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A growing body of evidence suggests meditation can be a potent weapon in a physician’s arsenal to combat illness and disease with patients. The latest study even suggests that meditation is capable of positively altering our genes.
Meditation and Gene Alteration
A University of Wisconsin study released last week compared a group of experienced meditators to a control group. The meditators participated in 8 hours of mindfulness practice while the control group engaged in quiet non-meditative activities. The researchers found, “a range of genetic and molecular differences, including altered levels of gene-regulating machinery and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory genes, which in turn correlated with faster physical recovery from a stressful situation.”
The results show a down-regulation of genes associated with inflammation. The genes affected include RIPK2 and COX2 as well as several HDAC genes. Prior to the meditation the two groups showed no differences in their gene profiles.
Long Term Effects of Meditation
Meditation has been tested extensively at Massachusetts General Hospital and they have made some interesting discoveries. The Benson-Henry Institute states that between 60% and 90% of all physician visits are for stress-related complaints. With that in mind they’ve targeted research over the years to see just how it can improve patient care and outcomes.
Benefits include …
- Reduced chronic and acute pain
- Improved hypertension
- Improved memory
- Improved fertility
- Reduction of migraine symptoms
- Improvement for symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Increased metabolism
The extensive body of research has shown that meditation can improve a variety of medical ailments and improve patient outcomes.
Recommending meditation to your patients
Meditation practice is not taught regularly in medical schools and many physicians don’t have a lot of exposure to it. There are programs available both in-person and even online CMEs. Physicians and other health care practitioners should explore the possibilities for themselves and consider integrating into their medical practices.
What do you think? As a physician do you think meditation has its place in 21st century medicine? When would you recommend it to a patient if at all? If you’re an M.D. or D.O. you can discuss this further inside Sermo.
I’ve been recommending it for many years and teaching it recently. DO NOT try to measure its usefulness or it’s no longer meditaton. My only wish is that more people took responsiblitly for their own internal environment, thus, health.
I totaly agree with you.