scientific studies show that the regular practice of | | | | complementary ways. The Sympathetic nervous |
| Meditation can be a powerful healing tool. People who | | | | system stimulates the body, while the Parasympathetic |
| meditate regularly have been shown to feel less | | | | calms it down. |
| anxiety and depression. They also report that they | | | | Chronic stress or burnout can occur when the |
| experience more enjoyment and appreciation of life, | | | | Sympathetic nervous system dominates for too long. |
| that their relationships are improved, and that they | | | | During an Alpha wave state, the Parasympathetic half |
| have a greater sense of calmness, empathy, and | | | | of the autonomic nervous system takes over, and this |
| acceptance of self and others. | | | | results in lowered blood pressure and heart rate, a |
| Regular Meditation can be used to treat a range of | | | | reduction in stress hormones, and slowed metabolism. |