De-stressing is one of the 4 pillars of optimal health, and meditation is one of the practices that we recommend for stress management. Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine investigated the impact of mindfulness meditation on how our brain perceives pain. The study found that “mindfulness meditation interrupted the communication between brain areas involved in pain sensation and those that produce the sense of self.” While pain signals still moved from the body to the brain, individuals who practice mindfulness meditation did “not feel as much ownership over those pain sensations, so their pain and suffering are reduced.” Senior author and associate professor of anesthesiology Fadel Zeidan, PhD, explains that through mindfulness meditation, “You train yourself to experience thoughts and sensations without attaching your ego or sense of self to them, and we’re now finally seeing how this plays out in the brain during the experience of acute pain.” These findings give hope to anyone “looking for a fast-acting and non-pharmacological treatment for pain.”
Meditation to Reduce Pain
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The ideas expressed here are solely the opinions of the author and are not researched or verified by AGEIST LLC, or anyone associated with AGEIST LLC. This material should not be construed as medical advice or recommendation, it is for informational use only. We encourage all readers to discuss with your qualified practitioners the relevance of the application of any of these ideas to your life. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your physician or other qualified health provider. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency.