{"id":22708,"date":"2013-01-17T07:08:11","date_gmt":"2013-01-17T13:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.drishtikone.com\/?p=22708"},"modified":"2013-01-17T07:08:11","modified_gmt":"2013-01-17T13:08:11","slug":"mindful-meditation-relieves-chronic-inflammatory-ailments-like-arthirities-asthma-etc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/drishtikone\/2013\/01\/mindful-meditation-relieves-chronic-inflammatory-ailments-like-arthirities-asthma-etc\/","title":{"rendered":"Mindful Meditation relieves Chronic Inflammatory Ailments like Arthirities, Asthma etc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

We all know that Meditative techniques help relieve chronic ailments. \u00a0Now, a study by University of Wisconsin underscores that by doing a \u201ccontrolled\u201d study, where other therapeutic factors, like supportive social interaction, expert instruction, or learning new skills were kept out of the measurements.<\/p>\n

People suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma \u2014 in which psychological stress plays a major role \u2014 may benefit from mindfulness meditation techniques, according to a study by University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscientists with the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman Center.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What they find in their study is that mindful techniques relieve the inflammatory symptoms better than any other well-being promoting activities.<\/p>\n

The study compared two methods of reducing stress: a mindfulness meditation-based approach, and a program designed to enhance health in ways unrelated to mindfulness.<\/p>\n

The comparison group participated in the Health Enhancement Program, which consisted of nutritional education; physical activity, such as walking; balance, agility and core strengthening; and music therapy. The content of the program was meant to match aspects of the mindfulness instruction in some way. For example, physical exercise was meant to match walking meditation, without the mindfulness component. Both groups had the same amount of training, the same level of expertise in the instructors, and the same amount of home practice required by participants.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this setting, we could see if there were changes that we could detect that were specific to mindfulness,\u201d Rosenkranz explains.<\/p>\n

Using a tool called the Trier Social Stress Test to induce psychological stress, and a capsaicin cream to produce inflammation on the skin, immune and endocrine measures were collected before and after training in the two methods. While both techniques were proven effective in reducing stress, the mindfulness-based stress reduction approach was more effective at reducing stress-induced inflammation.<\/p>\n

The results show that behavioral interventions designed to reduce emotional reactivity are beneficial to people suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions.<\/p>\n

The study also suggests that mindfulness techniques may be more effective in relieving inflammatory symptoms than other activities that promote well-being.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Featured Image Credit:\u00a0iandeth<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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