Meditation Boosts Mood, Immune System
Meditation May Put a Positive Spin on Emotion, Immune System

By Cherie Berkley, MS



Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
on Monday, August 18, 2003
WebMD Medical News



Brain Power: Meditation boosts mood and immunity.


Aug. 18, 2003 -- Boosting your immune system may be as simple as putting mind over matter.

A new study shows that meditation can help produce antibodies against illness and also lift your spirits.


Researchers say biological effects seen in the study are long lasting -- up to four months after the end of meditation training. Previous research has focused only on more immediate effects. The new study appears in the latest issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.


Researchers measured brain electrical activity in 48 people at several points in the study. At each measurement, the volunteers wrote about one of three of the most positive and negative experiences in their life.


To measure immune response, researchers took blood samples twice after the volunteers got a flu shot. This allowed them to examine how many antibodies the volunteers produced in response to the vaccine.


Additionally, half of the volunteers took a meditation class that met once a week for two to three hours. Researchers also assigned formal and informal meditation practices that they were supposed to do at home one hour a day, six days a week -- with the help of guided audiotapes.


Meditation Helps


Meditation helped on two fronts. People who meditated had the most brain activity in the part of the brain linked to positive emotion and they had higher levels of antibodies than those who didn't meditate. Researchers also say that the increase brain activity was directly linked to the antibody increase among people who meditated.


Researchers say more studies are needed in this area, calling the results "informative but saying little about changes that are more enduring."

Meditation was a big part of my self-treatment that resulted in ending all OBs for well over a year now. I’ll bump up an old thread about it called “advice sought” in case you’re interested. Anyone who has herpes MUST meditate, it WILL produce positive results, guaranteed! Everyone knows how sensitive the virus is to stress, meditation will put you at the opposite end of the stress scale. Our mind and spirit need nutrition just like our bodies, and part of that is meditation. Other “mind nutrients” include those wonderful, non-toxic (contrary to popular belief), natural substances such as psylocybin (magic mushrooms), and other “psychedelic” plants. The prohibition on these substances, I strongly believe, is a violation of our human rights.

Anyway, my point is that meditation should be a part of everyone’s nutrition. I have reached very deep states on a few occasions where I was fully conscious, yet could not feel my body. I existed within my own consciousness only, and the only way I could tell that I even had a body was because I was fully aware, so I had the knowledge of it. I stopped meditating regularly, but I should start again – what other amazing experiences are to be had within my own mind! What can humans REALLY do?

Nonexist

Nonexist, I love you, you space cadet (that is a compliment when coming from another.)

How often do you (or do you think you should) meditate? What kind of meditation do you practice? I have read of and tried: clearing one's mind of all thoughts in order to feel united with all being; focussing on one's breath only; focussing on a mantra; allowing your mind to wander, as long as your thoughts are positive; visualizing a beautiful place; etc. When young I could get into an altered state of consciousness with meditation, but now, with 4 kids and the responsibility of a household on my mind, I find it difficult. So what do you (or what does anybody) think is the best way?

LOL! Thanks, Backpacker – I just read your post. I’ve been out of commission since Hurricane Juan tore us apart up here, I just got my electricity back after 2 days. For meditation, I used to try to take a half hour per day. People just starting out usually need longer sessions, just because it takes longer to go really deep. I used a relaxation technique without a strict procedure. Think of it as slowly relaxing a tightly clenched fist. Releasing a little pressure with every breath, you can always let go that little tiny bit more with each and every breath. It’s the same with your whole body and mind, let go just that much more with each breath. Sometimes I actually focused on each body part separately for a little while to make sure I had every muscle completely relaxed, and then focused only on my consciousness. In a deep state, I used visualization to encourage my brain to find a way to eliminate the virus.

It sounds silly to some, but I believe it’s possible once a connection is made to your inner self. Of course, that’s assuming you’re giving your body what it needs to physically function at 100%. The average state of health today is awful, and I would think the massive healing energy needed to eliminate our herpes would require us to be healthier than we can even imagine. It’s a hard fight that takes dedication, and intense desire to be free from the virus, and the passion to keep going no matter who tells us we can’t do it.

Nonexist

Are you all talking about meditation as a way to minimize any pain resulting from the herpes?
I definitely believe and practice meditation, however... what if you're assymptomatic... and still may be contagious? How would you use meditation?

Thanks, Nonexist. I'll let you know what happens.

fof, I was asking about meditation because I feel the pressure of stress a lot, and want to relieve it, first, for the improvement of my health in general, and also in order to decrease the number of obs I've been getting.

I think that excellent health includes an optimal diet, frequent exercise (including aerobics, development of muscle mass, and stretching), the availability of pure air and water, time with nature, intellectual stimulation, creative personal expression, clear and gentle communication with those you love, sufficient sleep, and relaxation or stress management. I do very well in all areas except the last two.

Actually, backpacking is the answer, but I can't go away very often right now. When backpacking, you meditate all day long while you walk. There is not much else to do. Sometimes I sing, sometimes memorize poems, and sometimes think of my life, but often I gets in a kind of haze, listening to my breath and the sound of my feet.

All I know is, I'm healthy out there, and I come home centered, knowing exactly what life is about, and at peace. I'd like to find a way to approach this feeling after living in Babylon for a while.