Meditation is the practice of focusing your attention to help you
feel calm and give you a clear awareness about your life. Eastern philosophies
have recognized the health benefits of meditation for thousands of years.
Meditation is now widely practiced in the West, with the belief that it has
positive effects on health.
Two meditation techniques are most commonly used: concentrative
and mindful.
Concentrative meditation focuses on a single
image, sound, mantra (words spoken or sung in a pattern), or your own
breathing.
Mindful meditation does not focus on a single purpose;
rather, you are aware of all thoughts, feelings, sounds, or images that pass
through your mind.
Meditation usually involves slow, regular breathing and sitting
quietly for 15 to 20 minutes.
What is meditation used for?
People use meditation to help treat a wide range of physical and
mental problems, including:
Addictive behaviors, such as drug, nicotine,
and alcohol use.
High blood
pressure. A report from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
recommends meditation as one of the first treatments for high blood
pressure.
Pain.
Managing
hot flashes, which are sensations of intense body heat
that affect women around the time of menopause.
Most of these conditions also require conventional treatment for
best results.
People also use meditation to relieve anxieties from long-term
(chronic) conditions such as
HIV and cancer.
Is meditation safe?
Since meditation usually involves sitting quietly for a period of
time and breathing deeply, anyone who cannot sit comfortably or who has
respiratory problems may have difficulty practicing meditation. Some people
with mental health problems, such as
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or
schizophrenia, may not be able to use meditation
therapy effectively.
Meditation is not thought to have any negative side effects or
complications when combined with conventional medical treatment, but it is not
considered appropriate or safe for acute, life-threatening situations.
Always tell your doctor if you are using an alternative therapy
or if you are thinking about combining an alternative therapy with your
conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional
medical treatment and rely only on an alternative therapy.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. For more information, click here.
