12 Biological Changes From Meditation That Improve Health

​Different types of meditation have been shown to result in psychological and biological changes that are actually or potentially associated with improved health [1].

Meditation has been found to:

1. Produce a clinically significant reduction in resting as well as ambulatory blood pressure [2, 3] 
2. Reduce heart rate [4] 
3. Result in cardiorespiratory synchronization [5] 
4. Alter levels of melatonin and serotonin [6] 
5. Suppress corticostriatal glutamatergic neurotransmission [7] 
6. Boost the immune response [8] 
7. Decrease the levels of reactive oxygen species as measured by ultra weak photon emission [9] 
8. Reduce stress and promote positive mood states [10] 
9. Reduce anxiety and pain and enhance self-esteem [11] 
10. Have a favorable influence on overall and spiritual quality of life in late-stage disease [12] 
11. Decrease in anxiety and improvement in positive mood, spiritual health [13]
12. Tolerate pain [13]

With so many biological and psychological changes seen as a result of meditation, it seems like the only question that remains for each person is which meditation and how often!  Finding a practice that you will do regularly is very important because regularity is key.  

If you are looking for a practice, check out our free webinar to learn more about The Art of Ascension.
 
 
 
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802370/
2. Barnes VA, Davis HC, Murzynowski JB, Treiber FA. Impact of meditation on resting and ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in youth. Psychosom Med. 2004;66:909–14. [PubMed]
3. Anderson JW, Liu C, Kryscio RJ. Blood pressure response to transcendental meditation: A meta-analysis. Am J Hypertens. 2008;21:310–6. [PubMed]
4. Solberg EE, Ekeberg O, Holen A, Ingjer F, Sandvik L, Standal PA, et al. Hemodynamic changes during long meditation. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2004;29:213–21. [PubMed]
5. Cysarz D, BІssing A. Cardiorespiratory synchronization during Zen meditation. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2005;95:88–95. [PubMed]
6. Solberg EE, Holen A, Ekeberg O, Osterud B, Halvorsen R, Sandvik L. The effects of long meditation on plasma melatonin and blood serotonin. Med Sci Monit. 2004;10:CR96–101. [PubMed]
7. Kjaer TW, Bertelsen C, Piccini P, Brooks D, Alving J, Lou HC. Increased dopamine tone during meditation-induced change of consciousness. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2002;13:255–9. [PubMed]
8. Davidson RJ, Kabat-Zinn J, Schumacher J, Rosenkranz M, Muller D, Santorelli SF. Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosom Med. 2003;65:564–70. [PubMed]
9. Van Wijk EP, Ludtke R, Van Wijk R. Differential effects of relaxation techniques on ultraweak photon emission. J Altern Complement Med. 2008;14:241–50. [PubMed]
10. Jain S, Shapiro SL, Swanick S, Roesch SC, Mills PJ, Bell I. A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction. Ann Behav Med. 2007;33:11–21. [PubMed]
11. Bonadonna R. Meditation's impact on chronic illness. Holist Nurs Pract. 2003;17:309–19. [PubMed]
12. Williams AL, Selwyn PA, Liberti L, Molde S, Njike VY, McCorkle R, et al. A randomized controlled trial of meditation and massage effects on quality of life in people with late-stage disease: A pilot study. J Palliat Med. 2005;8:939–52. [PubMed]
13. Wachholtz AB, Pargament KI. Is spirituality a critical ingredient of meditation? Comparing the effects of spiritual meditation, secular meditation, and relaxation on spiritual, psychological, cardiac, and pain outcomes. J Behav Med. 2005;28:369–84. [PubMed]

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